Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, has broken her silence in a sweeping, two-day interview with the U.S. Department of Justice, denying the existence of a so-called "client list" and refuting claims of blackmail, while also casting doubt on several high-profile allegations tied to the Epstein scandal. The transcripts of the interview, which total over 300 pages and include audio recordings, were released by the Justice Department on August 23, 2025, as reported by BBC and other major outlets.
Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Epstein's sex trafficking operation, sat down with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in July 2025 at a Florida prison. The meeting came amid mounting political and public pressure for more transparency regarding the Epstein investigation, especially as conspiracy theories and demands for disclosure have flourished in recent years. According to CBS News, the interview was not part of a cooperation deal, but Maxwell was granted immunity for her statements, provided she did not lie to officials.
One of the most explosive topics addressed was the purported "client list"—a roster of high-profile individuals allegedly involved in Epstein's criminal activities. Maxwell was unequivocal. "There is no list," she told Blanche, directly countering years of speculation and claims from both conspiracy theorists and some former Trump administration officials. She insisted that she was "not aware of any blackmail" and had never witnessed inappropriate conduct by either President Donald Trump or former President Bill Clinton during her time in Epstein's orbit.
The interview also explored Maxwell's personal and professional relationship with Epstein. She recounted first meeting him in 1991, describing their relationship as evolving into a sexual one by 1992. Despite the end of their romantic involvement by 1999, Maxwell said she continued to receive payments from Epstein—starting at $25,000 a year and increasing to $250,000 by 2009. "Between 2010 and Epstein's death in 2019, our relationship was almost nonexistent," she stated, though she acknowledged occasional phone calls and emails. As reported by the Associated Press, Maxwell admitted to helping Epstein find people to give him massages, but maintained she met these individuals in "legitimate spas" and never believed they were underage or asked to perform sexual favors.
Deputy Attorney General Blanche pressed Maxwell on her knowledge of famous figures who have been linked to Epstein, including Trump, Clinton, Bill Gates, Elon Musk, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., actor Kevin Spacey, and model Naomi Campbell. Maxwell denied introducing Prince Andrew to Epstein, calling the allegation a "flat untruth." She spoke at length about Prince Andrew's relationship with Epstein and the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, but insisted she was not responsible for their introduction.
Perhaps most pointedly, Maxwell addressed the swirling controversy around Prince Andrew and his alleged sexual relationship with a then-underage girl at her London home. She called the claims "mind-blowingly not conceivable," citing the size of her house and other logistical details. When questioned about the widely circulated photograph of Prince Andrew with his arm around accuser Virginia Giuffre, with Maxwell in the background, she dismissed it as "fake." Maxwell categorically denied ever setting up Andrew with Giuffre or "any other human being ever." Prince Andrew has consistently denied the allegations and settled a lawsuit with Giuffre in 2022 without admitting liability or offering an apology.
Maxwell also offered her thoughts on Epstein's death in a New York jail cell in 2019, which has fueled years of speculation and conspiracy theories. "I do not believe he died by suicide, no," she told Blanche, but clarified she had "no reason" to think he was murdered to silence him. "It's ludicrous," Maxwell said, adding, "If that is what they wanted, they would've had plenty of opportunity when he wasn't in jail. And if they were worried about blackmail or anything from him, he would've been a very easy target." She speculated that if Epstein was murdered, it was likely an "internal situation" within the prison, not part of a cover-up orchestrated by outside forces.
On the subject of Donald Trump, Maxwell described their interactions as cordial and limited to social settings. "I actually never saw the President in any type of massage setting," she said, alluding to claims that some of Epstein's victims were recruited through massage services. "The President was never inappropriate with anybody. In the times I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects." She also said she did not recall Trump sending Epstein a 50th birthday note in 2003, a detail that had made recent headlines.
Maxwell discussed her connections to Bill Clinton as well, noting that she considered him her friend rather than Epstein's. She confirmed that Clinton flew on Epstein's private jet but did not visit Epstein's private island, and she attended Chelsea Clinton's wedding with her then-boyfriend, Ted Waitt. Maxwell said she did not believe Clinton ever received a massage while with Epstein.
The release of the interview transcripts coincided with the Justice Department turning over thousands of pages of files related to the Epstein case to the House Oversight Committee. According to a spokesperson for Committee Chair James Comer, "The Committee intends to make these records public after thorough review to ensure any victims' identification and child sexual abuse material are redacted." The committee will also consult with the Justice Department to ensure that the release does not negatively impact ongoing criminal cases or investigations.
Maxwell's legal team, meanwhile, is pressing the Supreme Court to review her conviction, arguing that she should be protected by a non-prosecution agreement federal prosecutors made with Epstein nearly two decades ago. Her attorney, David Oscar Markus, thanked the Trump administration for releasing the transcripts and maintained Maxwell's innocence. "Ms. Maxwell answered every question. She did not refuse to respond and did not dodge any question. She supported her answers with documents and other objective evidence. Her demeanor and credibility are clear for anyone to hear," Markus wrote in a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter).
The fallout from the Epstein scandal continues to reverberate across the political spectrum. Pressure has mounted on President Trump and his administration—sometimes from within his own party—to provide greater transparency around the investigation and the high-profile individuals connected to Epstein. Trump, for his part, has accused political opponents of using the case to distract from his administration's achievements and has vacillated on promises to release more information about the case.
In a tragic coda, Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein's most prominent accusers, took her own life earlier this year. Her family has condemned the Justice Department for interviewing Maxwell, calling her a "monster" whose testimony should not be trusted.
While the newly released transcripts and files promise to shed further light on the tangled web surrounding Epstein and his associates, the truth remains as elusive—and as fiercely contested—as ever. For now, the world waits to see what revelations, if any, will emerge from the mountain of documents still to be reviewed and released.
