President Donald Trump was called the “ultimate dealmaker” by the lawyer for Ghislaine Maxwell, the accomplice of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, when asked about the possibility of a pardon for the disgraced socialite.
David Oscar Markus and his client met for a second day with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to discuss the Epstein case that has rattled the Trump administration for weeks. Maxwell is serving 20 years for her role in sex trafficking minors for the financier.
Maxwell had initiated the meetings and was granted a form of limited immunity to talk to the Justice Department, according to an ABC News report.
Earlier, Trump acknowledged he has the power to commute sentences or pardon people convicted of federal crimes, but said he had not considered it in Maxwell’s case.
Upon arriving in Scotland for a golfing trip, he said: “A lot of people asking me about pardons ... this is no time to be talking about pardons.”
Markus told reporters in Tallahassee, where Maxwell met with Blanche, who was formerly Trump’s personal lawyer: “There have been no asks and no promises” about his client’s cooperation with the DOJ.
The president, who has never been accused of wrongdoing in the Epstein case, continues to dodge questions about his former friend, denying writing a birthday greeting to him, ever visiting his infamous private island, and pivoting to former President Bill Clinton’s relationship with Epstein.
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Key points
- Trump ducks question on Maxwell pardon, says media 'focused on conspiracy theories'
- Trump claims someone else could have used his name in Epstein birthday book
- 'I never went to the island': Asked about Epstein, Trump tries deflecting to allegation against Bill Clinton
- Ghislaine Maxwell's attorney says Blanche asked 'about every single possible thing' in second meeting
- Trump arrives in Scotland
- The Epstein List: Who's in the files?
Resurfaced clip shows Epstein pleading the Fifth when asked if he was with Trump around underage girls
03:15
,
Oliver O'Connell
A resurfaced clip shows sex offender Jeffrey Epstein pleading the Fifth when he was asked during a deposition if he ever socialized with underage girls around Donald Trump.
The video clip, unearthed by left-leaning outlet MeidasTouch, shows Epstein responding to questions during a March 2010 deposition. The disgraced financier was questioned by an attorney of an alleged victim, Vice News previously reported.
Katie Hawkinson reports.
Trump claims he wasn't briefed about his name being in Epstein files
02:45
,
Oliver O'Connell
Upon his arrival in Scotland, President Donald Trump denied ever being briefed about his name appearing in the Epstein files that his Department of Justice has decided not to make public.
Reporter: Were you ever briefed about your name being in the Epstein files?
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 25, 2025
Trump: No pic.twitter.com/gBP5y7uoZg
There’s one slight problem with that...
Tulsi Gabbard’s sudden Obama crusade left Pam Bondi ‘blindsided and annoyed’
02:15
,
Oliver O'Connell
Attorney General Pam Bondi was left “blindsided and annoyed” by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s sudden crusade against former President Barack Obama, according to a new report.
Joe Sommerlad has the details.
Watch: Trump denies ever going to Epstein's island
01:45
,
Oliver O'Connell
Trump lands in Scotland
01:15
,
Rachel Dobkin
Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social Friday night, “I’m in Scotland now. Many meetings planned!!!”
The president embarked on a five-day golf trip to Scotland Friday as his administration is embroiled in controversy surrounding its handling of files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Ghislaine Maxwell given ‘limited immunity’ in meetings with deputy attorney general: reports
Saturday 26 July 2025 00:45
,
Rachel Dobkin
Ghislaine Maxwell was granted a form of limited immunity to talk during her meetings with Department of Justice officials, according to reports.
The British socialite and former ex-girlfriend of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, met with Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche on multiple occasions this week.
The so-called proffer immunity is commonly granted to those that prosecutors are seeking cooperation from in a criminal case. Maxwell was tried, convicted and sentenced in 2022 for sex trafficking underage girls.
Such an agreement allowed Maxwell to answer questions from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche – which her attorneys claimed she did fully – sources close to the matter told ABC.
Read more from Mike Bedigan:
Is Trump making things worse for himself with Epstein deflections?
Saturday 26 July 2025 00:15
,
Oliver O'Connell
John Bowden writes:
The firestorm continued on the MAGA right this week as the political focus on the Epstein files just would not dissipate and Donald Trump dug himself deeper into a hole.
With his administration scrambling to explain why it isn’t releasing files from an investigation that its own members and supporters have said for years should be made public, the president spent the past two weeks reigniting old conflicts with foes ranging from Rosie O’Donnell to Barack Obama.
On Wednesday, those efforts escalated to the point where the U.S. director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, declared from behind the White House briefing room podium that former President Obama had attempted a “coup” on American soil.
But Trump and his closest advisers are coming to quickly realize that they and the mainstream media both greatly underestimated the staying power of the Epstein issue.
Continue reading...
Democrats have asked Epstein estate lawyers for birthday book: report
Friday 25 July 2025 23:45
,
Rachel Dobkin
House Democrats Ro Khanna and Robert Garcia, both of California, have asked attorneys for executors of Jeffrey Epstein’s estate for a “complete, unredacted copy" of a reported 50th birthday book, according to a copy of a letter obtained by Axios.
Khanna told the outlet it would be “very difficult” to get the book if the Justice Department had it.
“A private attorney is much more likely to comply. It's a much easier challenge than going after the administration,” he said.
The Wall Street Journal has claimed Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell made an album in 2003 for the wealthy financier’s birthday, which included letters from prominent people such as President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton.
Trump has refuted the WSJ’s reporting and is suing the publication for defamation. A spokesperson for Clinon declined to comment on the reporting.
Both Trump and Clinton had reportedly cut ties with Epstein in the early 2000s. Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges, including soliciting prostitution from a minor, in 2008, and died in 2019 while in jail on federal sex trafficking charges.
‘I never went to that island,’ Trump says of Epstein’s underage getaway
Friday 25 July 2025 23:15
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump on Friday angrily demanded that news outlets turn their attention to allegations about one of his predecessors rather than continue covering his alleged connections to dead pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew Feinberg reports.
Trump, Clinton... who else is allegedly in the Epstein birthday book?
Friday 25 July 2025 22:52
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton both reportedly contributed to a birthday book of letters for Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday, along with a host of other notable names.
The leather-bound book was compiled in 2003 by the late sex offender’s accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is being questioned by Justice Department officials this week to see if she has additional information about the controversial case.
The list of Epstein’s acquaintances in the book has been reviewed by the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times.
ANALYSIS: Promise of ‘a little rebate’ suddenly becomes Trump’s latest gimmick to distract Americans from the Epstein fallout
Friday 25 July 2025 22:38
,
Oliver O'Connell
Eric Garcia writes:
In the months after the 2024 presidential election — and understanding what happened with Latino voters and why they shifted to Donald Trump — I called a Democratic operative in Webb County, right in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.
She told me that when asking why one voter would back the once and future president, put simply, the voter told them in Spanish, “I voted for Trump because he’s going to give me money.”
Read on...
Watch: Trump again tries to deflect Epstein questions with Clinton and others
Friday 25 July 2025 22:22
,
Oliver O'Connell
Reporter: What are you hoping Blanche gets out of Ghislaine Maxwell?
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 25, 2025
Trump: I haven't really been following it. If you going to talk about that, talk about Clinton… don’t talk about Trump pic.twitter.com/THBN4yQRPS
Trump ducks question on Maxwell pardon, says media 'focused on conspiracy theories'
Friday 25 July 2025 21:51
,
Oliver O'Connell
After Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche interviewed sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s imprisoned former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, President Donald Trump said when asked about a possible pardon for the disgraced socialite: “I don’t know anything about the conversation.”
“A lot of people are asking me about pardons. Obviously, this is no time to be talking about pardons,” Trump continued.
Those comments came after the president landed in Scotland for a golf vacation and trade talks. That followed him saying earlier Friday that he “hasn’t thought about” pardoning Maxwell, currently serving 20 years in jail for her role in Epstein’s sex trafficking of minors.
“You’re making a very big thing over something that’s not a big thing,” Trump told reporters on the tarmac at Glasgow’s Prestwick Airport. He said the media should be focused on other people with alleged links to Epstein, specifically singling out former President Bill Clinton, and adding: “Don’t talk about Trump.”
The president also said he “was never involved” in Republican House leadership adjourning for a lengthy vacation amid clamor for a vote to release documents in the Epstein case.
“I’m not focused on conspiracy theories that you are,” Trump said.
Maxwell was “asked about 100 different people” during her interview with the Department of Justice on Friday, her lawyer David Oscar Markus said Friday, outside the federal courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida.
Ariana Baio has a full report here:
With reporting from the Associated Press
Lawyer: Ghislaine Maxwell named about ‘100 different people’ during DOJ’s Epstein interview
Friday 25 July 2025 21:50
,
Oliver O'Connell
Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex offender and former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein, answered questions about “100 different people” after being questioned by a top Department of Justice official on Friday, her lawyer said.
Ariana Baio reports.
ANALYSIS: There’s a royal reason Trump won’t escape Jeffrey Epstein fallout on trip to his Scotland golf courses — Prince Andrew
Friday 25 July 2025 21:35
,
Oliver O'Connell
Andrew Feinberg writes:
The Republican-led House of Representatives shut down early for its summer break to avoid Jeffrey Epstein motions.
The Senate GOP has been in see-no-evil mode the past week over the controversy swirling around the seemingly vanished “client list” of the high-flying financier and convicted pedophile who once palled around with Donald Trump and Bill Clinton among many other power players.
So it makes perfect sense that President Trump is hoping for five days away from the Epstein fallout firestorm that has landed him in hot water not just with Democrats but his own MAGA base over the Justice Department’s stonewalling on the release of all the Epstein files, as Trump and AG Pam Bondi had promised.
Well, Scotland may not be far enough for that.
Continue reading...
Trump claims he wasn't briefed about his name being in Epstein files
Friday 25 July 2025 21:28
,
Oliver O'Connell
Upon his arrival in Scotland, President Donald Trump denied ever being briefed about his name appearing in the Epstein files that his Department of Justice has decided not to make public.
Reporter: Were you ever briefed about your name being in the Epstein files?
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 25, 2025
Trump: No pic.twitter.com/gBP5y7uoZg
There’s one slight problem with that...
AG Bondi left ‘blindsided and annoyed’ by Gabbard’s sudden Obama crusade
Friday 25 July 2025 21:20
,
Oliver O'Connell
Attorney General Pam Bondi was left “blindsided and annoyed” by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s sudden crusade against former President Barack Obama, according to a new report.
Joe Sommerlad has the details.
Watch: Trump says 'no time to be talking about pardons'
Friday 25 July 2025 21:18
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Trump on Ghislaine Maxwell: "A lot of people are asking me about pardons. Obviously, this is no time to be talking about pardons." pic.twitter.com/rRXpc54WPD
— CSPAN (@cspan) July 25, 2025
ANALYSIS: Trump’s ‘coverup’ in the face of Epstein scoops is making his problems so much worse
Friday 25 July 2025 20:55
,
Oliver O'Connell
John Bowden writes:
The firestorm continued on the MAGA right this week as the political focus on the Epstein files just would not dissipate and Donald Trump dug himself deeper into a hole.
With his administration scrambling to explain why it isn’t releasing files from an investigation that its own members and supporters have said for years should be made public, the president spent the past two weeks reigniting old conflicts with foes ranging from Rosie O’Donnell to Barack Obama.
On Wednesday, those efforts escalated to the point where the U.S. director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, declared from behind the White House briefing room podium that former President Obama had attempted a “coup” on American soil.
But Trump and his closest advisers are coming to quickly realize that they and the mainstream media both greatly underestimated the staying power of the Epstein issue.
Read on...
Watch: Maxwell 'not credible witness at this time' says Democrat rep
Friday 25 July 2025 20:33
,
Oliver O'Connell
Ghislaine Maxwell has previously been charged with lying under oath. It’s clear she cannot be trusted.
— Rep. Summer Lee (@RepSummerLee) July 25, 2025
What’s to stop her from lying again to protect Trump or other powerful people to get a pardon?
The DOJ must release the Epstein files immediately. https://t.co/Kk0mpV5NB0 pic.twitter.com/5d98UFxXNW
Trump blasts Democrats over what he calls the ‘Epstein SCAM’ and ‘CON JOB’
Friday 25 July 2025 20:30
,
Oliver O'Connell
A furious President Donald Trump has once again blasted “Radical Left Democrats” over the ongoing fallout of the so-called “Epstein files,” describing it as a “SCAM” and a “CON JOB.”
In a late-night post on Truth Social Thursday, the president fumed over what he claims is an attempt to “distract and obfuscate” from his administration’s first “GREAT six months of service to America ... the results of which many are saying is the BEST six months in Presidential history.”
Mike Bedigan reports on the angry outburst.
Trump’s approval tanks amid Epstein fallout
Friday 25 July 2025 20:05
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump's approval rating has tanked, amid the Jeffrey Epstein files fallout, with less than 30 percent of independents approving of the way the president is handling his job.
A new Gallup poll shows Trump’s overall approval rating at 37 percent.
Rachel Dobkin looks at the numbers.
Resurfaced clip shows Epstein pleading the Fifth when asked if he was with Trump around underage girls
Friday 25 July 2025 19:40
,
Oliver O'Connell
A resurfaced clip shows sex offender Jeffrey Epstein pleading the Fifth when he was asked during a deposition if he ever socialized with underage girls around Donald Trump.
The video clip, unearthed by left-leaning outlet MeidasTouch, shows Epstein responding to questions during a March 2010 deposition. The disgraced financier was questioned by an attorney of an alleged victim, Vice News previously reported.
Katie Hawkinson reports.
Trump, Clinton... Here’s who else is allegedly in the Jeffrey Epstein birthday book
Friday 25 July 2025 19:15
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton both reportedly contributed to a birthday book of letters for Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday, along with a host of other notable names.
The leather-bound book was compiled in 2003 by the late sex offender’s accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is being questioned by Justice Department officials this week to see if she has additional information about the controversial case.
The list of Epstein’s acquaintances in the book has been reviewed by the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times.
Full story: ‘I never went to that island,’ Trump says of Epstein’s underage getaway as he tells reporters to talk about Bill Clinton
Friday 25 July 2025 18:50
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump on Friday angrily demanded that news outlets turn their attention to allegations about one of his predecessors rather than continue covering his alleged connections to dead pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump was addressing reporters as he departed the White House for a visit to Scotland, where he owns a trio of golf courses, when he was asked whether he’d consider a pardon for Epstein’s convicted sex trafficker associate and girlfriend, Ghislane Maxwell.
Andrew Feinberg, The Independent’s White House correspondent, reports.