Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted sex trafficker and longtime accomplice of Jeffrey Epstein, has sparked a firestorm after making a surprising statement that seemed to clear Donald Trump of any wrongdoing in connection to Epstein’s crimes.
According to sources familiar with a recent interview Maxwell gave to Trump’s personal lawyer and a Department of Justice official, she claimed that “Trump had never done anything in her presence that would have caused concern,” as reported by ABC News.
NBC News also noted that an official in Trump’s administration said Maxwell didn’t say anything that would implicate Trump.
The statement immediately ignited outrage online. Critics slammed it as a calculated attempt at damage control, pointing out that it sounded like it came directly from Trump’s camp—or possibly from Maxwell’s lawyer.
Yale Law School Professor Scott Shapiro tweeted bluntly, “Sex trafficker and perjurer exonerates sex predator and fraudster.” Conservative commentator Bill Kristol added sarcastically, “I assume Maxwell also says there was no wrongdoing…by Maxwell. Very credible!”
Dr. Ryan Marino, M.D., called out the statement for what it is: “Call me crazy but it seems like the files would be more reliable for any claim than some words from a career liar and fraud, child rapist, and sex trafficker.” He stressed, “She lured them in and raped them. For years. She assaulted them in addition to facilitating assault by others. So I will never care what she thinks counts as wrongdoing.”
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy Greenberg appeared on MSNBC and said, “Again, this person is a liar. And anything she said during that interview is going to be completely self-serving.” Greenberg noted that Maxwell recently filed court documents claiming she was a scapegoat and that evidence was misrepresented. “So, nothing that she says there is going to do anything other than paint her as the victim,” she said, calling it a right-wing talking point.
Writer and lawyer Luppe B. Luppen criticized the way the story was reported: “Granting anonymity to a single-sourced hearsay account that offers the reader nothing but the party line of the most powerful official in America.”
Mark Jacob, former editor of Chicago Metro Times, summed up the disbelief: “A child molester who was charged with perjury says a convicted felon and pathological liar did nothing wrong. That settles it … if you’re the most gullible person alive.”
The backlash shows how Maxwell’s attempt to clear Trump has only deepened outrage. For many, it’s yet another example of a predator protecting others while denying her own crimes.
