Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell: "I do not believe he died by suicide"

Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell told the Department of Justice in newly released interview transcripts that she thinks he was murdered. Why it matters: Her comments come as conspiracy theories about Epstein's suicide in prison while facing federal sex trafficking charges have circulated for years. But Maxwell doesn't believe it was a "hit" from wealthy or powerful figures to silence him.President Trump's Justice Department and FBI concluded after an investigation that they have no evidence that Epstein blackmailed powerful figures, kept a "client list" or was murdered.Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after she was found guilty on multiple counts of conspiring to sex traffic minors.What she said: "I do not believe he died by suicide, no," Maxwell told Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in an interview."Do you have any speculation or view of who killed him?" Blanche asked.She responded: "No, I don't."Maxwell said she had no firsthand knowledge of what happened but based her opinion on her knowledge of Epstein, who was not known to be suicidal.Inside the prison: Maxwell faulted the Bureau of Prisons and said people can be killed for little money."In prison, where I am, they will kill you or they will pay — somebody can pay a prisoner to kill you for $25 worth of commissary. That's about the going rate for a hit with a lock today," she said."I don't think Epstein had a hit on like that if it is indeed murder, I believe it was an internal situation [in the jail]," she said.The intrigue: Prior to his death, Epstein was removed from suicide watch after being evaluated by a doctoral-level psychologist, the DOJ said. The cameras in the corrections facility were not working on the night of his death. Blanche pressed the point and asked if she had "any reason to believe" Epstein was murdered to protect "rich and powerful people," Maxwell again said no."I do not have any reason to believe that. And I also think it's ludicrous, because if that — I also happen to think if that is what they wanted, they would've had plenty of opportunity when he wasn't in jail," she said."And if they were worried about blackmail or anything from him, he would've been a very easy target."Context: Blanche and the DOJ released four redacted transcripts of their interview with Maxwell, the longtime associate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, on Friday afternoon. Many have wondered for weeks what Blanche and Maxwell discussed in their interviews, which happened shortly before Maxwell was transferred to a minimum security prison.Maxwell spoke to Blanche for nine hours over two days, Axios previously reported. Maxwell was granted "limited" immunity from the Justice Department to answer questions related to the sex-trafficking ring that led to her arrest.Catch up quick: The Trump administration has faced bipartisan calls over its handling of the Epstein files, but also friction between Trump and MAGA conspiracy theorists. The Justice Department and FBI's July announcement that Epstein died by suicide represented the first time the Trump administration officially contradicted conspiracy theories about Epstein's activities and his death.Those theories had previously been pushed by the FBI's top two officials, director Kash Patel and deputy director Dan Bongino, before Trump appointed them to the bureau.Patel and Bongino have since moved on from the theories, saying that Epstein killed himself.It has become an article of faith online, especially on the right, that Epstein's crimes implicated government officials, celebrities and business leaders — and that someone killed him in a cover-up.Go deeper: DOJ, FBI conclude Epstein had no "client list," died by suicideMarc Caputo contributed to this report.

Comments

World news

Rural Colorado mourns 6 dairy workers who died from suspected gas exposure

Independent

Comments

Similar News

What Ghislaine Maxwell told the DOJ about Trump and Epstein's relationship

Takeaways from Justice Department interviews of Epstein's former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell

6 things we learned from the Justice Department’s interviews with Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell

Maxwell does not believe that Epstein died by suicide, but has no idea who killed him, testimony reveals

DOJ releases Maxwell interview with Todd Blanche as wait continues for Epstein Files: Live updates

Ghislaine Maxwell denies seeing Trump involved in Epstein’s criminal activity, newly released interview shows

U.N.-backed panel confirms famine in Gaza. And, DOJ to send Congress some Epstein docs

Trump’s Justice Department expected to start sharing Epstein files with Congress on Friday: Live updates

Trump’s Epstein problem is back with a vengeance

Judge shoots down Trump DOJ bid to unseal Epstein grand jury notes as ‘diversion’ from releasing unseen files

Epstein grand jury transcripts won't be unsealed, federal court rules

Texas Democrats plot to stall redistricting effort until Epstein files released

Judge rejects Trump administration’s request to unseal Epstein grand jury transcripts

Congress plans to release Epstein files to public after it gets them on Friday: report

Account tied to Trump nominee posted conspiracy theories about Epstein, the 2020 election and Covid, report says

U.S. DOJ to hand Epstein files over to Congress starting Friday

Bongino to work alongside ‘co-deputy director’ of FBI after sparring with administration over Epstein files

Department of Justice to begin handing over Epstein files to Capitol Hill – US politics live

Melania Trump and Jeffrey Epstein relationship claim removed from Prince Andrew book

Justice Department to start sharing Epstein files with Congress Friday

World news

Rural Colorado mourns 6 dairy workers who died from suspected gas exposure

Newsom’s fight with Trump fueling ‘rising tide of support’ among voters, says CNN data expert

Lyle Menendez denied parole almost four decades after murdering parents with brother

Lucy Connolly to meet Trump officials after jail release

Lyle Menendez denied parole

Why Donald Trump believes he 'deserves the Nobel Peace Prize' and 'ended seven wars'

Trump allies expand political enemies probe despite pledges: "no politicization"

Sea Bears season ends with loss in West Final to Calgary

Gorgeous holiday hotspot making millions every year for very unexpected reason

Lyle Menendez joins brother in being denied parole in parents' LA murder

FBI searches home of Trump adviser-turned-critic John Bolton

The US teenagers wowed by African prom dresses

Ghislaine Maxwell claims in DOJ interview that Epstein list doesn't exist

Anime fans hate live-action remakes - here's why studios still keep making them

Five dead after tour bus crashes on New York highway

'Two laptops, six plugs': The South Korean cafes grappling with students who don't leave

Trump's plan for DC homeless is giving San Francisco deja vu

Why India's Election Commission is facing a test of credibility

Trump mobilizing up to 1,700 National Guardsman in 19 states to widen crime and immigration crackdown

Hegseth orders National Guard troops in DC to carry weapons on patrol

‘The gates of hell will soon open’: Israeli defence minister

North Korea accuses South of 'serious provocation' over border warning shots

Manitoba PC’s accuse Kinew of breaking election rules

Alberta senior is speaking out after being victim of distraction theft

Massive fire and explosion at Louisiana auto supply plant forces evacuations

Trump says Intel will give US government a 10% stake in its business

Trump ‘was never inappropriate’, says Maxwell

Five dead in New York bus crash tragedy

French leisure park manager detained over alleged religious discrimination against Israeli children

Matcha madness leaves Japan's tea ceremony pros skeptical

El Salvador enforcing strict student dress codes to bring discipline back to schools

Former Sri Lankan President Wickremesinghe arrested on allegations of misusing state funds, aide says

Gunmen kill 5 police officers in southeastern Iran

Fight at Dutch holiday park injures 2 Israeli tourists

Deadly attacks in Colombia cast a shadow on the president's peace-with-guerrillas policy

Argentina investigates alleged kickback scheme entangling President Milei's inner circle