Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate of Jeffrey Epstein, said she was “very central” to the “startup” of the Clinton Global Initiative, according to a newly released Justice Department transcript.
In addition, Maxwell was welcomed—and even honored—at one of the Clinton Foundation’s most prestigious events as allegations piled up linking her to Epstein’s sex trafficking network, a bombshell CNN report revealed earlier this week.
The transcript reveals a July 24–25 interview conducted by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche while Maxwell was in federal prison in Tallahassee, Florida.
In the interview, Maxwell outlined her role in helping establish the initiative, which, according to its website, brings together nonprofit leaders, business executives, government officials, activists, and heads of state for its annual meetings.
“You were part of the ramp up or the startup of the Clinton Global Initiative,” Blanche asked?
“I was,” Maxwell replied. “I would say very central to that, yes.” She went on to say that Epstein was “very enthusiastic” about her involvement.
“[Epstein] supported me to help them, but then I think he may have tried to use that to insert himself in some way, that would not have surprised me at all,” Maxwell added regarding her work with the Clinton Global Initiative. “And I know that he was annoying, in terms that I could catch him on the phone, and he wouldn’t always agree with what I wanted to do. And I was like, ‘It’s not your idea. I don’t really care what you think,’ but that didn’t go over so well.”
She also attended the 2013 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) conference as a guest of merit, CNN reported.
Video from the event shows Maxwell receiving applause at CGI’s ocean luncheon, where her former nonprofit, The TerraMar Project, was recognized for its conservation efforts.
“It was rare, prestigious and an honor to be acknowledged the way Ghislaine was at the CGI annual meeting,” sources told CNN.
In response to questions about Maxwell’s attendance, a spokesperson for the Clinton Foundation said that the organization had approved over 600 complimentary admissions for the 2013 event. “The decisions on those comps were made, as they have been historically, at the staff level, which included the office of President Clinton,” the spokesperson told CNN.
Maxwell said she had accompanied former President Bill Clinton to Davos at least once, but added that he never visited Epstein’s private island. She said she first met Clinton at a White House event and later became acquainted with him through former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine.
“Once for sure. And I think maybe twice, but I don’t remember,” she said, adding that the former president was her friend, not Epstein’s. She also said she once met Hillary Clinton on one flight as well.
“I want to say – again, please don’t hold me to it, but I want to say that it was on a flight that came from the island from – not from the island, from the Nantucket or – or Martha’s Vineyard back to New York, is what I think. I might be wrong,” Maxwell told Blanche.
Maxwell said she attended Chelsea Clinton’s wedding with a former boyfriend, adding that Epstein was not present.
David Oscar Markus, Maxwell’s lawyer, said in a statement, per Fox News: “Ghislaine Maxwell is innocent and never should have been tried, much less convicted, in this case.”
“The materials newly released by the Department of Justice make this clear. 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 said. “She was able to do this despite five torturous years in custody, some of which in the worst imaginable conditions.”
