Summary
Highlights
Victims' attorney, Sigrid McCaulay, stated that the government failed to notify victims, including Virginia Grey (Epstein victim who won settlement against Prince Andrew) and the Farmer sisters (first to complain to law enforcement about Epstein). This continues a pattern from the 2007-2008 sweetheart deal where victims weren't notified of Epstein's lenient treatment.
The Trump administration is attempting to distance itself from the scandal by sending Todd Blanch to unseal grand jury records and interview Ghislaine Maxwell. Annie Farmer's lawyer wasn't notified of these maneuvers, despite Farmer's testimony against Maxwell (Maxwell gave her an unwanted massage).
Ghislaine Maxwell was charged with two counts of perjury relating to depositions in Virginia Grey's lawsuit. She denied knowing about Epstein's recruitment of young women for massages and claimed she never gave a massage. However, trial evidence showed she gave an unwanted massage to Annie Farmer.
Victims' attorneys are being left in the dark about the DOJ's actions. Todd Blanch, Trump's personal attorney, moved to unseal grand jury minutes and is interviewing Maxwell. The prosecutor who convicted Maxwell was fired. This raises suspicions, particularly given Blanch's past ties to Trump.
Victims are upset by these developments, with Annie Farmer speaking to the BBC and Maria Farmer speaking to the New York Times. The concern is that the pursuit of accountability, promised by right-wing media, is not benefiting the victims themselves.
There are concerns about a potential pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell or a reduced sentence, possibly in exchange for her silence regarding information implicating Donald Trump. Attorneys, such as Brad Edwards, are expressing concerns about the DOJ's interactions with Maxwell.
The perjury charges against Ghislaine Maxwell were separated before the trial. After Maxwell's conviction for sex trafficking (resulting in a 20-year sentence), prosecutors decided not to pursue the perjury charges to avoid further traumatizing the victims. The charges weren't necessarily dropped, but their pursuit was deferred pending the outcome of appeals.
The meeting between Todd Blanch and Ghislaine Maxwell raises questions about the DOJ's motives, particularly regarding potential cover-ups for Trump. Sending the second top person in the DOJ, who is also Trump's former attorney, to speak with a convicted defendant with a pending Supreme Court appeal is highly unusual.