Controversy surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein files and US President Donald Trump’s administration deepened on Thursday, as officials from the US Department of Justice were reported to have met with Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime associate of the late convicted sex offender.

According to ABC News, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche arrived Thursday morning at the US Attorney’s Office in Tallahassee, Florida. The office, located within the federal courthouse in the state capital, also saw the arrival of Maxwell’s legal team, the network reported.

The Justice Department had previously announced on Tuesday that the meeting would take place “in the coming days.” Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence at a federal prison in Florida following her 2021 conviction in New York for sex trafficking and related offenses.

Mounting political, public pressure

The reported meeting follows mounting political and public pressure on the Trump administration to disclose further details about the Epstein investigation, an undertaking Trump and his aides had earlier pledged to support.

In an interview for The Guardian, Mark Epstein, the brother of Jeffrey Epstein, said that if given the chance, he would ask Maxwell “what she and Jeffrey might have known, what the dirt was on Donald Trump.” He added, “Because Jeffrey said he had dirt on Trump. I don’t know what it was, but years ago he said he had dirt on Trump.”

Mark Epstein also stated that he was not “particularly worried” about Maxwell, commenting, “There’s a lot of people on this planet.”

Separately, Maxwell’s brother, Ian Maxwell, told The New York Post that his sister was preparing “new evidence” in advance of the meeting with Justice Department officials.

Wider context

Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges, allegations he denied, linked to the sexual exploitation of dozens of underage girls. Previously registered as a sex offender in Florida, Epstein had returned to prominence in US business and political circles after negotiating a controversial plea deal on earlier charges.

Renewed attention on Trump’s past connections to Epstein has emerged following the Justice Department’s recent decision not to release additional documents from its most recent Epstein probe, despite earlier commitments from both Trump and US Attorney General Pam Bondi to provide transparency.

The decision sparked bipartisan criticism, including from Trump allies and conservative commentators, who accused the administration of orchestrating a cover-up.

Epstein case wrapped with conspiracy theories

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For years, the Epstein case has been surrounded by conspiracy theories, fueled by his links to high-profile figures and the circumstances of his death, which was officially ruled a suicide.

On Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had been informed by Bondi in May that his name appears multiple times in Justice Department files connected to Epstein. The report also indicated that other prominent individuals are named and that the department has no intention of disclosing further material related to the case.

Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung dismissed the report, stating via email, “The fact is that the President kicked him [Epstein] out of his club for being a creep.”

Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee voted 8–2 on Wednesday to subpoena the Justice Department for access to the Epstein files. The vote included support from three Republicans joining all Democrats. The committee also issued a subpoena for Maxwell to testify before investigators on 11 August.

As the Justice Department’s meeting with Maxwell reportedly approached, skepticism about her credibility mounted among lawmakers. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson questioned whether Maxwell could be trusted, while Democratic Representative Dan Goldman posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Ghislaine is looking for a pardon, and who would be better to give it to her than a co-conspirator now in the Oval Office.”

Rising public suspicion 

These developments come at a moment of rising public suspicion: a new YouGov poll released earlier this month shows that 40% of Americans believe Donald Trump was connected to Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged crimes, while a majority remain skeptical that true accountability will ever be achieved.

The nationwide survey, conducted among 7,237 adults, found that 27% of respondents do not believe Trump was involved, while 33% said they were unsure.

The results reflect deepening public mistrust surrounding the Epstein case and its ties to powerful political and financial elites. While a significant share of Americans believe Trump had some involvement, the mixed opinions reveal a broader crisis of confidence in the possibility of justice.

The topic has resurfaced recently, as high-profile figures, including US billionaire Elon Musk, have suggested that files from the Epstein investigation remain sealed because Trump is mentioned in them.

Details of the Epstein case and allegations

In 2019, Jeffrey Epstein was charged with trafficking minors for sexual exploitation, a charge that carried a prison sentence of up to 40 years, along with conspiracy to engage in such trafficking.

Prosecutors alleged that Epstein abused dozens of underage girls at his residences in New York and Florida between 2002 and 2005. Victims were reportedly paid in cash and, in some cases, recruited other girls as young as 14 years old.

After his arrest in early July 2019, a court in Manhattan denied Epstein bail. Weeks later, he was found “semi-conscious” in his jail cell and was later pronounced dead. Authorities concluded that he had committed suicide.

Musk claims, FBI denial add to speculation

In early June, Elon Musk claimed that Epstein-related files had not been made public because Trump was mentioned in them. This statement added fuel to ongoing public speculation.

However, in a memorandum issued this week, the FBI and the US Department of Justice stated that Epstein had no incriminating “client list” and did not engage in blackmail of high-profile individuals.

Trump and Epstein, a history

Donald Trump’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein dates back to the late 1980s, when both figures operated within elite circles in New York and Palm Beach. They were photographed together at various social gatherings, including parties at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. In a 2002 interview, Trump called Epstein a “terrific guy” and remarked that “he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”

Flight logs indicate that Trump flew on Epstein’s private jet multiple times in the 1990s, and contact books revealed both his and Melania Trump’s numbers. Court records also allege that Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell recruited a teenage employee at Mar-a-Lago in 2000 to provide massages to Epstein.

Their friendship reportedly ended in 2004 after a real estate dispute over a Palm Beach estate. Trump later claimed he banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago for inappropriate conduct, though this has been contested.