‘I wish her well’: Donald Trump comments on Ghislaine Maxwell at White House briefing
Donald Trump says he hasn’t followed the arrest of Ghislaine Maxwell closely but weighed in at his White House briefing.
US President Donald Trump says he had not been following closely Ghislaine Maxwell’s arrest on sex trafficking minors for Jeffrey Epstein but that he wished her well.
At a briefing about the coronavirus, Trump was asked whether he thought the socialite and former partner of well-connected sex offender Epstein would incriminate any powerful men as part of a deal with prosecutors.
“I don’t know. I haven’t really been following it too much,” he said. “I just wish her well, frankly. I met her numerous times over the years, especially since I lived in Palm Beach and I guess they lived in Palm Beach.
“But I wish her well, whatever it is. I don’t know the situation with Prince Andrew. I just don’t know. I’m not aware of it,” Trump added.
Maxwell, the daughter of late newspaper baron Robert Maxwell, pleaded not guilty in a New York court last week to six counts relating to Epstein’s alleged sex crimes.
Prosecutors accuse the 58-year-old of recruiting and grooming girls as young as 14 to be abused by Epstein, who killed himself in prison last year while awaiting trial.
Maxwell is also accused of sometimes participating in the abuse that occurred in her London home and at Epstein’s properties in Manhattan, Palm Beach in Florida and New Mexico.
She was denied bail pending a trial, which is tentatively scheduled to start in July next year.
She could face up to 35 years in prison if convicted.
Some legal experts have suggested that Maxwell could sign a plea deal with prosecutors if she provides evidence of illegal behaviour by any of Epstein’s associates.
The 66-year-old was a multimillion-dollar hedge fund manager who befriended countless celebrities over the years, including Mr Trump, former president Bill Clinton and Britain’s Prince Andrew.
Prince Andrew vehemently denies claims he had sex with a 17-year-old girl procured by Epstein.
There is no suggestion that Mr Trump or Mr Clinton knew of Epstein’s alleged crimes. While his death was ruled a suicide, it has fuelled conspiracy theories, most speculating he was murdered to stop him from revealing compromising information about wealthy acquaintances.
AFP
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