The Department of Justice has reached out to Ghislaine Maxwell in a dramatic shift in its handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirming Tuesday that he intends to meet with Maxwell "in the coming days" to assess whether she is willing to provide evidence against uncharged individuals allegedly involved in Epstein's criminal activities.
The move comes amid growing pressure from Republican lawmakers and conservative activists over what they claim is a lack of transparency from the Trump administration regarding the long-running Epstein case. Blanche, posting on X, stated, "This Department of Justice does not shy away from uncomfortable truths," and added that, under orders from Attorney General Pam Bondi, he had contacted Maxwell's legal team to explore possible cooperation. "Justice demands courage," he wrote. "No one is above the law-and no lead is off-limits."
Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison for her 2021 conviction for sex trafficking of minors, has not previously been approached by any administration regarding further testimony, according to Blanche. "That changes now," he said.
David Oscar Markus, Maxwell's attorney, confirmed to Fox News that they "are in discussions with the government and that Ghislaine will always testify truthfully." He added, "We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case."
The Justice Department's announcement follows significant backlash after a July 6 memo signed by FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino stated that a review of FBI files uncovered "no evidence" that would support charges against additional parties. Sources told Fox News that Bongino privately criticized the memo after it sparked public outrage.
Compounding scrutiny, the House Oversight Committee voted Tuesday to subpoena Maxwell for a deposition, with plans to coordinate with the DOJ and Bureau of Prisons. Committee members are reportedly eager to hear testimony regarding Epstein's broader network of associates.
President Donald Trump, when asked Tuesday about the DOJ's outreach to Maxwell, said, "I didn't know that they were going to do it. I don't really follow that too much. It's sort of a witch hunt." Still, he praised Blanche's leadership, calling the move "appropriate."
Meanwhile, a federal judge has temporarily halted the government's attempt to unseal grand jury transcripts related to Maxwell's case. In an order filed Tuesday, Southern District of New York Judge Paul A. Engelmayer demanded a complete legal justification and full submissions-including redacted and unredacted versions of the transcripts-before making a decision. Maxwell and any victims involved must submit statements by August 5.
As the administration works to reframe its Epstein strategy, conservative voices remain skeptical. Far-right activist and Trump ally Laura Loomer called the DOJ's sudden interest in Maxwell "a massive cope," questioning why it wasn't pursued earlier. "Seems like this should have already taken place," she told CNN.
On Capitol Hill, divisions within the GOP have deepened. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said constituents are "beaten up at home" over the lack of action. Rep. Thomas Massie warned, "If we don't take the right side of this issue, it's going to cost us votes in the midterms."
Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly told House Republicans in a closed-door meeting that "the administration is dealing with it" and urged patience, but Rep. Tim Burchett forced the Oversight Committee to vote on the Maxwell subpoena minutes later.
