Interview Sparks Prison Transfer Questions
During a recent television appearance, NBC journalist Kristen Welker questioned Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche about the relocation of Ghislaine Maxwell to a less restrictive prison facility.
Welker pointed out that Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for child sex trafficking, was transferred to a minimum-security camp in Texas shortly after meeting with Justice Department officials in Florida during July.
"Why was she moved just days after your interview?" Welker asked during the exchange on Meet the Press.
Security Concerns Cited
Blanche responded that the transfer was a Bureau of Prisons security matter. "I am responsible for the Bureau of Prisons, so every decision that they make lands on my desk to the extent it needs to," he stated.
"At the time that I met Ms. Maxwell, there was a tremendous amount of scrutiny and publicity towards her, and the institution she was in, she was suffering numerous and numerous threats against her life," Blanche explained. "The BOP is not only responsible for putting people in jail and making sure they stay in jail, but also for their safety."
The official emphasized that Maxwell remains in federal custody and could be moved again if security conditions require it.
Victim Concerns Addressed
Welker noted that survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and Maxwell had expressed outrage about the prison transfer. "Why talk to Ghislaine Maxwell and not the survivors?" she asked.
"What you just said is completely false," Blanche replied. "We will talk to any survivor at any time, which is something that we have said from Day 1."
When pressed about whether officials had actually spoken with victims, Blanche responded: "Of course. The attorney general and I spoke with a victim's rights group as recently as Thursday, OK? And if folks want to talk to us next week, or the week after, or in the coming months, they know how to get a hold of us — and we will always talk to survivors and victims' families."
Justifying the Interview
Blanche defended the decision to interview Maxwell, explaining that she had indicated she had information to share. "Nobody ever talked to her. Nobody ever asked her questions about what she knew," he said.
"So when she said that she had something she wanted to say... of course we went and talked to her," Blanche continued. "Imagine if we didn't talk to her. Imagine if she had said, 'I have a story to tell and I would like to talk to the government' and I said no. The same outrage would be directed at this department for not speaking with her."
The official concluded by reiterating that the Justice Department remains available to speak with victims at any time.
