by Arturo Iglesias in Politics

Following a fierce backlash over initially withholding records from the sex-trafficking case of Jeffrey Epstein, the Trump administration released transcripts from interviews conducted with Ghislaine Maxwell. These transcripts reveal Maxwell repeatedly praising Trump and denying witnessing any inappropriate sexual behavior involving him. The administration's move is seen as an attempt to distance Trump from Epstein amid continued scrutiny of their past relationship. Maxwell's testimony included denials of ever witnessing Trump in any inappropriate setting and assertions that he was always a gentleman. She also denied hearing anyone say Trump engaged in inappropriate behavior. The release of these transcripts follows previous attempts by the administration to address the Epstein scandal, including an earlier release of documents that proved largely underwhelming. Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Epstein's sex trafficking operation, was recently moved from a low-security prison in Florida to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas. Her lawyer maintains her innocence. The Justice Department is also sending records from the Epstein investigation to the House Oversight Committee, which intends to make them public after removing victim information. The case has drawn significant public attention due to Epstein's connections to high-profile figures, including Prince Andrew and former President Bill Clinton. Maxwell also commented on her relationship with Clinton and Prince Andrew, denying any impropriety. The saga highlights the Trump administration's efforts to manage the fallout from the Epstein case and address public concerns and conspiracy theories surrounding it.