The Justice Department is keen on interviewing Ghislaine Maxwell, previously involved with Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted for aiding his abuse of minor girls and is currently serving a significant prison term, a senior official announced on Tuesday.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated via X that if Maxwell holds any information regarding others who have committed crimes against victims, the FBI and DOJ are prepared to listen, also noting that former President Donald Trump instructed them to unveil all credible evidence. Maxwell’s attorney verified ongoing discussions with the government.

This move towards Maxwell’s legal team comes as part of a continued Justice Department initiative to appear more open after receiving strong criticism from segments of Trump’s support base due to a previous decision to withhold further details in the Epstein case.

As part of that effort, the Justice Department, acting at the direction of the Republican president, last week asked a judge to unseal grand jury transcripts from the case. That decision is ultimately up to the judge.

Epstein, who killed himself in his New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial, sexually abused children hundreds of times over more than a decade, exploiting vulnerable girls as young as 14, authorities say. He couldn’t have done so without the help of Maxwell, his longtime companion, prosecutors say.

The Justice Department had said in a two-page memo this month that it had not uncovered evidence to charge anyone else in connection with Epstein’s abuse. But Blanche said in his social media post that the Justice Department “does not shy away from uncomfortable truths, nor from the responsibility to pursue justice wherever the facts may lead.”

He said in his post that, at the direction of Attorney General Pam Bondi, he has “communicated with counsel for Ms. Maxwell to determine whether she would be willing to speak with prosecutors from the Department.” He said he anticipated meeting with Maxwell in the coming days.

A lawyer for Maxwell, David Oscar Markus, said Tuesday in a statement: “I can confirm that we are in discussions with the government and that Ghislaine will always testify truthfully. We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case.”

___

Follow the AP’s coverage of the Jeffrey Epstein case at