Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on Sunday defended the federal government’s decision to move convicted sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell to a minimum-security prison, saying the transfer was driven by serious concerns for her personal safety.
Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press with host Kristen Welker, Blanche said the decision was made by the Bureau of Prisons and was based on repeated threats against Maxwell while she was housed in a more restrictive facility. He emphasized that while the Bureau of Prisons manages inmate placements, senior Justice Department officials are kept informed when necessary.
“At the time I met Miss Maxwell, there was intense scrutiny and widespread publicity surrounding her and the prison where she was being held,” Blanche said. “She was facing numerous threats against her life.” He did not provide specific details about the nature of those threats.
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Transfer Followed High-Profile DOJ Meeting
Maxwell was moved earlier this summer from a federal prison in Florida to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas. The transfer occurred shortly after she met with Blanche as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to address public backlash over the handling of federal documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate and former girlfriend, was sentenced in 2022 to 20 years in prison after being convicted on child sex trafficking charges. Under Bureau of Prisons guidelines, inmates designated as sex offenders typically carry a “public safety factor” that generally bars them from placement in minimum-security facilities, making the move controversial.
Blanche said the placement is not permanent and could change at any time if security conditions require it. “She could be moved tomorrow if necessary,” he said, adding that the same standard applies to all federal inmates.
Clemency and Legal Options Remain
According to documents obtained by House Democrats and reported by POLITICO, Maxwell has formally requested a commutation from the Trump administration. The Supreme Court declined to hear her appeal in October, leaving executive clemency — either a pardon or sentence reduction — as one of her final remaining options. President Donald Trump has not ruled out granting such relief.
Maxwell has exhausted her direct appeals but made a last-ditch legal effort this week, asking a federal court to vacate or correct her conviction. The filing argues that “substantial new evidence” shows she did not receive a fair trial.
Blanche Defends DOJ’s Decision to Interview Maxwell
Blanche also addressed criticism over his decision to meet with Maxwell for two days in July. He argued that the Justice Department had a responsibility to hear her out, particularly since she claimed to have information to share.
“No one had ever asked her questions about what she knew,” Blanche said. “If someone says they want to speak to the government — even if they’ve been convicted — we have to listen.”
He added that refusing to meet with Maxwell would have sparked a different wave of outrage. “Imagine if she said she had something important to say and we told her no. The same critics would accuse us of covering things up.”
Blanche noted that the Justice Department has also continued engaging with victims and victims’ rights organizations, including meetings held as recently as last week.
Epstein Files and Redactions Defended
Blanche also pushed back against criticism over the Justice Department’s heavily redacted release of Epstein-related files on Friday. The release was mandated by legislation signed into law by President Trump last month.
While acknowledging that the department missed its deadline to release all documents, Blanche insisted the DOJ remained in compliance with the law and said redactions were necessary to protect victims and sensitive information.
The handling of the Epstein files, Maxwell’s prison transfer, and ongoing questions about transparency have all fueled renewed scrutiny of the Justice Department’s approach to one of the most high-profile criminal cases in recent history.
