In a newly released Justice Department transcript dated July 24–25, Ghislaine Maxwell claimed she played a “very central” role in the creation of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). Speaking from federal prison in an interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Maxwell described her involvement in CGI as significant and said that Jeffrey Epstein supported her efforts. However, she also suggested that Epstein may have attempted to leverage her position within the initiative for his own influence. These statements mark a rare, direct acknowledgment of her role in a high-profile philanthropic enterprise linked to a former U.S. president.

CNN reported that Maxwell was publicly recognized at the 2013 CGI conference, where her nonprofit, The TerraMar Project, received formal acknowledgment. At the event, she was applauded during a luncheon and described by attendees as having received a rare and prestigious level of recognition. A spokesperson for the Clinton Foundation responded by clarifying that over 600 complimentary admissions were granted for that year’s CGI event, with decisions made by staff and with some input from President Clinton’s office. The statement appeared to downplay the significance of Maxwell’s presence, presenting it as one of many routine invitations.

Maxwell also recounted her personal interactions with members of the Clinton family. She claimed she first met former President Bill Clinton at a White House function and later accompanied him to the World Economic Forum in Davos. Additionally, she stated that she met Hillary Clinton once during a flight and had attended Chelsea Clinton’s wedding—allegedly without Epstein. These revelations add new details to the already scrutinized relationships between Epstein’s network and powerful political figures, renewing questions about the extent of those associations.

David Oscar Markus, Maxwell’s attorney, maintained her innocence and emphasized that her cooperation with the Justice Department in this interview was thorough and credible. He highlighted what he described as her unfair treatment in prison, stating that she had endured years of harsh incarceration and “should never have been convicted.” Markus framed Maxwell’s statements as evidence of transparency and sought to portray her as a scapegoat in a broader scandal involving Epstein.

These developments have reignited public and media interest in the complex web of connections between Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and various high-profile individuals, including the Clintons. While all parties involved have continued to deny any wrongdoing, Maxwell’s detailed comments and the DOJ transcript have added new fuel to ongoing investigations and public debate about the nature and depth of her relationships with powerful figures in politics and philanthropy.