Trump questions whether Epstein killed himself in prison, doubles down on 'wishing well' for Ghislaine Maxwell
Asked about his previous comments where he said he would "wish her well" when asked about Ghislaine Maxwell, Donald Trump doubled down on the sentiment before questioning whether Jeffrey Epstein had indeed committed suicide as has been reported. Maxwell, a confidante and former girlfriend of Epstein, a convicted pedophile, been accused of being complicit in his sex crimes and was arrested by the FBI at her luxurious New Hampshire home on July 2. She is facing charges of conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and two counts of perjury, and is looking at almost four decades behind bars if convicted.
Trump had previously spoken about Maxwell at a press conference at the White House on July 21 and recounted how they had met. "I just wish her well, frankly" he had said. "I've met her numerous times over the years, especially since I lived in Palm Beach but I wish her well, whatever it is."
Maxwell, a British socialite and heiress, is currently being held at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center, and when Trump was asked why he would "wish her well" during a recent interview with 'Axios on HBO,' he expressed sympathy.
"Her friend or her boyfriend was either killed or committed suicide in jail," he said, "She's now in jail. Yeah, I'd wish her well. I'd wish you well, I'd wish a lot of people well. Good luck. Let them prove somebody was guilty."
Asked to clarify if he meant he didn't want Maxwell to die in jail as well, the president concurred. "Well, her boyfriend died in jail, and people are still trying to figure out how did it happen. Was it suicide? Was he killed? And I do wish her well. I'm not looking for anything bad for her. I'm not looking bad for anybody," he said.
Epstein, a multimillionaire financier, had been arrested last July on federal charges for the sex trafficking of minors in Florida and New York and was found hanging in his cell a little over a month later. While the medical examiner ruled the death a suicide, questions have been raised on whether he was killed so he could not testify against the other powerful people who are also allegedly involved in his sex-trafficking ring.
Following Maxwell's arrest on similar charges and reports that she had chosen to cooperate with the authorities, concerns were raised for her safety in prison as well. Attorney General William Barr, however, assured that all the necessary steps had been taken to ensure she would neither be able to kill herself or be harmed.
"We have asked them [prison officials] to tell us specifically the protocols they're following and we have a number of redundant systems to monitor the situation," he revealed, adding he had been incensed when he learned of Epstein's death because he was confident in their case against him.
"I was livid obviously," he said. "I believed very strongly in that case and I was very proud of the work done by the department, the Southern District on that case, and as you recall, after he committed suicide, I said that I was confident that we would continue to pursue this case vigorously and continue to pursue anyone who was complicit in it. I was very happy we were able to get Ms. Maxwell."