A newly released Justice Department transcript is shedding fresh light on the ties between Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted associate of financier Jeffrey Epstein, and the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). The documents, which surfaced this week, reveal Maxwell describing herself as “very central” to the early development of the initiative—a revelation that has reignited scrutiny over her connections to powerful figures.

The transcript comes from a two-day interview conducted on July 24–25 by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche while Maxwell was being held at the federal prison facility in Tallahassee, Florida. During the interview, Maxwell offered detailed explanations of her involvement with the Clinton initiative, which she portrayed as significant and well-supported by Epstein.

The Clinton Global Initiative, established as a project of the Clinton Foundation, brings together world leaders, corporate executives, philanthropists, activists, and government officials. Its annual meetings have historically been among the foundation’s most high-profile events.

Blanche directly questioned Maxwell about her level of participation in CGI’s earliest stages.
“You were part of the ramp up or the startup of the Clinton Global Initiative?” he asked.

“I was,” Maxwell responded confidently. “I would say very central to that, yes.” She further claimed that Epstein had encouraged her work with CGI and was “very enthusiastic” about her involvement. At the same time, Maxwell suggested that Epstein may have attempted to use her position to gain influence of his own.

“He supported me to help them,” she said, “but I think he may have tried to insert himself in some way. That would not have surprised me at all.” Maxwell added that Epstein occasionally criticized her ideas or decisions, leading to friction. “I was like, ‘It’s not your idea. I don’t really care what you think,’” she recalled. “That didn’t go over so well.”

Despite allegations already circulating at the time linking Maxwell and Epstein to sex trafficking, Maxwell not only continued her public appearances but was even honored at a major CGI function. A CNN investigation reported that she attended CGI’s 2013 annual meeting as a “guest of merit,” where she was acknowledged at an ocean-themed luncheon for the conservation efforts of her now-defunct organization, The TerraMar Project. Video from the event shows Maxwell receiving applause.

Sources who spoke to CNN described the recognition as “rare” and “prestigious,” emphasizing that only a small number of attendees were highlighted in this way each year.

In response to renewed questions about Maxwell’s presence at CGI events, a spokesperson for the Clinton Foundation noted that the organization approved more than 600 complimentary admissions for the 2013 meeting. These approvals, the spokesperson emphasized, were handled by staff, including the office of former President Bill Clinton, rather than by Clinton personally.

During the interview, Maxwell also recounted her past interactions with Bill Clinton. She said she had accompanied him to Davos at least once and had met him initially during a White House event. She described Clinton as her friend, not Epstein’s, and insisted that the former president had never visited Epstein’s private island.

Maxwell also said she had encountered Hillary Clinton on a flight, though she could not recall precise details. “I want to say—please don’t hold me to it—that it was a flight coming from Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard back to New York,” she told Blanche. “I might be wrong.”

She further stated that she attended Chelsea Clinton’s wedding with a former boyfriend. Epstein, she clarified, did not attend the ceremony.

Following the release of the transcript, Maxwell’s attorney David Oscar Markus issued a statement asserting her innocence and claiming the documents strengthen her defense. “Ghislaine Maxwell is innocent and never should have been tried, much less convicted, in this case,” Markus said in comments provided to Fox News.

He continued: “The materials newly released by the Department of Justice make this clear. Ms. Maxwell answered every question. She did not refuse to respond and did not dodge any question. She supported her answers with documents and other objective evidence. Her demeanor and credibility are clear for anyone to hear.”

Markus also emphasized what he described as the harsh conditions Maxwell has endured. “She was able to do this despite five torturous years in custody, some of which in the worst imaginable conditions.”

The transcript adds yet another chapter to the broader saga surrounding Maxwell, Epstein, and the prominent public figures who crossed their paths. While many questions remain unanswered, the newly public interview provides a rare opportunity to hear Maxwell’s own perspective—and has revived debates about just how deeply she was woven into the circles of political and philanthropic power.