【By Observer Net, Ruan Jiaqi】

According to China Central Television News, on the 24th, the name of US President Trump was revealed to have appeared multiple times in the first batch of federal court documents related to the Epstein case, causing a shockwave in the US political arena.

At this critical moment, on Thursday (the 24th) local time, the US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Maxwell, Epstein's accomplice and ex-girlfriend, who is currently serving a sentence.

Notably, Blanche is not only the second-highest-ranking official in the Department of Justice but also previously served as Trump's chief lawyer, defending him in the "hush money" case, and they have a close personal relationship. This dual role has inevitably raised doubts about his involvement in the Epstein case at this time.

According to legal experts, although Blanche's dual roles do not constitute an official conflict of interest, his participation in the case involves numerous potential risks and complex issues.

Legal experts pointed out that during the meeting, Blanche needed to carefully balance his dual responsibilities: on one hand, as a Department of Justice official, he needed to obtain information from Maxwell to serve the public interest; on the other hand, as Trump's former lawyer, he also needed to deal with any content that might embarrass Trump.

"This matter should be handled by someone who is indifferent to the outcome, otherwise the public will find it difficult to believe that their actions are for the public interest," said Bruce Green, a professor of legal ethics at Fordham University School of Law in New York. "The problem with Blanche is that he obviously cannot remain neutral. Not only because he used to be Trump's lawyer, but also because he was able to hold a high position in the Department of Justice, which itself benefited from Trump's appointment."

Photo taken from a video showing the US Deputy Attorney General Blanche arriving at the meeting location on July 24, local time.

It is reported that after Trump's re-election, he broke political traditions by placing several lawyers who had defended him in key positions within the Department of Justice. This decision has been widely criticized, with accusations that it has turned the country's highest law enforcement agency into "the president's private law firm," contradicting its original purpose.

After the prosecutor leading the investigation into Epstein and related cases, Maurene Comey, was suddenly fired by the Trump administration, Blanche began to get involved in the Maxwell case. "This is a typical example of such risks and appears extremely unusual," said the expert.

According to convention, the communication with Maxwell does not require the second-highest-ranking official of the Department of Justice to participate directly. This position should focus on institutional management, and such matters are usually handled by career lawyers in the Department of Justice. More unusually, Blanche himself signed the application requesting the Manhattan federal judge to release the grand jury testimony in the Maxwell case.

In addition to these "unconventional" operations, Blanche has a close personal relationship with Maxwell's attorney, David O. Markus.

Regarding these controversies, the Department of Justice spokesperson declined to comment on Blanche's role in the case.

It is reported that Blanche flew to Tallahassee, Florida, to meet with Maxwell under pressure from the public to disclose more information about the Epstein case. The meeting took place at a local federal court and lasted for six hours.

Multiple sources revealed that the meeting was initiated by Maxwell herself. Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022 for charges including sex trafficking and is currently serving her sentence at a federal prison in Tallahassee, where she is appealing to the US Supreme Court.

The right image shows Epstein and Maxwell.

After the meeting on Thursday, Maxwell's attorney, Markus, stated that Maxwell had a "very productive" conversation with Blanche, and that she "answered all questions truthfully."

Outside the court, Markus told reporters, "He (Blanche) spent the whole day asking many questions, and Ms. Maxwell answered them all." However, he refused to reveal the specific content of the questions Blanche asked, stating only that he and Maxwell were "grateful for the meeting."

When asked if Maxwell could possibly receive a pardon or reduced sentence, Markus said, "There are no promises yet. She is just answering questions now."

Meanwhile, Blanche posted on X, "Today (the 24th), I met with Maxwell, and the Department of Justice will share more information we have learned at an appropriate time." He also revealed that he would meet with Maxwell again on Friday.

Earlier that morning at around 9 o'clock, when Blanche arrived at the federal court, he was asked if there was anything to say before the meeting, and he shook his head and said, "Nothing to add."

This article is an exclusive piece by Observer Net. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7530861226402923071/

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