The Justice Department released transcripts of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche's two-day interview with convicted sex trafficker and Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Nikole Killion has details.

Washington

The Justice Department has made public over 300 pages of interview transcripts with Ghislaine Maxwell. In the interview, Maxwell denied the existence of a client list or any blackmail involving Jeffrey Epstein, stating she was unaware of such activities. She praised President Trump and said she never witnessed any inappropriate behavior by him or other high-profile individuals. Maxwell was transferred to a lower-security prison following the interview. The transcript release comes amid public and legislative calls for transparency regarding the Epstein case. Maxwell expressed her belief that Epstein was murdered, while former Attorney General Bill Barr reaffirmed his conclusion that Epstein's death was a suicide.

Ghislaine Maxwell interview transcripts released by Justice Department

Ghislaine Maxwell, in her own words, denying the existence of a client list involving the late convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. There is no list. There is no, I'm not aware of any blackmail. I never heard that, I never saw it, and I never imagined it. The 300-plus page transcript released late Friday by the Justice Department follows a two-day interview last month with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who previously served as the president's personal attorney. President Trump was always very cordial and very kind to me, and I just want to say that I find, I admire his extraordinary achievement in becoming the president now. Maxwell had nothing but praise for the president while her lawyer has made it clear she's interested in a pardon. She claimed she never saw any improper or sexual behavior involving him or any other high-profile figures. I actually never saw the president in any type of massage setting. I never witnessed the president in any inappropriate setting in any way. The president was never inappropriate with anybody. Do you know whether, for example, President Clinton ever received a massage? I don't believe he did. Following the interview, Maxwell was transferred to a lower-security prison in Texas. The release comes as the administration has been under growing pressure from lawmakers and the public to fully disclose the Epstein files. When it's a release, people shouldn't be hurt, but I'm in support of keeping it totally open. Epstein was found dead in his detention cell back in 2019 while he was awaiting trial. Maxwell said in her interview that she believes he was murdered. But earlier this week at a congressional deposition, former Attorney General Bill Barr, who probed Epstein's death, says he still stands by his finding that it was suicide.

The FBI searched former national security adviser John Bolton's house in Bethesda, Maryland, early Friday morning, the bureau confirmed to CBS News.

FBI raids former Trump adviser John Bolton's home, D.C. office

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland construction worker deported to El Salvador and then returned to the U.S. on smuggling charges, has been released from prison in Tennessee, his attorneys say.

Nashville

Kilmar Abrego Garcia released from jail in Tennessee

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Pembroke

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The FBI raided former Trump national security adviser John Bolton's house in Bethesda, Maryland, CBS News has confirmed. Jake Rosen has more.

Bethesda

FBI raids John Bolton's home, office

Attorneys general in 14 states and Washington, D.C., accuse TikTok of designing its app to keep users hooked. Court-released edited video shows some company staff discussing the toll it can take on children and teens.

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Los Angeles

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Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Russia launches largest strike in weeks on Ukraine

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Tel Aviv-Yafo

Middle East Conflict

Eyewitness claims U.S. subcontractors fired at Palestinians in Gaza

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California

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New York

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Global Tariffs

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Jerusalem

Israel says it began Gaza City expansion

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Austin

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Moscow

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Texas

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Brussels

NATO chiefs meet virtually about potential Ukraine security guarantees

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North Carolina

Hurricane Erin forces evacuations on U.S. East Coast

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met China’s top diplomat on Tuesday and hailed the “steady progress” made in improving the bilateral relationship after a yearslong standoff between the nuclear-armed Asian powers.

New Delhi

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Toronto

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Hong Kong Island

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East Coast of the United States

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European leaders who converged on the White House for talks on the Russia-Ukraine war demonstrated a united front regarding Ukraine's security on Monday, underscoring the issue as pivotal for the entire continent, not just Ukraine.

Breakdown