White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany is giving an explanation for President Donald Trump’s well-wishes remark to alleged sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.
When mentioning Maxwell is accused of “recruiting, grooming, sexually abusing underage girls,” Fox News’ Bret Baier asked McEnany about Trump’s recent remark in a message to Maxwell.
In response, McEnany said, “What the president was noting is that the last person who was charged in [Epstein’s] case ended up dead in a jail cell, and the president wants justice to be served for the victims in this case, and he prefers this to play out in a courtroom.”
Asked if she has talked with the president about his comments, McEnany said, “I have spoken to him about that.”
“This president is the president that banned Jeffrey Epstein from coming to Mar-a-Lago,” the press secretary then added. “This president was always on top of this, ahead of this, noting this, banning this man from his property long before this case was even being played out in a court of law.”
See McEnany’s comments below:
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany tries to explain Trump's well wishes for Ghislaine Maxwell pic.twitter.com/lP7qb7ePnz
— Talking Points Memo (@TPM) July 23, 2020
During a press briefing this week, a reporter asked Trump if he thinks Maxwell will “turn in powerful men,” to which the president responded, “I don’t know, I haven’t really been following it too much.”
“I just wish her well, frankly,” Trump said. “I’ve met her numerous times over the years — especially since I lived in Palm Beach, and I guess they lived in Palm Beach — but I wish her well, whatever it is.”
In case you missed it:
JUST IN: Pres. Trump on Ghislaine Maxwell, longtime companion of infamous sex offender Jeffrey Epstein: "I just wish her well, frankly."
— ABC News (@ABC) July 21, 2020
Maxwell pleaded not guilty last week to federal sex trafficking charges. https://t.co/YEerOPitZL pic.twitter.com/uqsRKrMteY
Maxwell has denied charges in helping convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein lure underage girls. She pleaded not guilty. Maxwell’s trial is expected to start on July 12, 2021.
