Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex trafficker and associate of Jeffrey Epstein, was honoured at a Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) conference in 2013, four years after sexual abuse accusations against her first emerged, CNN has reported. Maxwell attended the event as a guest of merit, receiving applause for her work on ocean conservation.
The invitation came despite a directive from top Clinton aide Doug Band to remove Maxwell from all lists for Clinton-related events. CNN reported that her complimentary access suggested the invitation was personally recommended by either Bill or Hillary Clinton. A Clinton representative said more than 600 complimentary tickets were approved at staff level, which included the office of President Clinton.
Maxwell’s presence at the 2013 conference occurred after Virginia Roberts Giuffre had accused her in a 2009 lawsuit of recruiting and grooming her for sexual abuse by Epstein. That same year, Maxwell was subpoenaed to testify in the case as she left a CGI event. She later attended Chelsea Clinton’s wedding in 2010.
A spokesperson for Bill Clinton said the former president “knows nothing about Jeffrey Epstein’s terrible crimes” and described Maxwell’s attendance as “someone working on ocean conservation attending a charitable conference 12 years ago, along with thousands of other people, and nothing more”. However, the report has reignited questions about the Clintons’ continued association with Maxwell after the allegations surfaced.
In a recent interview with the Trump justice department, Maxwell claimed Bill Clinton never visited Epstein’s island and described his flights on Epstein’s plane as connected to humanitarian projects. She said Clinton never received a massage on the plane, adding: “I was there.”
