In 2013, Ghislaine Maxwell received a standing ovation at a Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) luncheon, where her nonprofit, the TerraMar Project, was spotlighted during an ocean conservation segment. The high-profile appearance placed Maxwell alongside other honorees receiving praise for their philanthropic efforts.
What went unspoken that day was already public knowledge: Maxwell had been named in civil lawsuits and press reports linking her to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking operation. Her connection to Epstein’s network was no longer speculative. The allegations were out there — and had been for years.
Mediaite has more on the groundbreaking report that was initially published by CNN’s KFile investigation team:
KFile also reviewed a list which recommended Maxwell to receive complimentary access to the confab. Such a list, according to a source in KFile’s report, indicates that either Bill or Hillary Clinton personally approved the access for Maxwell.
The first allegations that Maxwell had recruited girls for Epstein and even participated in their abuse appeared in American and British media outlets by 2011 — two years before the Clinton event at which Maxwell was feted. The civil claims made by Virginia Roberts Giuffre against Epstein date back even earlier, with Giffure’s lawsuit having been filed in 2009.
Despite Giuffre’s allegation, Maxwell had received little public scrutiny until a February 2011 Daily Mail story on Prince Andrew opened the floodgates. In that story, Giuffre claimed Maxwell had recruited her as a teenager for Epstein. In a follow-up story focused on Maxwell, the Daily Mail went further.
“Damningly, several of the girls alleged that Ghislaine Maxwell had procured them, and one of the girls — who has since settled her civil case out of court with Epstein — even alleged that Ghislaine had taken part in the sexual abuse herself,” according to the Mail’s follow-up.
Aide Warned Clintons in 2011 About Maxwell’s Reputation
According to internal communications made public in previous reporting, longtime Clinton advisor Doug Band had, as early as 2011, recommended that Ghislaine Maxwell be distanced from all Clinton-related activity. He raised red flags about her growing entanglement in the Epstein scandal and cautioned against continued engagement.
Despite that warning, Maxwell was still allowed to attend the 2013 CGI conference — a decision that reportedly required personal approval from either Bill or Hillary Clinton, given the scrutiny surrounding her.
Clinton Foundation Statement Downplays Connection
Responding to renewed interest in Maxwell’s appearance, a Clinton Foundation spokesperson stated that over 600 people received complimentary access to that year’s CGI gathering. They noted that Maxwell’s inclusion stemmed from a broader recognition of oceanic nonprofit initiatives, not from any deliberate focus on her personally.
Still, her public recognition — applause and all — came at a time when many in political and media circles were already distancing themselves from her and Epstein. The Clintons’ decision to take the opposite approach, at the very least, invites renewed scrutiny of the decision-making and vetting practices within their philanthropic and political network.
Congressional Scrutiny Zeroes In
Maxwell’s cameo at the CGI is now one of several focal points for the House Oversight Committee’s broader investigation into Epstein’s global network. The committee has issued subpoenas to both Bill and Hillary Clinton, aiming to assess the extent of their interactions with key figures tied to Epstein, including Maxwell.
As public accountability around Epstein’s enablers widens, the 2013 CGI gala stands out — not just for who was in the room, but for who was applauded.
READ NEXT: Pentagon Eyes Major Domestic Troop Deployment Next Month
Oh the irony of this article. It is well known that Bill Clinton was a major sex predator since his days in Arkansas and that Hilllary was his enabler. And in his ties to Epstein, did we all not read that the Lolletta Express had logs of his many excursions to the island?
whose worse: Maxwell or P Diddly for crimes