Washington (CNN) — The President of U.S, Donald Trump, said Tuesday that she wishes “good” to Ghislaine Maxwell, who faces charges of recruiting, preparing and finally sexually abusing minors as young as 14 as an alleged accomplice of Jeffrey Epstein.
READ: Who is Ghislaine Maxwell, the woman at the center of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal
“I only wish him the best, frankly,” he said. Trump during a press conference at the White House on the pandemic of coronavirus.
Trump acknowledged that he had met Maxwell “numerous times” over the years, but said he had not been following his case.
The president was also asked if he believes Maxwell will turn against powerful men, including Prince Andrew, who has faced public pressure to explain his relationship with Epstein and one of his accusers, Virginia Roberts Giuffre. Giuffre has alleged that she was forced to have sexual encounters with the prince while he was a minor.
Trump replied to Maxwell: “I do not know. I really haven’t followed him too much. I only wish him the best, frankly. I have met her on numerous occasions over the years, especially since I lived in Palm Beach. I guess they lived in Palm Beach. But I wish you well. Whatever it is. I don’t know the situation with Prince Andrew. I just don’t know. I do not know”.
Maxwell is a former confidant and ex-girlfriend of Epstein, the alleged billionaire sex trafficker who died by suicide in prison last year.
Maxwell is charged with incitement and conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sexual acts, transportation, and conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and two counts of perjury. She was denied bail last week. She has denied any crime.
The federal judge who ordered Maxwell to remain in jail awaiting his trial said that her significant financial resources, international ties and her “extraordinary ability to avoid detection” made her an individual at risk of flight.
CNN’s Erica Orden and Kara Scannell contributed to this report.
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