World News | Trump Says of Ghislaine Maxwell, 'I Wish Her Well'

Washington, Jul 22 (AP) President Donald Trump on Tuesday offered sympathetic words to Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime companion of Jeffrey Epstein who stands accused of facilitating the abuse of girls by the now-deceased sex offender.

“I just wish her well, frankly," Trump said when asked about Maxwell during a news conference.

Also Read | 'You Can't go Make Claims For Maritime Regions That You Have no Lawful Claim to', Says Mike Pompeo on China: Live News Breaking and Coronavirus Updates on July 21, 2020.

Maxwell, 58, was denied bail last week and is to remain behind bars as she awaits trial on charges she recruited girls for the financier to sexually abuse more than two decades ago.

The British socialite was a romantic partner of Epstein, who killed himself in prison several weeks after being charged with sex trafficking.

Also Read | Donald Trump Signs Memorandum to Exclude Undocumented Migrants Living in US From Reapportionment Following 2020 Census.

An indictment alleged that Maxwell groomed the victims to endure sexual abuse and was sometimes there when Epstein abused them.

It also alleged she lied during a 2016 deposition in a civil case.

Epstein associated over the years with many high-profile figures in politics and business, including Trump, former President Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew of Britain and the retail mogul Leslie Wexner.

“I've met her numerous times over the years, especially since I lived in Palm Beach, and I guess they lived in Palm Beach,” Trump said of Maxwell.

Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to state charges in Florida of procuring a person under 18 for prostitution and felony solicitation of prostitution.

He served 13 months, most of it on work release program at a county jail. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)