WASHINGTON - Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex trafficker at the center of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, told senior Justice Department officials last month that she does not believe Epstein was a paid Israeli intelligence agent. Now seeking a reduced sentence or a pardon from President Donald Trump, Maxwell also addressed Epstein's ties to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.

The transcripts stopped short of providing any incriminating information.

The Trump administration has been criticized for reneging on promises to release files about sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.