Deputy attorney general seeking meeting with Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Tuesday that he is seeking a meeting with Jeffrey Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The big picture: The MAGA base's rage over the Trump administration's recent handling of the case — which Hill Democrats have gladly seized on — sparked a headache for the administration, with Attorney General Pam Bondi emerging as a key target of their discontent. The president, who amid mounting scrutiny has railed against what he is now calling a "hoax," last week directed Bondi to ask a court to release all relevant grand jury testimony in the disgraced financier's case. Driving the news: Blanche said in a social media post that he has contacted Maxwell's legal team and intends to meet with her soon. "No one is above the law—and no lead is off-limits," he wrote. Editor's note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated with additional information.