Trump to Ghislaine: Don't Squeal.

Question: Ghislaine Maxwell is in prison and she's going to turn in powerful people. How do you see that working out?

Trump answer: "I just wish her well, frankly. . . . I wish her well, whatever it is."

Trump sent a very public message to Ghislaine Maxwell, the special friend of Jeffrey Epstein, who knows Epstein's secrets, and Trump's: Don't squeal on me. I've got your back.

Click. One minute of party scene, Trump and Epstein

There are lots of photos of Trump partying with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Trump was a Playboy swinger bachelor on the prowl. He was rich, good looking, and liked the company of beautiful women. It is his brand. It was all over the tabloids. This included time with Jeffrey Epstein, who enjoyed the company of women "on the younger side," as Trump put it.

Click on the video. It shows Trump and Epstein in party mode. Ask yourself: are these men there to exercise restraint and discretion or are they there to have some fun?

We will never know what Ghislaine Maxwell could say about Trump's behavior at Jeffrey's parties, because Trump made only one piece of news at his Corona virus task force briefing yesterday. He was seen sending a message.

It came in his answer to a question from a very supportive news source, the New York Post. The question had the surface appearance of a "got cha" but it was in fact a very friendly one. The questioner mentioned the names of Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton, and then asked Trump what he thought.

Trump said he wished Ghislaine well. 

It is the way Trump has developed as president to do dangerously improper things. Do them openly. In the past Trump had Roy Cohn and then Michael Cohen to fix things quietly. Threaten people with lawsuits. Pay off porn stars. Trump wouldn't need to spell it out ("Tell her attorneys I will pardon her if she stays totally mum.") but even a coded and vague message puts Trump at risk if done quietly because the various people along the chain of communication have a secret to tell, that Trump was witness tampering, a crime.

It is better to do witness tampering right in the open on TV, with such apparent lack of guile or guilt that the act cannot be thought wrong. If you openly tell a reporter on camera that you fired an FBI director to stop an investigation of your alleged criminal acts, then it must be OK. If you attempt a deal with a Ukrainian president, say that it was a perfect phone call. Things only look wrong if one appears to hide them. 

Trump handled the question exactly in the manner that has proven to work for him.  Even though he and his children attack Democrats for being seen in Epstein's presence, Trump openly and apparently guiltlessly acknowledges that of course he knows Ghislaine Maxwell. After all, they are neighbors. But he knows nothing, why would he? They are just casual neighbors. Nothing to be embarrassed about.

Ghislaine, Naomi Campbell, Trump, and Melania

Trump has earned his credibility as a friend to the 100% loyal, and a merciless enemy of the disloyal. Look at poor Jeff Sessions.  Look at Michael Cohen, back in prison.  

Meanwhile, Roger Stone is free, and that was after being prosecuted by the Justice Department and found guilty on multiple counts by a jury. Paul Manafort admitted guilt for tax and bank fraud and was sentenced to 7 1/2 years. The Justice Department is working to reverse the conviction and he is out free right now.  Trump openly talks about pardoning him.

Who knows what happened with Jeffrey Epstein? He was in federal custody after numerous charges of sex trafficking and sex with underage girls. He was the highest profile prisoner in America, and on suicide watch. Somehow the two guards assigned to watch him neglected to do so, there were no video cameras, and he died, somehow, presumably of suicide, before he could testify. All this in a prison in a department headed by A.G. Bill Barr. Dead men tell no tales.

Here is a clip of Trump's full response to the question, at minute 20 in the briefing: Click here

This isn't hard and it isn't mysterious. Trump was talking to her attorneys: Stay alive, Ghislaine. And keep your mouth shut. I take care of my friends.