TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned former girlfriend of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, finished 1-1/2 days of interviews with Justice Department officials on Friday, answering questions “about 100 different people,” her attorney said.

“She answered those questions honestly, truthfully, to the best of her ability,” David Oscar Markus told reporters outside the federal courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, where Maxwell met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

“She never invoked a privilege. She never refused to answer a question, so we’re very proud of her,” Markus said.

Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence and is housed at a low-security federal prison in Tallahassee. She was sentenced three years ago after being convicted of helping Epstein, a wealthy, well-connected financier, sexually abuse underage girls.

Officials have said Epstein killed himself in his New York jail cell while awaiting trial in 2019, but his case has generated endless attention and conspiracy theories because of his and Maxwell’s links to famous people, such as royals, presidents and billionaires, including Donald Trump.

In a social media post this week, Blanche said Maxwell would be interviewed because of President Trump’s directive to gather and release any credible evidence about others who may have committed crimes.

Trump has denied prior knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and claimed he cut off their relationship long ago. But he faces ongoing questions about the Epstein case, overshadowing his administration’s achievements. On Friday, reporters pressed the Republican president about pardoning Maxwell, but he deflected, emphasizing his administration’s successes.

Markus said Maxwell “was asked maybe about 100 different people.”

“The deputy attorney general is seeking the truth,” Markus said. “He asked every possible question, and he was doing an amazing job.”

Markus said he didn’t ask for anything for Maxwell in return, though he acknowledged that Trump could pardon her.

“Listen, the president this morning said he had the power to do so. We hope he exercises that power in the right and just way,” Markus said.

Earlier this month, the Justice Department said it would not release more files related to the Epstein investigation, despite promises that claimed otherwise from Attorney General Pam Bondi. The department also said an Epstein client list does not exist.

Maxwell is appealing her conviction, based on the government’s pledge years ago that any potential Epstein co-conspirators would not be charged, Markus said. Epstein struck a deal with federal prosecutors in 2008 that shifted his case to Florida state court, where he pleaded guilty to soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution.

Epstein in 2019 and Maxwell in 2020 were charged in federal court in New York.

White reported from Detroit.

TONIGHT

Scattered storms may linger through the early overnight, especially north of I-70. While severe weather isn’t expected, any storm could bring heavy rain and brief gusty winds. Otherwise, skies will trend mostly cloudy with lows in the mid-70s. Winds calm to around 5 mph overnight.

TOMORROW

Hot and humid with another round of scattered to numerous thunderstorms expected during the afternoon and evening. Some downpours could be heavy, with localized flooding possible. Highs reach the low 90s with heat index values near 100. Southwest winds around 5 mph.

TOMORROW NIGHT

Showers and storms continue into the evening before gradually tapering off overnight. Skies remain mostly cloudy with lows in the mid-70s. Patchy fog may develop in spots that receive heavier rain. Winds stay light from the southwest around 5 mph.

SUNDAY

Another hot and humid day. A few storms are likely by mid to late afternoon, especially south of Indy. Otherwise, partly sunny with highs near 90 and heat indices again in the upper 90s. Winds from the west-southwest at 5 mph.

SUNDAY NIGHT

Storms remain possible early, mainly before 8 p.m., then partly cloudy overnight. Lows stay in the mid-70s. West-southwest winds around 5 mph becoming calm.

MONDAY

Mostly sunny, hot, and steamy with only a slight chance of a pop-up storm in the afternoon. Highs climb into the mid-90s with heat indices over 100. Winds light and variable, generally becoming west at 5 mph.

7 DAY FORECAST

Hot and humid conditions remain locked in through Tuesday, with highs in the 90s and heat indices frequently pushing 100 to 110. Storm chances decrease Monday and Tuesday, though isolated pop-ups can’t be ruled out. By Wednesday, a cold front may try to break the heat, bringing increased rain chances and a modest dip in temps. If it clears the area, Thursday and Friday could offer a small break, with highs backing into the 80s and lower humidity. If not, the oppressive heat and sticky air will persist to end the month.

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (WISH) — Back home again in Indiana! At least that’s how it feels for NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson.

Two months after racing in his second-straight Indianapolis 500, Larson returned to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to defend his Brickyard 400 crown after an impressive win last July.

“It’s just always good to come back to this beautiful facility with so much history, especially coming back after winning the Brickyard 400 last year. Hopefully, we can do the same this year,” Larson said. “I’ve always felt like I’ve had a huge fanbase when I come to Indy because it does feel like a second home in a lot of ways. I definitely feel the support, and I enjoy it.”

Thanks to the Indy 500, Larson has had more time driving around the oval than most of his competitors. They know how hard it will be to stop him Sunday.

“The knowledge he gained from the IndyCar really set him up for a good race last year in the Cup Series,” Richard Childress Racing driver Austin Dillon said. “I bet that our cars slow down a little when you’re racing an IndyCar out here. He was doing a couple things that definitely helped give him leverage throughout the event.”

“It’s really hard to beat Kyle Larson at anything and that’s in anything he drives including the Cup Series,” Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain laughed. “We’re Chevy teammates with him so we see what they did and the changes and the driving of what he was able to adapt to. He’s just really good at adapting. If we compete with the 5, then we’ll have a shot.”

Larson might not have been able to kiss the bricks in the month of May, but a win Sunday would make him just the seventh driver in Cup Series history to win multiple Brickyard 400s.

It would also mean back-to-back victories. The last time that happened was in 2020 with Kevin Harvick.

Larson knows just how special making that history would be.

“That’d be awesome,” Larson said. “We’re going to give it our best effort for sure this weekend. It’s a tough track for passing so you do have to lean on your team a bit, and your strategy and your pit crew and everybody involved, so I think that’s what makes winning here at the Brickyard special is that it takes not just yourself. It takes your whole team. I know it will be a tough race. We just have to try to keep it up front.”

And maybe kiss those bricks one more time.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The man who shot and killed his wife Thursday was a convicted felon with a history of domestic violence, I-Team learned on Friday.

Walter McNary, 76, led Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers on a chase when they tried to pull him over for shooting his wife.

A mugshot from 2011 showed McNary in the Indiana Department of Corrections. He was in prison for violating probation linked drug charges. He was released right before Christmas.

According to court documents, in early May 2012, he came home at 4 a.m. and woke up his wife, Nola, by hitting her. That morning, he hit her several times, choked her, and threatened to kill her.

He ultimately took a plea deal, was given probation, and ordered to complete 26 weeks of domestic violence counseling.

Fast forward 13 years to the scene Thursday on North Ritter Avenue. It’s where McNary shot his wife, Nola, just after 7 in the morning.

The family told I-Team 8 that Nola had been staying at her sister’s house to get away from Walter.

Nola’s friend told us what happened was a surprise. Monica Gather said, “We never expected it, but behind every smile could be some sadness. You never know what somebody’s going through. If you see signs in a domestic dispute just run. Just run, because one sign can be the sign of many bad signs.”

Help is available for victims of domestic violence. Below is a list of suggested resources on the Domestic Violence Network website:

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788
• National Domestic Violence Hotline en español: 800-799-7233 o texto “START” al 88788
• Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence: 24-hour hotline available at 800-332-7385
• Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking
• La Plaza Indy
• The Julian Center
• Indiana Child Abuse Hotline: 800-800-5556
• National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-4673

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) — Bloomington Police Department said Friday that it arrested several people on drug-related charges during a planned operation Thursday at Seminary Park.

The arrests were part of an ongoing investigation into drug activities in the area, which had been a focus for detectives for several weeks, police said in a news release. The operation followed reports of criminal activity in the area.

Mayor Kerry Thomson emphasized the importance of community safety. He said in a statement, “Predatory, criminal behavior will not be tolerated in Bloomington.”

The Democratic mayor also highlighted the city’s commitment to supporting prevention, treatment, and recovery to address the root causes of substance use disorders.

The 1.2-acre park, which was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, is at the corner of College Avenue and Second Street. The park is known for hosting concerts, movie screenings and festivals including the indie craft show Bloomington Handmade Market.

The release said detectives will continue their investigations into drug activities in the vicinity of city parks, with more arrests likely in the near future, the release said.

The people arrested included Joshua A. Stump, 40, charged with two high-level felony counts of dealing methamphetamine; a high-level felony count of dealing a controlled substance; two mid-level felony counts of dealing methamphetamine; and a misdemeanor count of possession of paraphernalia.

Daniel D. Floyd, 46, faces a mid-level felony count of dealing methamphetamine.

Jason F. Johnson, 55, faces a mid-level felony count of dealing cocaine or a narcotic drug; a low-level felony count of possession of methamphetamine; and misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance, and possession of paraphernalia.

William N. Porter, 51, faces a mid-level felony count of dealing methamphetamine; a low-level felony count of possession of methamphetamine; a low-level felony count of possession of cocaine or a narcotic drug; two low-level felony counts of legend drug deception; a low-level felony count of possession of a syringe; and a misdemeanor count of possession of paraphernalia.

Anthony L. Sikes, 40, faces a low-level felony count of dealing a controlled substance; and a misdemeanor count of possession of paraphernalia.

William A. Conner, 28, faces a low-level felony count of possession of syringe.

Donald J. Haviland, 53, faces misdemeanor counts of dealing marijuana, and possession of marijuana.

Mark E. Lake, 54, faces a misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana.

The Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office will decide whether to file formal charges.

Monroe County Sheriff’s Office on Friday could provide jail booking photos for only six of the eight people arrested.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The number of people experiencing homelessness in Indianapolis is climbing, up 7% from last year. That’s despite the city’s goal to make meaningful change by 2025.

“I just see it getting worse and worse,” Indianapolis native Reggie Johnson said.

I-Team 8 spoke with Johnson outside the City-County Building. It’s where he and many unhoused neighbors spend their days, fighting for a spot under the trees to avoid the heat.

He says he feels forgotten by people in power. “I’ve been put in a situation where I had to go to the mission, and all that, because I couldn’t afford the cost of living, because it’s too high.”

A total of 1,815 people in Marion County currently don’t have housing, according to new data from the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention. It’s the highest tally since 2021. This year is also less than a hundred away from 2021’s number, which marked a 15-year high.

More than 1,000 of this year’s number identify as Black. That means about 56% of the county’s homeless residents are Black.

It’s a sobering statistic for the Rev. David W. Greene Sr. He’s the president of the Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis and helps oversee the Indianapolis Continuum of Care to help reduce homelessness. “It’s a clear indicator that we have a systemic problem, not just an individual issue or failure, but it’s really systemic that we all have to address. Looking at the root causes of homelessness, especially for Black people.”

A few years ago, the city announced an initiative specifically targeting ending homelessness for Black residents.

“We wanted, the goal was to reduce it by 35% and we were not able to do that,” Greene said. “I had hopes, when we started with that initiative, that we would see significant drops in it. But, that has not happened for a multiplicity of reasons.”

City leaders recently announced a new initiative aimed at ending homelessness in the city by 2028. Greene says leaders need to mean what they say.

“To demonstrate we’re trying to solve this problem,” Greene said. “We’re not just content to try to manage it, we’re saying we’re going to solve this.”

“They aren’t too much concerned about the homeless because if it was the case there would be other buildings in places like this right here, that they’re doing nothing with them where they can help house homeless people,” Johnson said.

Related coverage on WISHTV.com

• Homeless encampment expands in Indianapolis neighborhood
• Indianapolis sees 26% decrease in veteran homelessness, HVAF report says
• Man found dead at homeless encampment on Tibbs Avenue; IMPD investigating
• Mayor Hogsett announces Streets to Home Indy initiative, 350 people to be housed
• Compass on Washington making a difference for Indianapolis homeless community
• Homeless woman highlights challenges of living on the streets

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Hamilton County Parks is offering guided tours of the Coxhall Mansion and Museum, providing insights into the Cox Family legacy and their historical ties to the region.

The tours will allow guests to explore the stately mansion and its grounds, as well as view a miniature replica of the Governor’s Palace in Williamsburg, which inspired many architectural details of the Coxhall Mansion.

The Coxhall Guild plays a significant role in supporting the Coxhall Gardens by raising funds to enhance educational and recreational opportunities.

This support is crucial for the maintenance and improvement of the historic property. In addition to the tours, the Posh Picnic event, co-chaired by Jan and Tina, is scheduled for August 16.

This event is a creative gathering where attendees can set up themed tables, enjoy cocktails, and dance to music provided by a DJ. Tim Griffin will serve as the emcee for the evening.

The Posh Picnic not only offers a fun and engaging experience for participants but also serves as a fundraiser to support the upkeep of Coxhall Gardens and the mansion.

The event encourages creativity and community involvement, with themes ranging from ‘Spirit of Indiana’ to ‘On the Road Again.’

Through events like the guided tours and the Posh Picnic, Hamilton County Parks and the Coxhall Guild continue to preserve and celebrate the rich history and beauty of Coxhall Gardens, ensuring its legacy for future generations.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Gov. Mike Braun said he doesn’t expect problems with conditions at a planned ICE detention facility at Camp Atterbury in Johnson County.

According to immigrant rights groups, migrants held at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities have reported significant overcrowding and limited access to food and medical care. Braun told reporters he wouldn’t support the use of Camp Atterbury for a new temporary facility if he didn’t believe those conditions could be avoided there. Camp Atterbury is a federal installation managed by the Indiana National Guard.

“I’ve been clear, I’m for helping remove criminals after they came in here illegally. And some of the egregious ones, we’d all agree with,” the Republican governor said. “So if we’ve got a facility, we’re going to be helpful, because I’ve been on record in support of that.”

In an interview with News 8 for Sunday’s “All INdiana Politics,” U.S. Rep. André Carson, D-Indiana, said he’s still trying to figure out whether ICE or the Indiana National Guard would have primary responsibility for the day-to-day running of the facility. He said the Indiana National Guard already is responsible for daily operations at Camp Atterbury and the facility likely will involve some level of cooperation between the guard and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“(Camp Atterbury) has been used on a temporary basis, as we know, for emergency response needs. But deportation policies are not an emergency,” he said. “As a former law enforcement officer, I know there are bad actors who need to be held accountable. That’s not what’s happening. What’s happening is, families are being ripped apart, folks are being unfairly targeted for minor infractions or no infractions at all.”

“All INdiana Politics” airs at 9:30 a.m. Sunday on WISH-TV.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The number 13 is unlucky for some people, but it might turn out to be a very lucky number for a sassy shelter sweetheart in Boone County.

Thirteen months ago, Cutie arrived at the Humane Society for Boone County. With her big heart and an even bigger personality, this spunky pup quickly became a staff favorite.

As the months passed and shelter visitors came and went, Cutie waited on her forever family to arrive. More than a year later, she’s she’s still waiting.

“She’s equal parts zoom queen and nap ninja, with the instincts of an explorer and the snuggle skills of a weighted blanket. She’s also suspiciously smart — like, ‘teach me a trick and I’ll one-up it for fun’ smart,” Alexis Durbin of Friends of the Humane Society for Boone County told News 8.

Cutie does well with other dogs, is crate-comfy, and would thrive in a home with adults and older kids who understand her vibe: go hard on the trail, then go soft on the couch. She loves playing in kiddie pools, making her the perfect companion on hot summer days.

Durbin says Cutie has stolen the hearts of everyone at the humane society, but it’s past time she steals someone’s heart for good:

Cutie isn’t just looking for any home — she’s ready for her people, those who know that sometimes, the very best dogs are the ones who’ve waited a little longer… and have way more love to give because of it.

Did we mention that this shelter sweetheart looks fantastic in a tutu?

“Come meet her,” Durbin said. “You might just change her life…and she’ll absolutely change yours!”

If you think Cutie would be a great addition to your family, email hsforbc@gmail.com to schedule a meet and greet.

(Provided Photos/Humane Society for Boone County)

SPEEDWAY, Ind (WISH) — An online content creator is setting the pace for women at the race track, bringing her series of fan meetups to NASCAR for the first time this weekend at the Brickyard 400.

Armed with a wrist full of friendship bracelets and the desire to meet more, Sarah Offenbach started to host meetups at IndyCar races last season.

Online, she goes by “Offey on Track.” A year and a half later she has nearly five thousand followers across different platforms and dozens of new friends in person.

She grew up around motorsports, and later married a racing engineer.

Offenbach spends a lot of time at racetracks supporting her husband. She took that time and her passion to start posting motorsports content online.

Along the way, she was waitlisted for tickets to Taylor Swift‘s Eras Tour.

“I knew that I would miss out on the connection of trading the friendship bracelets,” Offenbach said. “So I brought friendship bracelets to a race and started passing them out just to whoever … a lot of guys were like, I don’t know what to do with this.”

Those connections turned into friendships. While she admits she didn’t set out to create a women-focused community — it quickly became one.

Now her meetups are a staple for many on race weekends.

She says the goal is to create a safe space to continue to grow the sport that she loves.

“That is very important to me, making sure everyone feels welcome and kind of teaching new fans, the ropes and how welcoming the community is. There are people that look like you and love this sport and are interested in being involved in the sport.”

As her husband’s career shifts gears, she’s now at more NASCAR races.

Other fans are stepping in to host meetups at the IndyCar events she can’t attend.

Chloe Amaro first met Offenbach at the St. Pete Grand Prix at one of her events. This weekend, she helped organize a meetup this weekend at the Monterry Grand Prix.

She says it’s great to see fans embrace the community they’ve created.

“We had somebody comment on a TikTok that said, like, ‘Hey, I’m going with my mom this weekend. Like, can I bring my mom?” Amora said. “‘Bring mom. We love moms. Come hang out.”

It’s a movement Offenbach hopes can continue to race forward for all.

“It warms my heart that there’s something people look forward to, other than just the race,” Offenbach said. “It’s a community aspect of it.”

This week, “Offey on Track” is hosting her first meetup at a NASCAR race for the Brickyard 400. It’s Sunday at 11 a.m. on Pagoda Plaza.”