President Donald Trump said Friday he hasn’t considered granting a pardon or clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking.
“I haven’t thought about it. I’m allowed to do it, but it’s something I have not thought about.”
Trump told reporters outside the White House.
When asked again later, Trump declined to elaborate. “I don’t want to talk about that,” he said, but expressed confidence in Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who had met with Maxwell and her lawyers for two days this week in Tallahassee, Florida.
“He’s a professional lawyer. He’s been through things like this before.”
Maxwell’s legal team confirmed the DOJ meetings, with her attorney David Oscar Markus saying Maxwell “has no reason to lie” and is committed to telling the truth.
“We just ask that folks look at what she has to say with an open mind,” he said.
While Trump downplayed his involvement, he also reiterated his distance from Epstein. “I never went to his island,” he noted.
Since returning to office, Trump has issued 58 pardons and 12 commutations, including clemency for hundreds of January 6 defendants.
Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on the Justice Department to release Epstein-related documents. The House Oversight Committee plans to subpoena Maxwell for a deposition on August 11 and demand additional DOJ records.
Some lawmakers have accused Republican leadership of avoiding a vote to compel the DOJ by recessing early for summer. The DOJ has said it has no “Epstein client list,” despite prior claims by Attorney General Pam Bondi.
As the Epstein story continues to resurface, the White House has remained focused on other matters—including comments about former President Obama and recently declassified documents related to 2016 election interference.
Asked about last year’s Supreme Court immunity ruling, Trump said it may help Obama personally, but not others around him. “He’s done criminal acts, there’s no question about it, but he has immunity,” Trump claimed.
Despite speculation, there’s no indication that a pardon for Maxwell is imminent. For now, Trump says it’s not on his mind.
