President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday that he’s not yet considered a potential pardon for infamous pedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s partner in crime, Ghislane Maxwell, but did say he has the legal authority to do so if he wanted to.
This comment comes after the president and other members of his administration started taking some serious heat for how they have handled the controversial Epstein files. During his presidential campaign in 2024, Trump promised he would release the files, including the long speculated “client list.”
Not long after the ensuing debacle, Ghislaine Maxwell started singing like a bird, saying she was ready to spill the tea to the federal authorities about the sex trafficking ring she ran with her now deceased lover. She’s prepared “new evidence” and spoke with federal officials on Thursday.
Maxwell has been in prison since 2022, following a conviction for trafficking minors. She’s currently serving a two-decade sentence.
via Newsweek:
There have long been rumors of an Epstein “client list,” though it has never been made public. A newly released Justice Department memo concluded there was no evidence of a client list, sparking bipartisan backlash from critics who believe that contradicts earlier statements made by the administration.
A reporter asked Trump whether he had considered giving a pardon or commutation to Maxwell on Friday.
“It’s something I haven’t thought about,” the president responded as he prepared to head for Scotland. “I’m allowed to do it, but it’s something I have not thought about,” he added.
Some Trump critics have speculated that Trump could pardon Maxwell following her meeting with Department of Justice officials to answer fresh questions about the Epstein case.
“She probably wants a pardon from Donald Trump, so her meeting with Trump’s Department of Justice cannot be trusted, and anything she says must be corroborated with documents and records from the actual Epstein files,” Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) said to a local media outlet.
Q: “Would you consider a pardon or a commutation for Ghislaine Maxwell?”
President Trump: “It’s something I haven’t thought about…I’m allowed to do it, but it’s something I have not thought about.” pic.twitter.com/ttkO484bq1
— CSPAN (@cspan) July 25, 2025
While Trump is correct that he has the power and authority to pardon Maxwell, the question is would doing so come with a steep price tag for the Republican Party? Especially with how divisive the Epstein files have proven to be within the MAGA community.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed on X that he would meet with Maxwell again on Friday. Blanche said the DOJ is meeting with Maxwell because she may have critical evidence related to the Epstein investigation. Details on the first meeting remain slim.
This is a super delicate situation. Trump needs to tread ground carefully here. A wrong step could sabotage GOP efforts to gain more seats during the midterms and potentially impact chances of keeping a Republican in the White House come 2028.
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