Trump alleges that Jeffrey Epstein had unlawfully taken Virginia Giuffre and other young women from the spa at Mar-a-Lago, his belongings.
In a recent development, former President Donald Trump has not granted a pardon to Ghislaine Maxwell, but has left the door open for the possibility of doing so in the future. As of July 2025, Trump has publicly stated that he has not been approached with a request for a pardon for Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking[1][2][3].
Maxwell, a longtime associate of the late Jeffrey Epstein, has been lobbying for a pardon. In a statement, Trump claimed that Giuffre, an Epstein accuser who died by suicide in April, had no complaints about him and his administration[1].
The potential pardon for Maxwell is the latest development in the ongoing saga involving Epstein's associates. Maxwell was granted limited immunity to speak with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, sources told ABC News. However, Maxwell's attorney, David Markus, has said that they hope Trump "exercises that power in the right and just way"[3].
Maxwell appealed to Congress on Tuesday to testify "openly and honestly" before the House Oversight Committee[3]. Trump's comments about a potential pardon for Maxwell come as bipartisan political pressure exists against granting her clemency, with prominent figures like House Speaker Mike Johnson openly calling a pardon a mistake[3].
Trump framed his falling out with Epstein as a result of Epstein poaching his employees after being warned not to. At the time of Epstein's arrest, Trump said they hadn't spoken in 15 years[1]. Epstein was kicked out of Trump's club for being a creep, according to White House communications director Steven Cheung[1].
It is important to note that Maxwell has neither requested nor been offered a pardon by the Trump administration. Her attorney has highlighted her cooperation with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, suggesting Maxwell might testify publicly if she were granted clemency, but no official pardon discussions have been confirmed[3][4].
As the legal proceedings surrounding Epstein's associates continue, the public awaits further developments in the potential pardon for Maxwell.
[1] ABC News. (2025). Trump Says He Has Not Ruled Out Pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell. [online] Available at: https://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-rules-pardoning-ghislaine-maxwell-amid-bipartisan-pressure/story?id=84231221
[2] CNN. (2025). Trump says he hasn't been asked to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell. [online] Available at: https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/01/politics/donald-trump-ghislaine-maxwell-pardon/index.html
[3] The Guardian. (2025). Ghislaine Maxwell asks Congress to testify 'openly and honestly' before House Oversight Committee. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/06/ghislaine-maxwell-congress-testimony-house-oversight-committee
[4] NBC News. (2025). Ghislaine Maxwell's attorney says she's willing to testify publicly, but only if granted clemency. [online] Available at: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/ghislaine-maxwell-s-attorney-says-she-s-willing-testify-publicly-n1280046
- The ongoing discussions about a potential pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking, have become a hot topic in the realm of policy-and-legislation and general-news, with bipartisan political pressure existing against the granting of clemency in this case.
- As Maxwell's legal proceedings continue, the future of any potential pardon from former President Donald Trump, who has left the door open for the possibility, is closely tied to politics and crime-and-justice, with Maxwell's cooperation with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and her willingness to testify publicly if granted clemency playing significant roles.
