WASHINGTON − President Donald Trump said he hasn’t considered pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate of Jeffrey Epstein who is serving 20 years in prison for conspiring to sexually abuse minors and who is meeting with federal prosecutors seeking more information about the case.
Lawmakers and others have led a public outcry for more information about Epstein’s clients, for more potential charges in the case. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met July 24 and 25 with Maxwell to ask what more she could say, which led critics to question whether Trump would pardon her.
“It’s something I haven’t thought about,” Trump told reporters at the White House about a possible pardon before leaving the United States for a trip to Scotland. “I’m allowed to do it, but it’s something I have not thought about.”
Rep. Dan Goldman, D-New York, suggested Blanche’s effort was to protect Trump “by tacitly floating a pardon for Maxwell in return for information that politically benefits President Trump.”
Trump, when asked if he could trust what Maxwell says, called Blanche “a great lawyer” and “a great guy.” Blanche previously served as Trump’s personal lawyer in the New York criminal trial where Trump was convicted of falsifying business records, which he is appealing.
“I certainly can’t talk about pardons,” Trump told reporters before leaving on a trip for Scotland.
Epstein was federally charged with sexually trafficking minors and died by suicide while in detention in 2019 and long before any criminal trial. Trump attended parties with Epstein during the 1990s and repeatedly flew on his private jet but has distanced himself in the public uproar about whom Epstein’s clients were.
Lawmakers and others who followed the case have continued to push for the release of the investigative files in the case. Trump’s name reportedly appears in the files, but he said he never went to Epstein’s private island, where minors were allegedly sexually abused
“I have nothing to do with the guy,” Trump said. “I never never went to the island.”
Trump said reporters should focus instead on other political leaders and hedge fund managers who spent more time with Epstein.
“I’ll give you a list,” Trump said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump says he hasn’t considered pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell
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