https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2025/07/25/trump-says-hes-allowed-to-pardon-ghislaine-maxwell-amid-epstein-files-controversy/
President Donald Trump did not rule out the possibility of pardoning Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell on Friday—saying he hadn’t “thought about” the possibility but is “allowed” to pardon her—as Maxwell’s interview with Justice Department prosecutors this week has sparked new questions about whether the Trump administration could offer her a pardon in exchange for exonerating the president from Epstein’s crimes.

Trump was asked about the possibility of pardoning Maxwell as she enters her second day of questioning by the DOJ and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted on charges of sex trafficking and transporting minors to participate in illegal sex acts, stemming from her role in Epstein’s alleged sexual abuse.

Trump told reporters he “hadn’t thought about” pardoning Maxwell or commuting her sentence, adding, “I’m allowed to do it, but it’s something I have not thought about.”

The president did not respond to a follow up question asking if that meant he had not ruled out the possibility of pardoning Maxwell.

The DOJ’s interview with Maxwell has sparked criticism that it could tee up a potential pardon, as legal experts speculate the Epstein associate has little reason to speak with prosecutors unless it could benefit her case.

Legal analysts have suggested the Trump administration could pardon Maxwell in exchange for testimony that’s favorable to Trump, with former Watergate prosecutor Nick Akerman telling CNN prosecutors are hoping Maxwell “will be motivated to say that Donald Trump didn't know what Jeffrey Epstein was up to with underage girls and they never participated in that.”

What To Watch For

The DOJ is interviewing Maxwell for a second day Friday at a courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida. Prosecutors have so far not given any indication to suggest how much information they’ll release from the interview, or whether any recordings or transcript could be released, with Blanche only saying Thursday, “The Department of Justice will share additional information about what we learned at the appropriate time.”

What Has Trump Said About Ghislaine Maxwell?

Trump has not been accused of any misconduct in connection with Epstein, but is well known to have been friends with the financier from the 1980s through the early 2000s. The president was also known to frequently socialize with Maxwell during that time, appearing in numerous photos with her, and Trump said after her 2020 arrest, “I wish her well.” “I’ve met her numerous times over the years, especially since I lived in Palm Beach,” Trump said at that time. Epstein’s former business partner Steven Hoffenberg also told The Washington Post in 2019 that Trump “was crazy about Maxwell, a very charming lady.”

Will Trump Pardon Ghislaine Maxwell?

It’s still unclear. The White House had previously denied any suggestion that it would pardon the Epstein associate, with an unnamed official telling The New York Post last week, “There have been no discussions or consideration of a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, and there never will be.” Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., also told CNN the House Oversight Committee, which voted to subpoena Maxwell for testimony, also would not float trying to get her pardoned in exchange for speaking with lawmakers, saying that was “off the table” because “I don’t think any Republican would support that.” It remains to be seen if the White House could change course and ultimately grant Maxwell a pardon based on her testimony, however, and legal experts have speculated that Blanche conducting her interview, rather than a lower-ranking attorney, could suggest the administration is interested in a bigger negotiation. “This is extremely unusual,” Akerman told CNN, arguing Blanche’s position as Trump’s former personal defense attorney suggests “they're hoping that Maxwell wants a pardon from Donald Trump.” Maxwell’s attorney David Oscar Markus said Thursday that Maxwell cooperated with prosecutors during the first day of her interview and she “answered every single question.” “She never stopped, she never invoked a privilege, she never declined to answer,” Markus added. The attorney has not said explicitly whether Maxwell is seeking a pardon or any other sort of leniency from the president, but Markus has repeatedly praised the Trump administration in statements about Maxwell’s interview, saying Thursday, "We are grateful that the government is trying to uncover the truth.”

Chief Critic

Attorney Bradley Edwards, who represents a number of Epstein victims, told MSNBC on Wednesday that clients of his have repeatedly asked whether Trump could pardon Maxwell. “And I say, ‘Look, I know you feel like an afterthought right now, I know you feel like you don’t matter. For him to do that would be—he thought about you and he decided you do not matter.’ I don’t think that is on the table. I don’t think he would ever do that,” Edwards said, though he acknowledged he may be “putting too much trust in him.” “But either way, if he’s not going to do that, what incentive does [Maxwell] have to tell him anything, if she’s getting nothing out of it?”

How Else Could The Trump Administration Benefit Ghislaine Maxwell?

If Trump doesn’t pardon her entirely, the Trump administration could also try to reduce Maxwell’s prison sentence under what’s known as a “Rule 35 motion.” That process allows prosecutors to request the court reduce a defendant’s sentence because of actions they took post-sentencing, such as providing “substantial assistance” to the government in a different prosecution. That means if Maxwell were to provide information about other Epstein associates who are implicated in his alleged crimes, the Trump administration could seek to get her out of prison sooner in exchange.

Can Ghislaine Maxwell’s Testimony Be Trusted?

Legal experts have raised issues with Maxwell’s testimony to the DOJ, since she could use it for her own personal gain. “There's no way you could ever believe Maxwell by virtue of the fact that she's got every motive to say whatever she wants in order to get that pardon,” Akerman told CNN. Experts have also pointed to her history of allegedly lying under oath, as prosecutors initially charged Maxwell with perjury when she was indicted in 2020, based on her comments in a 2016 deposition about Epstein. Maxwell was never tried on those charges, however, because they were separated from the sex trafficking charges she was convicted of before her trial, and prosecutors then offered to drop the charges afterwards. That wasn’t because they didn’t believe she committed perjury, but was rather used as a negotiating tactic to ensure the harsher sex trafficking conviction stayed in place as Maxwell sought a new trial, with prosecutors also saying they wanted to spare Epstein’s victims from having to go through a second trial. “We’re going to go and ask somebody to tell the truth who was indicted on perjury charges on this particular topic?” Edwards told MSNBC. Markus has insisted that his client’s comments to the DOJ will be truthful, saying Friday that Maxwell had been “treated very unfairly” and did not have reason to lie, NBC News reports.

Key Background

Maxwell is believed to be Epstein’s primary accomplice in his alleged sex trafficking scheme, with the British socialite convicted based on accusations that she helped recruit women for Epstein and took part in his alleged abuse. Epstein later died in prison in 2019 after being indicted on sex trafficking charges, with Maxwell indicted a year later in 2020. Her interview with DOJ comes as public interest in the Epstein case has surged in recent weeks, following the DOJ’s decision not to release any further Epstein files. Prosecutors have so far resisted releasing any files in response to the public outcry over their decision, but announced they would seek an interview with Maxwell about Epstein’s associates.

Further Reading
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2025/07/24/what-to-know-about-ghislaine-maxwells-alleged-perjury-as-she-speaks-with-doj-today-about-epstein/

>>1422432 (OP)
Trump is telling his voters to let their kids be fucked, and we're probably going to see MAGA cope and come up with excuses on why pedophilia is actually okay now

>>1422432 (OP)
He's just so blatantly, openly corrupt. It's incredible.

>>1422438
>>1422439

As if they aren't going to use her as a puppet to target useless eaters. Anything else and they wouldn't let her live.

>>1422432 (OP)
Hunter Biden caused this.

Donald Trump caused this

>>1422432 (OP)
>Trump says he's allowed to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell
I mean he is. And after the mass-pardons that Biden pulled for people who weren't even charged with crimes yet, it opens the door to unlimited pardons for anything.

>>1422439
I'm sure you said the same thing about Biden and his Burisma dealings.

>>1422492
Trump deserves to pardon Ghislaine for sure. She helped him out a lot, holding down the girls while Trump raped them.
Thats deserving of a corrupt pardon to protect and enshrine Republican kid fucking for his facist takeover of America. MAGA will be thrilled to let Trump fuck their underaged daughters because they've all been brainwashed.

>>1422492
Ghislaine Maxwell's biggest crime is that she trafficked kids for a kiddy diddler.
There is a bit of a difference between 'pardoning people just in case a future president retaliates against them' and 'pardoning the only person charged in a underage-sex-trafficking ring'.

>>1422492
>after the mass-pardons that Biden pulled for people
Gee, I wonder who set the precedent for that sort of thing? You MAGATS make me want to puke (all over the Constitution like tRump does)

>>1422507
>I wonder who set the precedent for that sort of thing
Nixon did the closest thing to what Biden did, but nowhere near the scale. Something like 80x the number of pre-emptive pardons, meaning pardoning people for every potential crime they may have committed before they had been accused of a crime.

I'd say given the scope it was very unprecedented

>>1422511
So is the threat of jailing your political opponents. Which Trump made, and continues to make.

>>1422517
For what crimes? I mean it's not like people like General Milley violated multiple UCMJ articles and committed treason during his first term, right?

By the way, I love how democrats are on Milley's dick even after he stabbed Biden in the back too. But hey the enemy of my enemy is my friend and anyone who says ORANGE MAN BAD is my ally.

>>1422524
So weird that you see many people from all walks of life turning against the actions of Trump as they give evidence and examples of his litany of crimes, criminal associations, years of pattern of behavior, in and out of court for decades before he ever became a politician, confirmation after confirmation of his association and friendship with known child predators and sex traffickers, evidence after example after evidence and your response to all the information received and continually being received is “muh orange man bad”

That sort of devotion is by definition cult line behavior. Tell me, is there a single price of evidence that could sway your opinion of Trump? If you literally walked into a room and found him molesting a child, would that change your mind? Is there a line for you?

>>1422526
As an honest answer to your question, I think very little people actually enjoy trump, the person.
I believe people elected him because of what he promised to do, and not who he is.
Honestly, I think if some president was caught on tape getting a hj from a minor, people really wouldn't care if he was actually fixing the many problems of society which Trump promised he would fix. The reason people are unhappy is because he's not fixing the problems he promised to fix

>>1422528
>I think very little people actually enjoy trump
No one gives a shit what your ESL ass thinks. You are not American

>>1422529
Shut up faggot. Get bent. You are the worst poster on this hoard

>>1422529
Shut up faggot. Get bent. You are the worst poster on this board

>>1422526
Dunno what this post has anything to do with mine about Milley being a treasonous piece of shit that got a blanket pardon by Biden for unknown crimes - along with others - but okay.

>>1422534
He's a retard. I tried replying to him in earnest and I don't even know why I tried, he shits up the board so much it's unreal.

>>1422534
There's a reason presidents aren't supposed to straight-up propose executing people for treason. That's not how the justice system works.

>>1422526
>many people from all walks of life turning against the actions of Trump as they give evidence and examples of his litany of crimes
Because they don't pay attention to politics outside of what shills on CNN, MSNBC etc constantly broadcast in public places.
>Tell me, is there a single price of evidence that could sway your opinion of Trump?
Literally everything democrats are currently pushing would be more impactful if they weren't blatant retards.
Ten years ago, talking about Epstein and his connection to Israel was considered a white supremacist antisemetic conspiracy theory by democrats. Talking about it at the water cooler would ruin your life because of some white liberal bitch in HR. Now dems can't shut the fuck up about it because legacy media showed them pictures of crying brown children in Gaza and they're trying to come up with any emotional argument to take back political power.
We already knew that America is controlled by Israel through sexual blackmail. We knew decades ago. Example: US representatives are currently trying to introduce the STOP HATE Act, which would fine American social media companies for failing to police antisemitism, despite all of them swearing an oath of office to the US constitution and the amendments therein. But libshits are still spamming pictures of Jeffrey and Trump at us like any of this is supposed to mean something.
Why the fuck would I break away from Trump knowing that both sides are controlled? Are you retarded? Are you stupid? Literally every single institution of power in America is compromised by a foreign power. There is no 'not epstein' option anymore. For every single Epstein-esque pedophile island getaway that gets televised, there are ten more in Georgia or Minnesota that go undiscovered. That's what the Franklin Scandal, the Finders, Pizzagate shit etc etc was all about, and none of you fucking cared. You just wrote them off as conspiracy theories because that's what the television told you.

>>1422537
>pt 2/?
The corruption argument is fucking stupid. We're in the decline of the American empire and all democrats care about is whether or not they can get a hit of dopamine from reminding us that we're controlled by satanic, blood-drinking, pedophilic, international sex trafficking cults.
None of you faggots have an alternative solution that doesn't involve maintaining the status quo. Even if the files were released, and Trump confirmed he fucks kids, nothing would happen. But you are still stupid enough to put your faith in the systems of government. That's literally the reason why everybody keeps bitching about the government not confirming everything we already know; they treat it as gossip unless they can a confirmation from an authority figure, and then suddenly it becomes real.
You know what's going to happen from this shit? Nothing. You're going to gossip about this shit until something new happens, and then in five years down the line, you'll casually bring it up as a gotcha in political conversations like we're having here. Nothing will change in Washington, the elites will still fuck kids, and Israel will create Greater Israel while you pretend like you're having an impact on climate change by separating bottles and cans from your garbage.
You people need to shut the fuck up. You don't care about any of this shit. Not really. You're a NPC; you don't create anything, you just repeat what you're told and eat the slop and wake up the next morning to do it all over again, while treating crimes against humanity as quippy one-liners to pull a fast one over on Republicans on retarded imageboards.

Trump voters want to be like him in every way.

>>1422536
>There's a reason presidents aren't supposed to straight-up propose executing people for treason.
Where did I say Milley should be killed?

>>1422545
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/28/gop-candidates-bash-trump-milley-comment-00118900

>>1422552
>“This is an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH!” Trump added in his post.
Yeah, and? He's not wrong. In our history we've executed commanders, generals, for cowardice in war. But fortunately (for Milley, unfortunately for the rest of us), undermining the Commander in Chief's ability to launch nuclear weapons - which Trump did not threaten to use by the way - whilst in communication with a foreign nation without the CinC's permission or knowledge - FOR THE SECOND TIME AT LEAST - doesn't qualify for treason somehow. What interesting times we live in.

I notice your Politico article doesn't mention that. Funny enough, I did pick up this gem:
>who served closely by Trump’s side
LMAO yeah he served very "closely" to Trump when he was lying to him about troop numbers in Syria after Trump told him to pull them out. Another thing that doesn't count as treason in modern times - but I'm sure Politico has an article about that too.

>>1422558
Probably because your so fucking dumb you don't know what treason is.
Probably why you excuse it in Trump and the GOP and see it where it doesn't exist elsewhere,
although you're also probably being paid for all of

>>1422528
Holy shit, you are fucking scum
This is the level of delusion you’re at, defending actual pedophilia

>>1422558
>In our history we've executed commanders, generals, for cowardice in war.
And in those times did a presidential candidate lead off that prosecution by prejudicing the whole thing from the get-go with his mob mentality? I dunno, maybe. Doesn't seem great for our history if so.

>>1422563
>Probably because your so fucking dumb you don't know what treason is.
Oh do enlighten me then. What else do you call communicating with the enemy, multiple times, and undermining the abilities of someone up the chain of command?

Here I'll use a simple analogy for you. Lets say hypothetically I stayed in the military as a sergeant. Now I use my radio to talk to the Taliban on a frequency my Captain doesn't know about, more than once, to assure them we won't be attacking them and I conspire with everyone else in my unit to make sure my Captain can't call for artillery if he needs it.

What would you call that? I'm curious.

>>1422566
>And in those times did a presidential candidate lead off that prosecution by prejudicing the whole thing from the get-go with his mob mentality?
I'm assuming you're referring to Jan 6th when he said the words "peacefully and patriotically" without mentioning China even once?

>>1422568
>jan 6
No there's no reason to even include that incident. Trump's kinda REALLY shit at doing criminal prosecution because he says the quiet parts out loud. That's one reason why if he does a pardon deal with Maxwell it's gonna be about exculpating actual guilty people in the end.

>>1422573
>No there's no reason to even include that incident.
Then I don't know what you mean by "mob mentality".

>>1422574
>“This is an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH!”
That doesn't help his case if he was really serious about doing this through the law. What else can you call it? "Stochastic terrorism" used to get thrown around but it's a lot more layered thing than the actual acts of violence. The ideation of violence alone has advantages. Obviously, it does or why would he say that? Just a real bonehead move huh?

>>1422568
So you don't know what Treason is.
Its very specifically defined because of moronic fuckwits like you calling everything they don't like treason.

>Treason in the United States is defined in the Constitution as levying war against the U.S. or adhering to its enemies, providing them aid and comfort.

>What else do you call communicating with the enemy, multiple times, and undermining the abilities of someone up the chain of command?
It isn't Treason by definition.

>>1422575
>That doesn't help his case if he was really serious about doing this through the law.
Which he wasn't. This is nothing more than Trump bitching on social media. This should be routine right now. If there was any fucking justice in our government, General Milley would've been fired in 2018. Instead Trump was too stupid to get rid of him, and as a result (through Milley and Biden's state department) we lost 13 soldiers leaving Afghanistan - which Milley had no problem throwing Biden under the bus for, even as he lied to the House Armed Services committee, but I digress...

>>1422576
>So you don't know what Treason is.
Riiight.... What would you call Milley's actions again? When he moved to disarm Trump for no reason against a threat that didn't exist?

>>1422594
Shill ignorance, but anyone not paid to have an opinion can see the answer >>1422576
Its definitively not treason. No one claimed it was treason 4 years ago, its just more smoke to avoid talking about Trump fucking kids.

Why do you want rich faggots to get away with pedophilia? Do you get the scraps? Wank to the videos?

>>1422596
Why are you so obsessed with child-fucking that has nothing to do with what I'm talking about? You do love that subject very much for some odd reason.

Anyways back to Milley, I notice you STILL did not answer either of my questions. So lets go back to one of my earlier - UNANSWERED - question:

Here I'll use a simple analogy for you. Lets say hypothetically I stayed in the military as a sergeant. Now I use my radio to talk to the Taliban on a frequency my Captain doesn't know about, more than once, to assure them we won't be attacking them and I conspire with everyone else in my unit to make sure my Captain can't call for artillery if he needs it.

What would you call that? I'm curious.

the shill is melting down again

1422597
>why won't they stick to my shill script?
>I can't respond to actual facts and the textbook definition of treason

>>1422506
a kiddy diddler? try a whole bunch of them. We all know that once you get too wealthy, the thrills start to fall off, so you have to do increasingly vile things just to feel alive.

That being said, all involved with the production and consumption of CP–as well as those who commit sexual assault on children–should be hung and their corpses left for the flies outside town hall.

Hopefully she’ll go on red scare and sort it out for us.

>>1422596
You Demonrats are afraid.
You should be.
Deflect all you want but Obama and his cliques treason is going to sweep all of you up.
RICO gonna get you.
It's going to be like how the German Concentration Camp Guards are still being hunted down and jailed 70 years after World War 2 ended.
As I said
you should be afraid.
>Be Afraid
>Be Very Afraid.

>>1422753
Sorry, pedophilias a crime and all pedophiles are going to prison.
No ones afraid of that stance except pedophiles
Run hard, kid fucker. Justice is coming.

>>1422843
I agree.If Trump is a pedo then he should go to prison. All pedophiles should go to prison.
Joe and Hunter Biden included. There is evidence for them being pedophiles. Joes own daughter said so in her diary for fuck sake but you seem to be willfully blind,deaf and dumb about that.Hunter has kept pictures of himself naked with children but once again you ignore that too.
But that doesn't mean other crimes should be ignored.
The Justice System can handle more than one case at a time.
Treason should be punished as well.
Why do you Demonrats always assume that all other crimes should be ignored?
You are damning yourself by constantly trying to derail any investigation into the Demonrats Treason.
One day you will have to explain why you supported Treason.
I hope you can live with yourself.