Longtime Epstein associate serving 20-year sentence for sex-trafficking crimes has exhausted series of appeals
The US Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution declaring its opposition to any presidential pardon forGhislaine Maxwell, the longtimeJeffrey Epsteinassociate who is currently serving a20-year prison sentencefor sex-trafficking crimes.
Introduced by Senator Jacky Rosen, a Democrat of Nevada, theresolutionstates that Maxwell “should not be granted a Presidential pardon or any form of clemency for her crimes with Jeffrey Epstein relating to the sexual exploitation and abuse of minors”.
Although Senate resolutions like these are non-binding and symbolic, Rosen’s office noted in anews releasein February when she introduced the measure that the resolution was “designed to put the Senate on record opposing the prospect” of Donald Trump of granting a pardon or clemency to Maxwell.
“It’s frankly horrifying that Trump would entertain the idea of clemency for even a second for a convicted sex trafficker,” Rosen said in a floor speech on Wednesday.
The resolution was brought on Wednesday, as the SenateweighedTrump’s nomination of Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, to stay in the role permanently. Rosen said its unanimous passage sent aclear messageto the White House and Blanche that “there should be NO special treatment for Ghislaine Maxwell”.
A representative for Maxwell did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.
By refusing to object, Republicans agreed to the resolution, which states that granting Maxwell “a pardon, commutation, or any other form of executive clemency” would be “inconsistent with the interests of justice and accountability for crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children”. The resolution also states that “the President should not grant a pardon, commutation, or any other form of executive clemency” to Maxwell.
“The Senate stands with the victims of sexual exploitation and trafficking and affirms its commitment to justice, accountability, and the protection of children,” it adds.
The resolution comes as Maxwell has exhausted a series of appeals of her conviction, with the US supreme courtdeclining to hearher petition last October.
Earlier this year, in February, Maxwell appeared via video for a congressional deposition before the House committee on oversight and government reform as part of its investigation into Epstein, but refused to answer questions andinvoked her fifth amendment right. Her attorney told lawmakers that she would only speak if granted clemency.
In April, reports emerged that members of the congressional committeewere dividedover whether Trump should consider pardoning Maxwell in exchange for her cooperation in the panel’s Epstein investigation.
Last year, after the supreme court declined to hear Maxwell’s appeal, Trump wasaskeddirectly whether he would consider pardoning her.
“You know, I haven’t heard the name in so long,” he said at the time. “I can say this: that I’d have to take a look at it. I would have to take a look.”
He added: “I wouldn’t consider it or not consider – I don’t know anything about it. I will speak to the DoJ.”
