By Tessa Flemming
Topic:Crime
Fri 31 Jul 2026 at 12:02pm
The move has symbolically demonstrated the Senate's stance for transparency in the Epstein saga.(Supplied: US Attorney's Office SDNY)
The US Senate has unanimously struck down the pardon chances of Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.
On Thursday, the resolution opposing any future pardon of Maxwell was ushered in by both Republicans and Democrats, drawing yet another symbolic divide between Donald Trump, his party and the president's own Epstein ties.
While the motion is largely symbolic, here's what it could mean.
The resolution was introduced by Nevada Democrat senator Jacky Rosen, who first brought it forward in February.
By voting it in, the Senate agreed "Ghislaine Maxwell should not be granted a Presidential pardon or any form of clemency" for her sexual abuse and co-offending with Epstein.
Powerful socialite Ghislaine Maxwell was able to exploit her connections to recruit, groom, and abuse dozens of young girls. Now, she faces a fresh interrogation over her role in Jeffrey Epstein's abuse.
The politicians agreed that a pardon or clemency would be "inconsistent with the interests of justice and accountability for crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children".
The resolution also denounced any attempt by Mr Trump to usher in "any other form of executive clemency" to Maxwell.
"I hope the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell feel some comfort knowing that she will serve out her sentence,"Senator Rosen said on Xafter the vote.
"And that other victims of crimes like this know that they can be seen and heard, and that justice will be upheld."
While the resolution will be non-binding, Senator Rosen had earlier said she hoped it would put the Senate "on the record" of opposing any clemency.
