President Donald Trump has signaled that he may consider granting a pardon to Ghislaine Maxwell, whose appeal was recently rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court, while also emphasizing that he has not made any decision yet.
In remarks following the Supreme Court’s refusal to take up Maxwell’s appeal, Trump responded cautiously when pressed by reporters.
He said he hadn’t “heard the name in so long,” and that he would have to review the matter if asked.
The former president repeatedly deferred concrete judgment, stating that he “would have to take a look” and that he would consult with the Department of Justice before making any decision on clemency, per Reuters.
Maxwell’s legal path
Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 on multiple counts related to sex trafficking involving Jeffrey Epstein, had sought to overturn her sentence via appeal.
The Supreme Court, without public comment, declined to review her case, leaving her 20-year sentence intact.
Her legal team has since signaled that they may seek clemency or other post-conviction relief, according to Sky News.
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Any move to pardon Maxwell carries significant political risk. Because her case is deeply controversial (tied to one of the most high-profile sex trafficking investigations in recent memory) a pardon would be closely scrutinized.
Critics and supporters alike would watch for signs of favoritism, influence, or improper exertion of executive power.
Trump’s hesitation may reflect this complexity. While he acknowledged that many individuals request pardons, he insisted he does not have enough current information to make a determination.
He also referred to similar requests, saying “a lot of people have asked me for pardons."
What happens next?
With the Supreme Court’s decision final and no remaining appeals, Maxwell’s only remaining path to relief would be via executive clemency; a commutation or a full pardon by the president, Politico reports.
Trump would need to work closely with the Department of Justice if he chose to pursue such action.
Observers will now be watching for signals from the DOJ, the White House, and Maxwell’s legal team. Whether Trump will follow through is far from certain, but for now, he has neither ruled it out nor committed to it.