Convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell is reportedly seeking a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, raising major legal and ethical concerns after her recent meetings with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
In a post shared to Instagram, former DOJ pardon attorney Liz Oyer, described the developments as “unprecedented” and criticized the Department of Justice for what she called prioritizing “politics above law.”
Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence after being convicted by a federal jury in 2021 for her role in the sex trafficking of minors alongside Jeffrey Epstein, allegedly met with Blanche over two consecutive days. Oyer claims Maxwell’s attorney—who is also a friend of Blanche—announced plans to formally request a pardon from Trump following those meetings.
“She’s doing it to try to cut a deal,” Oyer said in a video accompanying her post. “We have to question whether she has any credibility at all.”
Oyer pointed out the stark departure from legal precedent, noting that no U.S. president has ever pardoned someone convicted of child sex trafficking. The former DOJ official also questioned the sudden appearance of new information Maxwell claims to offer, years after her conviction and sentencing.
Maxwell’s attempt to leverage new cooperation is seen by some as part of a broader political strategy to defuse ongoing public scrutiny tied to Epstein’s client list, which former Attorney General Pam Bonney had vowed to reveal.
Oyer warned that the potential pardon would likely further marginalize the victims of Epstein and Maxwell’s crimes, who have long sought justice.
“Is anybody thinking about the victims in this circumstance?” Oyer asked. “This would only make Ghislaine Maxwell and Donald Trump happy.”
Asked about the issue on Tuesday, July 29, Trump told reporters he hadn’t “thought about” pardoning Maxwell but acknowledged that he could if he chose to.
Legal analysts suggest that any movement toward a pardon in this case could trigger a constitutional and political firestorm, especially in light of Trump’s ongoing efforts to reshape the Justice Department’s approach to presidential pardon powers.
