Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche stated on Tuesday that he would not recommend a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex-trafficking crimes. Blanche made the remarks during a Senate hearing before the appropriations subcommittee, where he testified about the Justice Department's proposed 2027 budget.
During the hearing, Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, asked Blanche whether the Justice Department and he personally could commit to not recommending a pardon for Maxwell. Blanche, who previously served as a personal lawyer for former President Donald Trump, responded, "Yes, I can commit to that, of course."
The statement comes after Maxwell exhausted a series of appeals, with the US Supreme Court declining to hear her petition in October. Earlier this year, Maxwell appeared before the House Oversight and Reform Committee but invoked her Fifth Amendment right, refusing to answer questions. Her attorney indicated she would only speak if granted clemency.
In April, reports emerged that committee members were divided over whether Trump should consider a pardon for Maxwell in exchange for her cooperation in the Epstein investigation. Last year, as the Trump administration faced pressure to release more Epstein-related documents, Blanche—then Deputy Attorney General—interviewed Maxwell over two days in July. The Justice Department later released transcripts and audio recordings of the interview.
Shortly after that meeting, in August, Maxwell was transferred from a low-security prison in Tallahassee, Florida, to a minimum-security camp in Texas, where most inmates serve time for non-violent and white-collar crimes. Experts described the transfer as "unprecedented." Reports have since indicated that Maxwell is "much happier" at the Texas facility, with allegations of favorable treatment.
During Tuesday's hearing, Blanche denied that Trump personally sent him to interview Maxwell and claimed he was unaware of any special treatment she might be receiving. The possibility of clemency for Maxwell has long angered survivors and advocates. Earlier this month, Spencer Kuvin, chief legal officer of Goldlaw, which represents Epstein survivors, stated, "Any talk of clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell in exchange for testimony turns justice on its head." A representative for Maxwell did not respond to a request for comment.
