Maxwell Seeks Presidential Pardon in Exchange for Testimony
Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has indicated she will only cooperate with a Congressional inquiry if granted a presidential pardon. The offer comes as scrutiny intensifies regarding the relationships between Epstein and prominent political figures, including former President Donald Trump.
Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for recruiting underage girls for Epstein, has repeatedly denied witnessing any inappropriate behavior by Trump. According to transcripts released on Friday, August 22, 2025, by the U.S. Justice Department, Maxwell consistently praised Trump and maintained he was “never inappropriate with anybody.” The transcripts stem from interviews conducted last month with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump’s former personal lawyer, in what Blanche described as an effort toward “transparency.”
The Justice Department released hundreds of pages of transcripts and audio recordings of the interviews. This move followed criticism for initially withholding records related to the sex-trafficking case. The release of these transcripts is the latest attempt by the Trump administration to address political fallout from its handling of evidence in the case.
In a separate testimony on December 1, 2021, during Maxwell’s trial in New York City, a woman identified as “Jane” stated that Epstein introduced her to Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida in the 1990s. Jane did not allege any wrongdoing by Trump. The development underscores the ongoing legal and political ramifications of the Epstein case, which continues to generate headlines years after his death.
Maxwell has also reportedly suggested she could offer testimony clearing both Trump and former President Bill Clinton, in exchange for a pardon. This offer, as reported by BFM, raises questions about the potential for political interference in the ongoing legal proceedings.
Previously, in August 2025, the Justice Department released transcripts of interviews with Maxwell, where she stated Trump was friendly with Epstein but “never inappropriate.” The release of these records is intended to distance the former president from the convicted sex offender.
Maxwell’s willingness to cooperate with Congress is contingent on receiving a pardon, according to Le Monde. She has refused to respond to the Congressional inquiry without such assurances. This situation highlights the complex interplay between legal investigations and political considerations in high-profile cases.
