The Senate on Wednesday unanimously adopted a resolution expressing opposition to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell receiving a presidential pardon.
The resolution is non-binding, but sends a message to President Trump that considering a pardon for Maxwell would be politically toxic.
“There should never be a pardon for someone who helped a monster abuse underage girls for years,” said Sen. Jacky Rosen, Nevada Democrat who sponsored the resolution.
The resolution was adopted by unanimous consent, which does not require a roll-call vote but typically signals no senator had an objection.
Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of multiple sex trafficking charges for involvement in recruiting underage girls to engage in illegal sex acts with Epstein and his associates. She is serving a 20-year prison sentence.
Epstein died by suicide while in prison in 2019 awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Maxwell is the only person involved in his crimes who has been prosecuted.
After the Supreme Court declined to hear Maxwell’s appeal last year, Mr. Trump was asked whether he would consider pardoning her.
“I’d have to take a look at it,” the president said, noting he did not know anything about her case and would need to speak to the Justice Department.
Ms. Rosen said it is “horrifying” that Mr. Trump would entertain the notion of clemency for Maxwell.
She said in floor remarks that she introduced the measure to oppose a pardon for Maxwell earlier this year but is asking for a vote now because Senate Republicans are considering confirming acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as the permanent head of the Justice Department.
Mr. Blanche, while serving as deputy attorney general last summer, interviewed Maxwell and offered her immunity for anything said in that conversation.
Ms. Rosen cited a New York Times report that said Mr. Blanche raised the possibility that Maxwell’s lawyer “might expect something in return for her candor.”
“You heard that right,” she said. “There was literally a serious discussion to talk about pardoning or reducing the sentence of Ghislaine Maxwell just in order to get her to say nice things about Donald Trump.”
Ms. Rosen said it was “odd” for Mr. Blanche to personally interview Maxwell and for her to be “magically transferred to a minimal security prison” days later.
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee sought to interview Maxwell in February but she invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
Maxwell’s attorney said she would only testify if Mr. Trump granted her clemency.
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