Bondi says Ghislaine Maxwell will ‘hopefully die in prison’ as Trump leaves door open to clemency

WASHINGTON, DC: Attorney General Pam Bondi said on Wednesday, February 11, that Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for conspiring with Jeffrey Epstein, should “die in prison,” even though President Donald Trump has not ruled out granting her clemency.

Bondi’s remarks came during a tense exchange with Democratic lawmakers over the Trump administration’s handling of Maxwell’s case.

“Should Donald Trump pardon or commute her sentence?” Rep Deborah Ross (D-NC) asked. “You said you hope she dies there, so I’m hoping the answer is 'no.'" 

“I already answered that question,” Bondi replied.

Trump has publicly left open the possibility of a pardon or commutation for Maxwell.

Prison transfer of Ghislaine Maxwell raises questions

Lawmakers also pressed Bondi about Maxwell’s transfer last summer from a federal prison in Florida to a lower-security prison camp in Texas. The move came after Maxwell sat for a two-day interview with one of Bondi’s deputies.

Bondi insisted that the Texas facility was on equal footing with the previous prison and said she had no role in the transfer decision. She added that she disagreed with the move as well.

Maxwell recently suggested that if granted clemency, she would “clear” Trump of any wrongdoing related to Epstein, the convicted financier who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges.

Clash over DOJ hire tied to January 6

In a separate line of questioning, Democratic Rep Joe Neguse (D-Colo) confronted Bondi over the Justice Department’s employment of Jared Wise, a former FBI agent who was charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. 

Neguse played video footage of Wise during the attack, shouting “Kill ‘em! Kill ‘em! Kill ‘em!” at law enforcement officers.

A federal grand jury had indicted Wise on two felony and four misdemeanor charges, including assaulting or resisting police.

His trial was underway before President Trump issued pardons to those involved in the Capitol attack, leading the Justice Department to dismiss the case. Bondi confirmed that Wise was hired as a senior adviser at the DOJ last summer.

“I believe he was pardoned by President Trump,” Bondi said.

“Oh, he was pardoned. You’re right. Pardoned for yelling ‘kill him’ at police officers. And yet you expect hardworking police officers across the country to believe that you take law enforcement seriously,” Neguse said.