Karoline Leavitt says Maxwell pardon ‘not a priority’ after Epstein associate invokes Fifth Amendment

WASHINGTON, DC: The White House on Tuesday, February 10, sought to shut down speculation around a possible pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, saying the issue is not on Donald Trump's agenda after Maxwell refused to answer questions before Congress by invoking her Fifth Amendment rights.

Speaking during a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration is not actively considering clemency for Maxwell, even as scrutiny of the Epstein files continues to intensify.

“This is not something I’ve discussed recently with the president because frankly, it’s not a priority,” Leavitt told reporters. “He’s focused on many of the issues that the American people are dealing with and providing solutions to those issues.”

Trump 'not considering' a pardon, Karoline Leavitt says

Leavitt emphasized that Trump has not revisited the idea of clemency for Maxwell, despite renewed attention following her appearance and silence before the House Oversight Committee.

She said the last time the issue came up between her and the president, his position was clear.

“He said pardoning Maxwell was not something he’s considering or thinking about,” Leavitt said.

Her remarks mark a firmer tone than Trump struck in October, when he declined to rule out clemency entirely and told reporters he would “have to take a look at it.”

Maxwell’s legal strategy took center stage this week after she declined to answer lawmakers’ questions during a congressional deposition, asserting her constitutional right against self-incrimination.

According to previous statements from her legal team, Maxwell had made clear that she would testify only under oath if granted criminal immunity. Without that protection, she opted to plead the Fifth.

Her refusal has frustrated lawmakers and survivors seeking further disclosures related to Epstein and the powerful figures who moved within his network.

Maxwell attorney argues she alone has answers

In a statement released Monday, Maxwell’s attorney claimed that his client is uniquely positioned to provide a complete account of Epstein’s crimes but only under the right conditions.

“Only she can provide the complete account,” the attorney wrote, adding that “both President Trump and President Clinton are innocent of any wrongdoing.”

He argued that Maxwell’s silence is not strategic defiance but legal necessity.

“She must remain silent because Ms. Maxwell has a habeas petition currently pending that demonstrates that her conviction rests on a fundamentally unfair trial,” he wrote in a statement posted on X.

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