Trump says 'nobody approached' him to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell as he doesn't rule out clemency for her

TURNBERRY, SCOTLAND: While meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland on Monday, July 28, President Donald Trump ignited fresh debate by not ruling out a potential pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell.

Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking tied to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, has appealed her conviction to the Supreme Court and recently met with Justice Department officials.

Though Trump said no one has formally asked him to issue a pardon, he emphasized that he has the legal authority to do so. His comments have reignited debate within his own political base, as pressure mounts for full transparency in the Epstein case. 

Trump says ‘no one’s approached me’ as talk of Ghislaine Maxwell pardon gains traction

During a meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland on July 28, President Donald Trump once again declined to rule out the possibility of pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell.

Speaking at his Turnberry resort during a lengthy exchange with reporters, Trump said, “Well, I’m allowed to give her a pardon, but nobody’s approached me with it. But right now, it would be inappropriate to talk about it."

His remarks echoed a similar comment made days earlier at the White House, where he stated the issue was “not something I’ve thought about,” though he acknowledged he has the authority to issue a pardon.

Last week, the House Oversight Committee voted in favor of holding a formal congressional deposition with Maxwell.

During the same press event in Turnberry, Trump also denied ever visiting Epstein’s infamous private island, saying, “I never had the privilege of going to his island. I did turn it down.”

Donald Trump’s comments stir MAGA base as Congress pushes for full Jeffrey Epstein disclosure

Donald Trump’s comments have reignited debate among his own supporters, with some within the MAGA movement urging him to release more documents from the Department of Justice’s investigation into Epstein.

Despite their long-standing association in the 1990s, Trump has sought to distance himself from Epstein and the wider scandal. The controversy has also drawn attention from top Republicans.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, when asked on NBC’s 'Meet the Press' about the possibility of a pardon, declined to take a firm stance but emphasized the need to protect innocent individuals. “That’s the only safeguard here we’ve got to be diligent about,” he said, adding that such a decision ultimately lies with the president. “We are for maximum disclosure,” Johnson noted.

Meanwhile, bipartisan calls in Congress are growing louder. Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY), alongside Democrat Ro Khanna (D-CA), is leading an effort to press for the full release of government files related to Epstein.

Speaking on 'Meet the Press,' Massie suggested Maxwell should testify before Congress. “If she has information that could help us, then I think she should testify. Let's get that out there,” he said. “And whatever they need to do to compel that testimony, as long as it's truthful, I would be in favor of.” 

Viral clip of Donald Trump sparks backlash over Ghislaine Maxwell pardon remarks

A short clip of President Donald Trump stating that he has the authority to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell has gone viral, drawing widespread criticism online.

One user wrote, “It’s such a dirty business, damn.”  

Another commented, “When he says he hasn’t thought about something, he’s thought about it. The fix is in. Trump is silencing Maxwell by offering her a full pardon or time served. This vile, evil woman will get off by lying for Trump."

A third user warned, “He’s gonna do it. He’s all over those files.”

Someone else noted, “He’s thinking about it. Any decent person—any decent President—asked that would answer ‘NO’ immediately. 🤔”

Another commenter posted, “Trump failed to do the one thing that could’ve prevented this whole sordid affair he’s now unleashed upon himself, and that was to tell the truth from the very beginning.”

One user simply urged, “Don’t do it.”

A Facebook user added, "He's not gonna do it. That would be a really really bad move for him."

An outraged user declared, “I can’t see any reason this person should get a pardon. Horrific things were done to underage girls. If she gets pardoned, there’s only one reason, and we all know what that is.” Another concluded, “She does not deserve any pardon. She is evil and willingly participated in the whole sordid thing.”

This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online