Ghislaine Maxwell is presently in the midst of a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking. She continues to be at the nexus of a national, high-stakes discussion on whether she should be pardoned. Maxwell, a close confidante and co-conspirator of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has been accused of numerous highly serious and outrageous crimes. This brings us to a key accountability question—the accountability question for powerful people. Given how unusual her case was, her situation has led many lawmakers to speak out in favor of giving her a second chance.
Last week, Maxwell met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche over the course of two days, sparking speculation about the details of their discussions. The case stems from perjury charges she was indicted on in 2016, concerning testimony she gave during a civil deposition. Those were the prosecutorial choices not selected after she was rightfully found guilty of sex trafficking. This decision has caused great concern among lawmakers and legal experts alike about the integrity of the legal process surrounding her case.
High-profile newly-elected Rep. Mike Johnson even went so far as to issue a statement urging against granting Maxwell a pardon or commutation. He articulated his concerns during a recent interview, emphasizing that “you have to protect innocent people’s names and reputations whose names might be, as you noted at the outset of the program, intertwined into all these files.” Johnson made it clear that we’re in a time of crisis. He claimed victims of Maxwell’s crimes have already suffered a great deal and need to be protected from further harm by public exposure.
For every Representative Thomas Massie who believes Maxwell should be given the opportunity for a pardon. He has stated that her 20 year sentence is undeservedly harsh. Massie derided the entire sentence as “a pittance.” She claimed that it does not adequately reflect the egregiousness of her conduct with Epstein. He urged transparency and accountability amid continuing federal investigations into Epstein’s wider network of abuse.
Pardon Maximillian Ro Khanna, U.S. Representative, strongly opposes any attempt to give pardon to Maximillian. He insists that to do so would deny real justice to the victims. He joins a chorus of critics who argue that Maxwell’s actions constituted abhorrent crimes against minors and should never be overlooked or excused.
The conversation about Maxwell’s possible pardon is inextricably linked with larger demands for accountability regarding Epstein and those who enabled him, like his coworkers. As pressure mounts on former President Donald Trump and his allies to disclose additional information regarding Maxwell and Epstein’s extensive criminal activities, lawmakers like Johnson assert that Maxwell’s testimony could be crucial, provided it is truthful.
“It’s hard to put into words how evil this was, and that she orchestrated it and was a big part of it, at least under the criminal sanction, I think is an unforgivable thing,” – Mike Johnson.
Johnson’s fears about Blanche’s consultations with Maxwell are not unfounded, as evidenced by the public backlash concerning the potential impacts of these meetings. He continued, “What’s particularly troubling is that deputy attorney general Todd Blanche is allegedly meeting with her one-on-one. Listen, I’m with Congressman Massie on this, she ought to testify. But she’s been indicted twice on perjury. This is why we need the files. This is why we need independent evidence.”
They were hoping to avoid a vote on opening files regarding Epstein, which is likely to have important information regarding Epstein and Maxwell. Unfortunately, this multi-pronged decision has come under fire from almost every corner. Proponents of repeal claim that it stands in the way of justice for victims.
“Different people feel that the rich and the powerful have been not held accountable, that they have a different set of rules, and that there may be government officials involved,” – an interviewee commented.
Congress must now decide whether to continue to fund Maxwell’s case. A wide range of voices, from victims and survivors, advocates and researchers, and law enforcement and community leaders to legislators and prosecutors—all are calling for justice for victims with accountability for everyone for their actions.