Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., of the House of Representatives said Sunday he has “great pause” about granting clemency to Ghislaine Maxwell, the associate of Jef
Speaker Mike Johnson of the House of Representatives delivers remarks during a July 3 enrollment ceremony for H.R. 1, the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act, at the Capitol. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., of the House of Representatives said Sunday he has “great pause” about granting clemency to Ghislaine Maxwell, the associate of Jeffrey Epstein serving a 20-year sentence for her role in sex trafficking minors.
The congressman explained during an interview with NBC News’s “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker that Maxwell's involvement in the scheme, which included enticing and transporting minors for illegal sex acts, is unforgiveable. “That she orchestrated it and was a big part of it, at least under the criminal sanction, I think is an unforgivable thing,” Speaker Johnson said. “So, again, not my decision, but I have great pause about that, as any reasonable person would.” President Donald Trump has the authority to pardon or commute Maxwell's sentence. He told members of the press on Friday he hadn’t thought about granting her clemency and noted on Monday nobody had asked him about doing so. Speaker Johnson told Welker he won’t “get in front of” Trump on granting Maxwell clemency but added she should at least have a life sentence. “I think 20 years was a pittance. I think she should have a life sentence, at least. I mean, think of all these unspeakable crimes and, as you noted earlier, probably a thousand victims,” the congressman said. “I mean, you know, this is – it’s hard to put into words how evil this was." The Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation have concluded that Epstein harmed over 1,000 people. Maxwell, who was convicted of participating in Epstein’s alleged abuse of minor girls, was also sentenced to five years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $750,000 fine. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said he met with her on Thursday and planned to continue speaking with her the next day in a meeting about people involved in the scheme who have not been charged.“I hope she's telling the truth. She is convicted. She is serving a 20-year sentence for child sex trafficking. And so, her character is in some question,” the congressman noted. “But if she wants to come clean now, that would be a great service to the country, and we'd like to know every single bit of information that she has. I certainly hope she's telling the truth.” Trump was also asked Friday whether Maxwell could be trusted. The president said Blanche is a professional lawyer who’s “been through things like this before.”
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