Trump Hasn’t Pardoned Ghislaine Maxwell, But Refuses to Rule It Out
Donald Trump has not issued a pardon for convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, but he has left the possibility on the table, creating fresh debate about his use of presidential clemency. According to news reports, Trump said in July he was “allowed” to pardon Maxwell and later avoided ruling it out when pressed by reporters.
That has sparked criticism from legal commentators and political observers who argue Trump’s pardon power is being stretched beyond traditional limits. An opinion column by Norman Eisen on The Contrarian lays out what it calls “Trump’s 10 worst pardons” of 2025 and notes that, because Trump has not dismissed the idea of pardoning Maxwell, the possibility cannot be ruled out.
Public records show Trump has granted a wide variety of pardons and commutations this year, ranging from high-profile figures like Ross Ulbricht to hundreds of defendants in other cases.
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Yet there is no official action or executive order indicating that a pardon for Maxwell is forthcoming, and the White House has at points stated there are no current plans to issue one.
Maxwell remains in prison serving a 20-year sentence after her sex-trafficking conviction; her legal team has separately filed motions seeking relief from her sentence on constitutional grounds, but those are unrelated to any pardon discussion.
Critics point to Trump’s remarks and the broader pattern of his clemency decisions as evidence of an expanding use of pardon power. Supporters argue a president has wide discretion under the Constitution to evaluate clemency.
What happens next?
Well that will depend on whether Maxwell’s legal team pursues relief, how the White House responds to pressure on the issue, and whether Trump ultimately acts on the longstanding speculation about a potential pardon.
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