House Speaker Mike Johnson has firmly rejected the possibility of pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell, stating she deserves a life sentence for her involvement in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking crimes. During an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, Johnson was asked about supporting a pardon for Maxwell, but he redirected the question to President Trump, asserting that the decision ultimately rests with the president. ‘I think 20 years was a pittance,’ Johnson remarked, adding that she should have a life sentence due to the ‘unspeakable crimes’ she orchestrated.
Johnson acknowledged the involvement of over 1,000 victims, many underage, in Epstein’s crimes, describing the ‘evil’ nature of Maxwell’s actions. He stressed the importance of transparency and the need to protect victims’ identities, aligning with the views of the FBI and Justice Department.
While Trump has not ruled out a pardon, he has not considered it, leaving the decision to the president. Johnson supports the need for all credible information to be released, but emphasizes safeguards to protect the innocent. He also criticized a petition for the release of Epstein files as ‘reckless’ and poorly drafted, arguing it ignores federal rules protecting grand jury materials.
Rep. Thomas Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna, however, argue that the files should be made public to help build a better case, emphasizing the need for independent evidence to address the ‘abject evil’ involved in the crimes. Both representatives agree that Maxwell should testify if she has information that could aid the investigation but are concerned about the potential for her to be pardoned.