WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) announced that she introduced a resolution to make it the sense of the Senate that it opposes any presidential clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell. This comes after Maxwell’s appeal to Donald Trump for clemency in exchange for offering testimony that she claims would help Trump in relation to the Jeffrey Epstein matter. Senator Rosen aims to put her Senate colleagues on the record opposing this potential deal.
“A federal jury found Ghislaine Maxwell guilty of participating in horrific crimes involving minors and enabling their abuse by Jeffrey Epstein. She is the last person on Earth who should ever be granted clemency by Donald Trump, yet he won’t rule it out. Trump has a history of pardoning criminals who have committed terrible acts – including those who attacked police officers – which is why I want to make sure the U.S. Senate sends a clear message to the White House that a convicted sex trafficker of minors should not receive any clemency,” said Senator Rosen. “If Leader Thune won’t bring this up for a recorded vote, I’ll do everything I can to try to bring this up on the Senate floor for passage by unanimous consent, as it’s my sincere hope we can all agree Ghislaine Maxwell should serve out her full sentence.”
Full text of the resolution can be found HERE.
In Case You Missed It from Politico: Senate Democrat aims to put members on record opposing Maxwell pardon
- Sen. Jacky Rosen will introduce a resolution Thursday designed to put the Senate on record opposing the prospect of President Donald Trump granting a pardon or clemency to Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein who is currently in prison.
- Absent getting Republicans to allow a vote on her resolution, Rosen is discussing whether to try to approve it through a unanimous consent agreement after the Senate returns from next week’s scheduled recess.
- Though the resolution would be nonbinding, it would make the Senate’s official position against a pardon or clemency for Maxwell, which Republicans could see as boxing in Trump if he chooses that route.
- The president has not ruled it out, and Rosen’s forthcoming resolution is expected to note that the president has refused to rule it out. It also is likely to quote Trump saying, in 2025, he is “allowed to do it, but it’s something [he has] not thought about.”
- Maxwell’s attorneys have said his client will only testify under oath in exchange for clemency. Making good on that position, Maxwell invoked her Fifth Amendment right earlier this month when she appeared over video in a deposition, in compliance with a congressional subpoena, before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
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