Republicans appear split on idea of clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell

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https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/202 ... l-clemency

The possibility of clemency for Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, however unlikely, has long outraged survivors and their advocates who view the former British socialite’s lengthy jail sentence as giving them some justice in the long-running saga.

Recent reporting that a pardon for Maxwell is now being discussed supportively in some circles, however, has highlighted how Epstein and Maxwell remain a political minefield for Republicans and Donald Trump – while presenting yet another blow to survivors’ fight for transparency.

News broke in late April that representatives on the House oversight and government reform committee had “split” opinions whether the president should pardon the convicted sex-trafficker Maxwell so she would cooperate with their investigation into Epstein. Survivors’ advocates responded with indignation.

“Any talk of clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell in exchange for testimony turns justice on its head – it risks rewarding the very person who helped enable the abuse,” said Goldlaw CLO and litigation director Spencer Kuvin, who has represented numerous Epstein survivors.

“While Congress has no power to grant a pardon, even entertaining that conversation signals to victims that their suffering is still being treated as secondary to political strategy. Justice should never be transactional when it comes to crimes of this magnitude.”

Sigrid McCawley, a managing partner at Boies Schiller Flexner who has long represented Epstein survivors, voiced similar sentiments in a statement, saying: “There could be no greater injustice to the survivors than for President Trump to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell.