The Republican chair of the House Oversight Committee, James Comer, has revealed that some members of his party are open to President Donald Trump pardoning convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell in exchange for her cooperation with the committee's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. However, Democrats on the panel have voiced unanimous opposition to the idea.
Comer, who personally opposes a pardon, told Politico that "a lot of people" on the committee would consider supporting one if it meant securing Maxwell's testimony. He declined to name those members, saying: "I think it looks bad. Honestly, other than Epstein, the worst person in this whole investigation is Maxwell."
Democratic Representative Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the committee, said: "She is a sexual abuser who facilitated the rape of women and children. This is a shameful way to treat survivors. Oversight Democrats are united in opposing any pardon." Another Democrat, Representative James Walkinshaw, added: "Hell no. Honestly shocking that this is even being discussed."
Maxwell, 63, invoked her Fifth Amendment right during a February deposition and has declined to answer questions without assurances of clemency. Her attorney, David Markus, has previously said she would "welcome" a pardon, and Trump has acknowledged he has the power to grant one. Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence for recruiting and grooming young women for Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019.
Survivor Annie Farmer said a pardon would be "detrimental to survivors", urging the Department of Justice to "permanently close the door" on any pardon or commutation. Meanwhile, Maxwell has filed a new petition for release, claiming "substantial new evidence", though federal prosecutors have described her claims as "equally meritless". She was transferred to a minimum-security prison in Texas after a July 2025 interview with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, during which she praised Trump and said she "liked him".
