{"id":2604612,"date":"2026-05-19T16:36:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T20:36:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/blanche-promises-not-to-recommend-pardon-for-ghislaine-maxwell\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T16:36:33","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T20:36:33","slug":"blanche-promises-not-to-recommend-pardon-for-ghislaine-maxwell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/blanche-promises-not-to-recommend-pardon-for-ghislaine-maxwell\/","title":{"rendered":"Blanche promises not to recommend pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fblanche-promises-not-to-recommend-pardon-for-ghislaine-maxwell%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2604612&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told Congress he will not recommend a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell in response to questioning from Sen. Chris Van Hollen. Van Hollen\u2019s exchange also touched on claims that blanche had not met with Epstein victims and survivors; Blanche said he has met with many survivors\u2019 lawyers and encouraged victims to contact the DOJ.<\/p>\n<p>After the hearing, a coalition of epstein survivors disputed Blanche\u2019s statements, saying he has not met with any of them. One survivor, Annie Farmer, said she had previously sent Blanche concerns about any potential pardon or sentance commutation, received no response, and later saw Maxwell moved from a prison in Florida to a camp in Texas. Farmer welcomed Blanche\u2019s admission about not recommending a pardon but urged him to make a similar commitment regarding not recommending commutation.<\/p>\n<p>The article also notes that President Donald Trump has the authority to pardon Maxwell; last summer he said he had not thought about granting clemency.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>Acting Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/todd-blanche\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"20883\">Todd Blanche<\/a> promised Congress on Tuesday that he would not recommend a pardon for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ghislaine-maxwell\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"934\">Ghislaine Maxwell<\/a>, the convicted co-conspirator of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jeffrey-epstein\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1860\">Jeffrey Epstein<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>When Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chris-van-hollen\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1944\">Chris Van Hollen<\/a> (D-MD) asked whether the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/justice-department\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"167\">Justice Department<\/a> would not recommend a pardon for Maxwell, Blanche replied, \u201cYes, I can commit to that, of course.\u201d<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4574193\/tyler-robinson-lawyers-push-close-key-pretrial-hearing\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Tyler Robinson\u2019s lawyers push to close key pretrial hearing<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4574760\/james-comey-jokes-be-in-line-anti-weaponization-doj-fund\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Comey jokes he\u2019ll \u2018be in line\u2019 for $1.776 billion \u2018anti-weaponization\u2019 DOJ fund<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4574584\/todd-blanche-doj-anti-weaponization-fund-beyond-biden-harms\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Todd Blanche: DOJ \u2018anti-weaponization\u2019 fund extends beyond Biden-caused harms<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>The senator initially asked whether a pardon would be recommended for \u201cpeople named in the Epstein files,\u201d prompting the witness to ask for clarification. Van Hollen then narrowed his question to Maxwell.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The remarks came during Blanche\u2019s first congressional testimony since taking over the DOJ last month. The purpose of the hearing was to ask the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >acting attorney general<\/a> about the department\u2019s fiscal 2027 budget request, but Democratic lawmakers took the opportunity to ask about the DOJ\u2019s handling of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/epstein-files\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"17582\">Epstein files<\/a> and meetings with the survivors.<\/p>\n<p>During his line of questioning, Van Hollen said he spoke with some Epstein victims who claimed Blanche had not met with them. Blanche responded that he would \u201cabsolutely\u201d meet with them while disputing the \u201cfalse\u201d claim that he has not met with any of them yet.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have met with them,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve met with many of the lawyers for the survivors and victims, as did Attorney General [Pam] Bondi. So whoever told you that, unfortunately, gave you bad information.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI would encourage them to reach out to the Department of Justice because, like we do every single day, we absolutely care for victims and we absolutely want to hear from them and their lawyers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Following the congressional hearing, a group of Epstein survivors contradicted Blanche\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cActing Attorney General Todd Blanche has not met with any of us,\u201d the coalition <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AaronParnas\/status\/2056778084980838857\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AaronParnas\/status\/2056778084980838857\">said in a statement<\/a>. \u201cAs survivors, we previously sought a meeting with former Attorney General Bondi and Department of Justice officials, but no meeting occurred.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe should not have to be this persistent to engage with DOJ \u2014 the department responsible for handling the Epstein files, protecting their privacy, and answering for years of secrecy and failure.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Annie Farmer, one of the statement\u2019s signatories, similarly said Blanche \u201ccannot rewrite history or pretend this DOJ was meeting with us when the evidence shows otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Farmer said she sent a letter to Blanche before he met with Maxwell last year, outlining her concerns about pardoning or commuting the sentence of the Epstein co-conspirator. The survivor said she was met with \u201csilence,\u201d followed by the DOJ\u2019s decision to relocate Maxwell from a federal prison in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/florida\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"159\">Florida<\/a> to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ghislaine-maxwell-moved-to-federal-prison-in-texas\/\" title=\"... moved to ... in Texas\">minimum-security prison camp<\/a> in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/texas\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"253\">Texas<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>However, Farmer is pleased with Blanche\u2019s admission about not recommending a pardon for Maxwell.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRegarding Blanche\u2019s statement that he will not recommend pardoning Maxwell, although a long time coming, we welcome this,\u201d she said. \u201cWe will hold him to it. And we ask that he make the same commitment regarding not recommending the commutation of her sentence either.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4541805\/anna-paulina-luna-ghislaine-maxwell\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4541805\/anna-paulina-luna-ghislaine-maxwell\/\">ANNA PAULINA LUNA SHOOTS DOWN MAXWELL PARDON SPECULATION: \u2018THE VOTES AREN\u2019T THERE\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> has the power to pardon Maxwell, who was convicted of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House Releases List of President Trump\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">federal offenses related<\/a> to child sex trafficking. Last summer, Trump did not rule out granting her clemency.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI haven\u2019t thought about it,\u201d Trump said at the time. \u201cI\u2019m allowed to do it, but it\u2019s something I haven\u2019t thought about.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Acting AG Todd Blanche assured Congress he won\u2019t recommend a Maxwell pardon<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2604613,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26139594346709.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[41073,4431,4133,51796],"class_list":["post-2604612","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-ghislaine-maxwell","tag-legal","tag-news","tag-pardon-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26139594346709.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604612","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2604612"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604612\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2604616,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604612\/revisions\/2604616"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2604613"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2604612"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2604612"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2604612"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}