White House Clarifies Trump Has Not Considered Pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell's Associate

Washington D.C. The White House has clarified that US President Donald Trump has not considered pardoning Jeffrey Epstein's associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters that Trump has not considered this matter.

Previously in November, Trump had not completely ruled out the possibility of a pardon. "I haven't thought about it. I neither accept nor deny it," he had said at that time.

Maxwell remained silent during a closed-door congressional hearing on Monday, invoking her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination on every question. Her lawyer, David Oscar Markus, stated that she would be willing to speak if she received a presidential pardon.

Markus claimed that both Trump and former President Bill Clinton were not involved in any wrongdoing, and only Maxwell could clarify everything. Some Democratic lawmakers have blamed Trump for Maxwell's silence.

"She is campaigning for a pardon from Trump, and the President has not dismissed that possibility," said Virginia Representative Suhas Subramanyam. Maxwell is currently serving a prison sentence for aiding in sex trafficking and sexual abuse.