Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche pledged on Tuesday that the Justice Department will not recommend a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted co-conspirator of Jeffrey Epstein. The commitment came during Blanche’s first congressional testimony since taking over the DOJ, where he was questioned about the department’s handling of the Epstein files and meetings with survivors.
Core Facts & Developments
Blanche’s testimony followed a line of questioning from Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), who asked whether the DOJ would recommend a pardon for Maxwell. Blanche responded, “Yes, I can commit to that, of course.” The senator initially asked about pardons for “people named in the Epstein files” before narrowing the question to Maxwell. Blanche also disputed claims that he had not met with Epstein survivors, stating he had met with many of them and their lawyers. However, a coalition of survivors later contradicted this, saying Blanche had not met with them.
Deeper Context & Implications
Maxwell, currently serving a sentence for sex trafficking minors, has sought a presidential commutation or pardon, offering to provide more information on Epstein in exchange. The DOJ has released some Epstein-related files, but Congress has criticized the number of redactions and withheld documents. Blanche did not rule out pardons for others connected to Epstein, noting thousands of names in the files.
Survivor Dispute
Blanche’s claim of meeting with survivors was challenged by a coalition of Epstein victims, who stated in a statement that Blanche had not met with them. They also said they had previously sought a meeting with former Attorney General Pam Bondi and DOJ officials, but no meeting occurred. The survivors expressed frustration at having to persistently engage with the DOJ.
Broader Scrutiny
The hearing also addressed the DOJ’s fiscal 2027 budget request, but Democratic lawmakers used the opportunity to question the department’s handling of the Epstein case. Blanche emphasized the DOJ’s commitment to victims, encouraging them to reach out to the department.