House Democrat questions DOJ on possible Ghislaine Maxwell pardon

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) sent a Wednesday letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) strongly opposing the possibility of a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime partner and accomplice of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 

“I am writing to express my disgust at the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) reported willingness to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell,” Krishnamoorthi wrote in the letter. 

“Last week, David Oscar Markus, Maxwell’s attorney, said, ‘There’s a good chance and for good reason that [Maxwell] would get a pardon,’” the Illinois lawmaker added, citing reporting from Politico. 

Markus has led efforts to advocate for Maxwell’s freedom since last year and helped get her transferred to a lower security prison after she met with then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in Tallahassee, Fla. 

Months after the meeting, Maxwell appeared in a deposition with the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee but refused to answer questions by invoking her Fifth Amendment right.

Some lawmakers slammed her for the lack of cooperation and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said Maxwell deserved to be sent back to a maximum security prison. 

After learning of talks of a pardon for the Epstein accomplice, Krishnamoorthi wrote in his letter, “It is unacceptable that DOJ would be engaging at all with such an outrageous request.”

While Maxwell fights for her freedom, other people associated with Epstein have begun to face punishment for their ties to the deceased financier. 

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, Duke of York, was arrested at his home in February and Peter Mandelson was dismissed from his post as a United Kingdom ambassador — both instances related to their connection with Epstein. 

Economist Larry Summers was ousted from multiple advisory boards and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified before Congress about his relationship with Epstein. 

Survivors have fought to see more convictions. Recently, New Mexico launched an investigation into Epstein’s ranch. 

Krishnamoorthi urged the DOJ to “immediately reopen” and “fully resource” a probe into Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation, pursuing all credible leads. 

“You must also publicly, and repeatedly, refuse to engage with Ghislaine Maxwell on any presidential pardons that would excuse her from serving out her full sentence,” the lawmaker wrote in his letter.

“Survivors deserve answers, and those responsible must be held accountable. This is not a question of politics—it is a matter of justice,” he added.

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