House Speaker Johnson Opposes Maxwell Pardon, Calls for Life Sentence

House Speaker Mike Johnson has strongly opposed any potential pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted associate of Jeffrey Epstein, advocating instead for a life sentence given the severity of her crimes. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking and related charges, which Johnson described as a "pittance" considering the scale of her offenses involving over 1,000 victims. While Johnson acknowledged that the decision to pardon lies solely with President Donald Trump, who has expressed that he has not seriously considered such a pardon, the Speaker emphasized the importance of protecting victims’ identities amid ongoing investigations. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche recently interviewed Maxwell, who reportedly provided information on numerous Epstein associates, possibly in hopes of clemency. Johnson reiterated the House Republicans' demand for the release of all credible evidence related to Epstein while cautioning against efforts that could jeopardize victim protections. Overall, Johnson's remarks reflect a cautious and firm stance against leniency for Maxwell, focusing on justice for victims and transparency in the Epstein case.