Speaker Johnson refuses Maxwell pardon, saying she deserves life sentence

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-la. Ghislaine Maxwell Worth life imprisonment, the idea of refusing potential pardons for convicted sex traffickers.

During a appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Media,” Johnson was asked whether he supported Maxwell’s pardon, but a spokesman stressed that the decision ultimately belonged to President Donald Trump.

“I think 20 years is a picky one,” Johnson said of the time of Maxwell’s era. “I think she should be sentenced to life imprisonment at least. I mean thinking of all these unspeakable crimes.”

“I mean, it’s hard to say how evil it is, she orchestrated it and it’s a big part of it, at least under criminal sanctions, I think it’s an unforgivable thing.” More than 1,000 victims Many of them are underage. “Again, it’s not my decision, but I have a big pause on that, like any reasonable person.”

Ghislaine Maxwell summoned by House Oversight Committee in Epstein’s Archive

Trump was asked if he thought Maxwell was pardoned or leniency when he left the White House on his way to Scotland on Friday. The president opened the door and replied, “I can do this, but this is something I didn’t expect.”

Johnson said he supports the position of the president, the FBI and the Justice Department “all reliable evidence and information” but stresses the need for safeguards that protect the identity of victims. As for Maxwell, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche was interrogated for two consecutive days last week at the Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche at the Federal Prison in Tallahassee, Florida. Her lawyer told reporters she answered questions from about 100 potential colleagues of Epstein She leans for leniency.

“It’s the president’s decision,” Johnson said of the potential Maxwell pardon. “He said he hasn’t considered it enough yet. I won’t be in front of him. It’s not my driveway. My lane is helpful in guiding and controlling the House and using every tool in our arsenal to achieve the truth. I will do everything I can to say that clearly, clearly, and repeatedly. They will. But we have to protect innocent people, and that’s the only safeguard we have to work on, and I insist on doing it.”

At a July 2, 2020 press conference, American lawyers in southern New York pointed out photos of Jeffrey Epstein and Gislaine Maxwell. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

Jeffrey Epstein

Johnson criticizes a petition to publish all Epstein archives Representative Thomas Massie, RW.Va. and D-Penn. Ro Khanna, known as “reckless,” drafted badly, believes it ignores federal rules that protect grand jury materials, “will require the Justice Department and the FBI to release information they know is wrong, based on lies and rumors, and not even reliable enough to enter it into court lawsuits.”

The spokesman said the petition also lacks safeguards for underage victims who suffer “unspeakable crimes, evil sins” and risk being “disclosed.” “Invoke information about sexual abuse they do not want to abuse children, but they cite false provisions of federal regulations, so that makes it unfeasible,” Johnson said. The Speaker argued that Republicans on the House Rules Committee were committed to a better drafting approach to protecting innocent people.

R-Ky. Rep. Thomas Massie attended the core meeting of the House Republican Conference at the Capitol on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images)

Asked about Maxwell’s potential pardon, Massie told NBC’s Kristen Welker earlier in the program, “It will be up to the president to the president, but if she has information that can help us, I think she should testify.”

“Let’s figure it out, as long as I’m honest, I’ll do everything I’ll do to force this testimony,” Massi said.

Karnar said he didn’t believe Maxwell’s verdict should be a commuter and he was worried that Blanche was meeting with her. He said he agreed with Massi and Maxwell should have testified, but pointed out that she was charged twice with perjury.

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“That’s why we need documents. That’s why we need independent evidence,” Kana said.