Trump Says He Hasn't Considered Pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell, But 'i'm Allowed To Do It'

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Friday that he "hasn't thought about" pardoning Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell but that he's "allowed to do it."

"I haven't thought astir it," Trump said erstwhile asked by reporters extracurricular nan White House if he had thought astir a pardon aliases clemency for Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year situation condemnation for activity trafficking. "I'm allowed to do it, but it's thing I person not thought about."

Pressed again later, Trump said, "I don’t want to talk astir that" earlier praising Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who met pinch Maxwell and her attorneys this week successful a national courthouse successful Tallahassee. He later added that he "never went to [Epstein's] island."

So acold successful his 2nd term, Trump has granted 58 pardons and 12 commutations, including broad clemency for nan hundreds of group convicted aliases awaiting proceedings for their engagement successful nan Jan. 6, 2021, riot astatine nan U.S. Capitol.

The president's comments earlier he near for a travel to Scotland travel arsenic the White House has been dealing pinch nan Epstein saga for weeks now and can't look shingle it, contempt Trump's attempts to alteration nan subject.

Maxwell's lawyer David Oscar Markus told reporters Friday that "We conscionable inquire that folks look astatine what she has to opportunity pinch an unfastened mind, and that’s what Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has promised us, and everything she says tin beryllium corroborated and she’s telling nan truth. She’s sewage nary logic to dishonesty astatine this point, and she’s going to support telling nan truth."

Trump told reporters Friday that he didn't cognize "exactly what's happening" pinch nan Justice Department's gathering pinch Maxwell. Asked if she should beryllium trusted since she's eager to get retired of prison, Trump only said Blanche is "a master lawyer" and "he's been done things for illustration this before."

But issues surrounding nan Epstein lawsuit apt won't dissipate anytime soon. The House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed Maxwell for a deposition astatine nan Federal Correctional Institution Tallahassee successful Florida connected Aug. 11. The House Oversight Committee will lawsuit nan Justice Department to merchandise files tied to Epstein, a committee spokesperson said this week, aft 3 Republicans connected a subcommittee joined Democrats to ballot connected nan matter Wednesday.

House Republican leaders besides decided this week to recess early for nan summer, which Democrats opportunity was meant to debar a level ballot connected whether to compel nan Justice Department to merchandise Epstein-related files. The Trump management has faced pressure, including from immoderate Republicans, to beryllium much transparent aft nan Justice Department said earlier this period that it had nary Epstein customer database contempt Attorney General Pam Bondi's connection earlier this twelvemonth that she had it connected her desk.

As calls for transparency grow, Trump and nan White House person focused connected different issues, including erstwhile President Barack Obama and files related to nan assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

Trump accused Obama this week of "treason" arsenic Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard precocious declassified a study that she said says Obama manufactured nan intelligence community's 2017 study astir Russia's interference successful nan 2016 election. Obama's agency pushed backmost against nan allegations this week, calling them "ridiculous" and "bizarre."

Asked Friday if past year's Supreme Court ruling connected statesmanlike immunity benefits Obama, Trump said, "It astir apt helped him a batch — nan immunity ruling, but it doesn't thief nan group astir him astatine all, but it astir apt helps him. He's done criminal acts, there's nary mobility astir it, but he has immunity."