US House Oversight members divided on Ghislaine Maxwell pardon, chairman says

The long-term associate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was found guilty for helping him sexually abuse teen girls

FILE PHOTO: Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein are seen in this image released by the Department of Justice in Washington, DC, US, on Dec 19, 2025 as part of a new trove of documents from its investigations into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. US Justice Department/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

Some members of the US House Oversight Committee are open to the possibility of a presidential pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell if it would enable her to share information with the panel for its probe into Jeffrey Epstein, committee chairman James Comer told Politico on Wednesday.

Maxwell, 64, was invited to testify before the committee but refused to answer any substantive questions in February, invoking her Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination.

Maxwell was an associate of Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender whose death in custody in 2019 was ruled a suicide. She was found guilty in 2021 for her role in helping Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls and is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.

Comer, a Republican, said committee members were divided on whether Maxwell should receive a pardon, which can only be conferred by President Donald Trump.

Trump left the door open in October to possibly pardoning Maxwell, saying he would speak to the US Justice Department. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

US Representative Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the committee, later wrote on X: "@OversightDems are united in opposing a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell. It’s outrageous that any Republicans on our committee would consider this."

Comer said he remains opposed to the idea.

The lack of agreement reduces the likelihood of a pardon-for-testimony deal.