As controversy continues to swirl around the unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files, a startling claim has resurfaced—Donald Trump allegedly considered pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate, out of fear over what she might reveal.
The claim comes from Michael Wolff, the controversial biographer behind multiple books on Trump. Speaking on The Daily Beast podcast this week, Wolff alleged that Trump grew increasingly anxious following Maxwell’s 2020 arrest and raised the idea of a possible pardon.
“He became very wary about the arrest of Ghislaine Maxwell and asked, ‘What could she say? What would she say? Should I pardon her?’” Wolff said.
Maxwell was arrested on July 2, 2020, during the final months of Trump’s presidency. She was later convicted in December 2021 for sex trafficking and sentenced in June 2022. Epstein, her co-conspirator, died in federal custody in 2019, a death officially ruled a suicide.
Private Panic in Trump’s Inner Circle
Wolff claimed that the idea of a pardon caused tension within Trump’s inner circle, with aides privately hoping he wouldn’t follow through.
“Behind the scenes, this was a discussion. Everyone around him was kind of like, ‘Oh God, we hope she won’t say anything—but we really hope he doesn’t pardon her,’” Wolff recalled.
Epstein Case Reignites Public Outrage
The Epstein saga returned to the headlines this month after the Department of Justice released a memo on July 5, stating that no further information from the investigation would be made public. The memo also denied the existence of Epstein’s rumored “black book” of clients.
That announcement has frustrated many in Trump’s base. Prominent MAGA influencers like Laura Loomer and even Trump ally Elon Musk have slammed the DOJ’s handling of the case, calling for transparency and the release of all Epstein-related materials.
Wolff’s allegations, while unverified, add fuel to growing speculation and public pressure surrounding Epstein’s connections to powerful figures. As calls for accountability intensify, Trump’s past ties to the case—and rumored considerations like a pardon for Maxwell—are once again in the spotlight.
