Ghislaine Maxwell lawyer says he hopes President Trump pardons her
David Markus spoke to reporters after his client's second day of interviews with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in Tallahassee, Florida, near where Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for trafficking a minor to Epstein for sexual abuse.
Asked about Trump's comments earlier in the day about a potential pardon, Markus told reporters, "We haven't spoken to the president or anybody about a pardon just yet.'
More: How Trump and 'terrific guy' Jeffrey Epstein's party boy friendship ended badly
But, Markus said, 'The president this morning said he had the power to do so. We hope he exercises that power in the right and just way."
When Trump was asked earlier Friday if he has considered pardoning Maxwell, he said no.
"I'm allowed to do it, but it's something I have not thought about," Trump told reporters. "I certainly can't talk about pardons now."
More: Trump says he hasn't considered pardoning Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell
Maxwell was Epstein's girlfriend for years and has been accused of recruiting minors for him to have sex with. Her lengthy relationship with Epstein and alleged role in his efforts to sexually target minor girls raises the question of whether Maxwell knows of others who could have been involved in a sex-trafficking ring with Epstein.
Epstein committed suicide in prison in 2019 while awaiting his own federal trial on related sex trafficking charges, leaving Maxwell as potentially the best remaining source for uncovering secrets about people who may have colluded with him.
Maxwell maintains her innocence and is appealing her 2021 sex-trafficking conviction.
Markus did not return calls and messages seeking comment on whether he has formally asked the Trump administration for a pardon for Maxwell.
'DOJ will hear what she has to say'
Maxwell's meetings with Blanche, the No. 2 official in the Justice Department, came amid calls from the public and a bipartisan group of lawmakers for DOJ to release more information it has in its possession about Epstein's clients.
The public outcry was prompted by announcements by the Justice Department and FBI earlier this month that they won't be releasing their Epstein-related files, despite promising to do so.
Pressure has mounted since then for the administration to reconsider, including from members of Trump's own base who were bitterly disappointed by the announcement.
That was especially the case after the Wall Street Journal disclosed that Attorney General Pam Bondi notified Trump in May that his name had appeared 'multiple times' in the files. Trump has since denied being told that by Bondi.
Trump has also denied a Journal report that he wrote a birthday message to Epstein that included a drawing of a naked woman and he has sued the newspaper for defamation.
The fact that Blanche was previously Trump's personal defense lawyer has also ratcheted up concerns about his − and the Department of Justice's − motivations in wanting to talk to Maxwell.
Blanche said he wanted to meet with Maxwell to find out what more she can say about her dealings with Epstein.
In a July 22 social media post, Blanche said that if 'Ghislaine Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say.'
Rep. Dan Goldman, D-New York, however, suggested that Blanche's effort was to protect Trump 'by tacitly floating a pardon for Maxwell in return for information that politically benefits President Trump.'
Maxwell is also reportedly set to meet on Aug 11. with congressional lawmakers after the House Oversight Committee subpoenaed her on July 23.
'I'll give you a list' of others who partied with Epstein: Trump
Trump has denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein but attended parties with him during the 1990s and repeatedly flew on his private jet. Trump later distanced himself from the well-connected financier and said he banned him from his Mar-a-Lago club and residence in Palm Beach, Fla.
On July 25, as he was preparing to fly to Scotland, Trump told reporters that they should focus instead on other political leaders and hedge fund managers who spent more time with Epstein.
"I'll give you a list," Trump said.
'Don't talk about Trump'
On his arrival in Scotland, Trump again was asked about Maxwell, and said, 'I really have nothing to say about it.'
'She is being talked to by a very smart man, by a very good man, Todd Blanche, and I don't know anything about the conversation. I haven't really been following it,' Trump told reporters.
He said 'a lot of people are asking me about pardons' and that, 'Todd will come back with whatever he's got. You're making a very big thing over something that's not a big thing.'
'If you're going to talk about that, talk about Clinton,' Trump said, in reference to former President Bill Clinton, who has been linked to Epstein but has denied wrongdoing.
'Talk about all of his friends,' Trump said of Epstein. 'Talk about the hedge fund guys that were with him all the time. Don't talk about Trump.'
Contributing: Aysha Bagchi; Bart Jansen, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ghislaine Maxwell lawyer says he hopes President Trump pardons her
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