Speaker Mike Johnson Slams Ghislaine Maxwell's 20-Year Sentence: ‘A Pittance'
Ghislaine Maxwell's 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking is 'a pittance,' Speaker of the House Mike Johnson told NBC's 'Meet the Press with Kristen Welker' Sunday. 'I think she should have a life sentence at least.'
The Trump administration's Justice Department recently granted Maxwell limited immunity during a series of recent interviews, allowing her to answer questions without her responses being held against her. Maxwell has made clear she wants her sentence thrown out or reduced; President Trump wished her 'well' in an interview and said a pardon is something he's 'allowed to do.'
More from TheWrap
Speaker Mike Johnson Slams Ghislaine Maxwell's 20-Year Sentence: 'A Pittance' | Video
The Best New Shows on Netflix in July 2025
Connie Chung Says 'Shame On' Shari Redstone and the Ellisons: 'I Fear the End of CBS as I Knew It' | Video
'Anne Rice's Talamasca' Spinoff Taps 'Interview With the Vampire' Star Eric Bogosian as Guest Star
In a firestorm of controversy over the administration's whipsaws around the Jeffrey Epstein matter, the Republican speaker has stood firm.
'I mean, think of all these unspeakable crimes, and as you noted earlier, probably 1,000 victims,' Johnson continued. 'I mean, you know, this, this is, it's, it's hard to put into words how evil this was, and that she orchestrated it and was a big part of it, at least under the criminal sanction, I think is an unforgivable thing. So again, not my decision, but I have great pause about that, as any reasonable person would.'
In 2021 Maxwell was convicted on five of six charges stemming from her years working with Epstein. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2022.
Welker also asked Johnson if Maxwell 'can be trusted' following two days of interviews with Deputy Attorney General Tom Blanche. 'I hope so. I hope that she would want to come clean. We certainly are interested in knowing everything that she knows,' he answered.
'And as you'll note, in our House Republican majority, we're working towards that. Chairman Comer and our oversight committee has already issued their own subpoena. They, they want to bring in Ghislaine Maxwell as well. I hope she's telling the truth. She is convicted. She is serving a 20-year sentence for child sex trafficking, and so her character is in some question. But if she wants to come clean now, that would be a great service to the country, and we'd like to know every single bit of information that she has. I certainly hope she's telling the truth.'
Blanche has yet to make a public statement about his conversations with Maxwell. That the department's second in command is interviewing a witness personally is 'highly unusual,' former prosecutors told NBC News.
Attorney Jack Scarola, who represented approximately 20 of Epstein's victims, was denied a request to attend Maxwell's interview.
Catherine Christian, a former Manhattan assistant district attorney and an NBC News legal analyst, also told the news outlet the interviews could be part of a larger plan to distract from Donald Trump's ties to Maxwell and Epstein. The president is fending off rising inquiries into the exact nature of those relationships, including calls for clarification from within his MAGA base.
The post Speaker Mike Johnson Slams Ghislaine Maxwell's 20-Year Sentence: 'A Pittance' | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
MLB places Cleveland All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase on paid leave as part of sports betting investigation
CLEVELAND (AP) — MLB places Cleveland All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase on paid leave as part of sports betting investigation.
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase placed on paid leave in connection with MLB sports-gambling investigation
One of the biggest chips on the MLB trade market is being placed on paid leave just days before the deadline. All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave in connection with an MLB sports-betting investigation, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. The Guardians confirmed the news in a statement. The team was told that "no additional players or club personnel are expected to be impacted." The team added it would not comment further on the situation and will allow MLB to carry out its investigation into the matter. Clase is the second Guardians pitcher to be placed on paid leave while MLB looks into the situation. Starter Luis Ortiz was also put on paid leave in early July after suspicious bets were reportedly placed based on his performance. Ortiz reportedly came under fire after two of his pitches were flagged for suspicious betting activity. An unusual amount of action was placed on Ortiz opening an inning by either throwing a ball or hitting a batter in two separate games. In both instances, Ortiz started off those innings by throwing pitches nowhere near the strike zone. It's unclear what MLB found during its investigation that resulted in Clase being placed on leave. If Clase or Ortiz are found by MLB to have violated league rules, the pair could face a wide range of possible punishment. The league banned former infielder Tucupita Marcano for life in 2024 after he reportedly bet on his own team while injured. Other players who bet on baseball, but not on their own teams, were banned for a year and reinstated in June. Under MLB rules, players are not allowed to bet on baseball or softball, but can bet on other sports. The Guardians have not lived up to expectations this season. After winning the American League Central with a 92-69 record last season, the team sits at 52-53 entering play Monday. Clase — one of the game's best closers — pitched well this season, posting a 3.23 ERA and 24 saves over 47 1/3 innings. He was thought to be one of the premier names available at the trade deadline, though Monday's news makes it highly unlikely Clase will change teams ahead of the July 31 deadline.
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
FBI Investigating Death on Carnival Cruise Ship with Multiple Agencies
A person reportedly died on the cruise ship based out of Texas on July 23NEED TO KNOW A death on the Carnival Dream cruise ship based out of Galveston, Texas, is being investigated by authorities FBI Houston is currently working with several agencies on the alleged incident Carnival officials told PEOPLE it is "routine protocol" for the FBI to investigate deaths that occur on cruise shipsAn investigation is underway after a death on the Carnival Dream cruise ship based out of Galveston, Texas, according to reports. At around 4:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, July 23, passengers woke up to the sounds of sirens alerting them to an incident on board the ship as it was traveling to Costa Maya, Belize, KHOU and the Houston Chronicle reported. One passenger reported hearing an announcement saying that medical assistance was needed on the Serenity Deck, according to the outlets. KHOU, citing law enforcement sources, reported that a "death investigation" is underway. An FBI spokesperson said in a statement to PEOPLE, 'I can confirm FBI Houston is aware of an incident that occurred around July 23, 2025, on the Carnival Dream cruise ship. An FBI maritime liaison agent, based out of the Texas City Resident Agency, is coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection and the cruise line regarding this incident.' FBI spokesperson Connor Hagan did not specify the nature of the case. "It is standard practice for the FBI to review deaths that occur on cruise ships," a spokesperson for Carnival shared in a statement with PEOPLE on Monday. "It does not automatically imply suspicious circumstances, and the facts of this matter do not suggest any such activitiy." The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010 requires cruise line cruise ships to report any deaths to the FBI, per the agency's website. The company added: "We extend our heartfelt sympathy to out guest's family and loved ones in this difficult time." Carnival denied any investigation into a 'suspicious death' to CBS Austin following news of the incident. The cruise line said in a statement to the outlet on July 27, "There is no investigation about a suspicious death on Carnival Dream, and it's disappointing to learn that any guests might be spreading rumors about something they know nothing about." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The day of the alleged incident the Dream was in Belize City, making one of three stops during a six-day cruise after departing Galveston on July 20. The ship returned on Saturday, July 26, per the Houston Chronicle. Read the original article on People