'Good chance' Donald Trump will pardon Ghislaine Maxwell, lawyer says

'Good chance' Donald Trump will pardon Ghislaine Maxwell, lawyer saysGhislaine Maxwell’s lawyer says she has a “good chance” of a Trump pardon, sparking fury from victimsNewsChristopher Bucktin United States Editor11:45, 22 Apr 2026View 4 ImagesMaxwell and Donald Trump, whom her lawyer claims could grant her a presidential pardon(Image: NY Daily News via Getty Images)Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyer has said “there’s a good chance” her old friend Donald Trump will grant a presidential pardon for the teen sex trafficker.‌The disgraced British socialite is serving 20 years behind bars after being convicted of recruiting girls for Jeffrey Epstein to abuse. “I don’t know what the percentages are,” said David Oscar Markus. “There’s a good chance and for good reason that she would get a pardon.”‌Markus described Maxwell as “a scapegoat” who would not have faced prosecution had Epstein not died in custody in 2019, though he indicated no direct contact has yet been made with the White House and suggested any move towards clemency may take time. “[Maxwell] obviously wants clemency,” he said. “There’s no secret about that. I don’t think now is the best time to do it, with everything going on.”‌View 4 ImagesDonald Trump and Melania Trump seen alongside Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell(Image: Getty Images)READ MORE: Moment Ghislaine Maxwell stonewalls Congress as it emerges Epstein abused a nine-year-oldREAD MORE: Epstein victims blast Ghislaine Maxwell’s plan to remain silent: 'Still protecting powerful'The White House has previously played down the prospect of a pardon, with officials pointing to earlier comments from Trump indicating he had not seriously considered it, though he has not ruled it out.The suggestion has drawn fierce opposition from lawmakers and victims’ families. Democratic Congressman Robert Garcia said granting clemency would be “disgusting and outrageous,” adding that Maxwell “helped Jeffrey Epstein traffic young women and girls.”‌The br...