<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There is a growing number of US members of Congress pushing for sex trafficker </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/ghislaine-maxwell" rel="" target="" title="Ghislaine Maxwell"><span>Ghislaine Maxwell</span></a><span> to be pardoned, a top Republican has said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/bill-clinton-hillary-clinton-jeffrey-epstein-case-subpoena-contempt-congress-james-comer/de96914d-8d54-4e07-a3cf-13aeb8384b41" rel="" target="" title="House Oversight Committee chair James Comer"><span>House Oversight Committee chair James Comer</span></a><span> was asked if it would be worthwhile to offer Maxwell a pardon in exchange for her testimony.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A lot of people do," Comer told </span><em><span>Politico</span></em><span>.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/iran-negotiations-jd-vance--jared-kushner-donald-trump-son-in-law-steve-witkoff/a2728961-6d5e-4e48-a834-ae9214820426"><strong><span>Trump sends son-in-law to negotiate with Iran, JD Vance not included</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"My committee's split on that. I don't speak for my committee."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He pointed out that he was not in support of a pardon.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While Maxwell was heavily involved in sex crimes, it is believed her testimony would expose other pedophiles connected to her partner </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/jeffrey-epstein" rel="" target="" title="Jeffrey Epstein"><span>Jeffrey Epstein</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/ghislaine-maxwell-pardon-donald-trump-clemency-jeffrey-epstein-usa-news/8372ac2a-a009-40d6-b287-edb89e010d27" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Comer's Democratic counterpart Robert Garcia issued a statement decrying the idea.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's outrageous that Republicans on the Oversight Committee are considering a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"She is a sexual abuser who facilitated the rape of women and children.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said a pardon would be a "shameful way to treat survivors".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Oversight Democrats are united in opposing any pardon," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/truth-social-donald-trump-devin-nunes-massive-losses-bitcoin-investment-usa-news/57ce532d-4fda-4354-b3db-9673a1ead2bc"><strong><span>CEO of Trump's media company ousted after losing billions</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Maxwell refused to testify during her deposition in February.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Garcia pointed out in his statement that after speaking to Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, now the acting Attorney-General, Maxwell was moved to a "cushy minimum-security women's prison".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Her lawyer has stated that Maxwell will testify if she is granted clemency from Trump.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Maxwell and Trump were long-time friends.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking as well as conspiring with Epstein to abuse underage girls.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna dismissed the prospect of Maxwell getting out of prison.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"She's not getting a pardon," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The votes aren't there for that."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-election-redistricting-gerrymandering-plan-backfires-virginia-congressional-race-referendum-results/efd3d84b-11a5-4cd7-b2f9-55d802facccd"><strong><span>Donald Trump's bid to secure power for his party just backfired big time</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But a vote in Congress would be ultimately meaningless on the issue. Congress does not have the power to issue pardons. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The role is solely in the hands of the president, who has the power to pardon anyone convicted of a federal crime at will.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In October last year </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="" title="Donald Trump"><span>Donald Trump</span></a><span> said he would "take a look at" pardoning Maxwell.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Were he to do so, there would be no way for Congress to stop him.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Her lawyer told Congress she would </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/ghislaine-maxwell-donald-trump-clemency-testimony-congress-howard-lutnick-usa-politics-news/d2e0f01b-45e5-48b4-a22e-4b832c8dc95f" rel="" target="" title="exonerate Trump in the Epstein investigation if she "><span>exonerate Trump in the Epstein investigation if she</span></a><span> were freed from prison.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Trump administration has come under fire after only releasing a fraction of the files connected with the Department of Justice's investigation of Epstein.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Under a law passed earlier, they are required to release every file.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-robert-f-kennedy-percentages-math-usa-news/b870d6f8-2acb-4764-bd6c-77cc8e04ef7a"><strong><span>Trump, Kennedy double down on their impossible mathematics claims</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>