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Zorro

(17,718 posts)
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 09:37 AM Friday

Trump Could Strike 'Hidden Pardon' Deal With Ghislaine Maxwell: Bondi Aide

Donald Trump could be plotting a “hidden pardon” deal with Ghislaine Maxwell to clear his name during the administration’s Jeffrey Epstein crisis, according to a former Pam Bondi aide.

Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in Epstein’s sex trafficking of minors, was interviewed on Thursday by Justice Department officials, including Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

Dave Aronberg, a former state attorney for Palm Beach County who was once Bondi’s drug czar when she was Florida’s attorney general, said on CNN that Blanche’s role in the interview was “extremely extraordinary.”

“It’s as if the number two executive at CNN was conducting this interview with me instead of you,” he told host Brianna Keilar. “Like, what? It never happens. Also, he’s not going to be knowledgeable about this case like the line prosecutors who actually handled her case.”

Aronberg suggested that the interview could be part of a scheme by the Trump administration to “protect the president” as he faces a surge of concerns about his relationship to Epstein.

He hypothesized that there could be “a deal with Ghislaine Maxwell that she would get some immunity now and maybe a hidden pardon in the future: some sort of implication that she would be pardoned in the future if she comes out and says that the president was... not involved in any criminal activity.”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-could-strike-hidden-pardon-deal-with-ghislaine-maxwell-says-pam-bondi-aide/

31 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Trump Could Strike 'Hidden Pardon' Deal With Ghislaine Maxwell: Bondi Aide (Original Post) Zorro Friday OP
Yeah; that wouldn't look suspicious... Chasstev365 Friday #1
Krasnov could promise Maxwell a pardon gab13by13 Friday #2
Or, they get her "on record" right now saying Trump is innocent. Then pardon her for crimes she is convicted. Hassin Bin Sober Saturday #27
Subornation of Perjury? 2na fisherman Friday #3
Ghislaine Maxwell is holding the better hand, Trump knows she could bury him if he doesn't pardon her now. sop Friday #4
I did my own research. But it's complex. usonian Friday #5
In return for what? Ping Tung Friday #6
Blondi & Jizz Jean Genie Friday #7
It's a no-brainer. This is what they are attempting to do. NH Ethylene Friday #8
Everyone knows that's what's going on here. And it very well could work. Of course, Maxwell would take a deal. Martin68 Friday #9
What she says orangecrush Friday #10
Exactly...she can say anything she wants...won't change all the actual hard evidence PortTack Friday #13
That's all but certain. Deal and/or pardon is in the works as we speak. Katinfl Friday #12
The other question is: does he care? NYC Liberal Friday #15
IMO, he's not planning on leaving office, til he's 6 ft under! nt slightlv Friday #17
You never bdamomma Friday #20
The Trump administration is nothing but a bunch of fucking criminals. mdbl Friday #11
One monster fucking deceitful prick Tarzanrock Friday #14
State charges VGuerra276 Friday #16
Oooh, what a shock! Liberal In Texas Friday #18
Everything is "extremely extraordinary." Kid Berwyn Friday #19
A parson for someone who is guilty sure sounds fishy and unethical and shows OPP is guilty as F kimbutgar Friday #21
1. She's not credible. 2. We all have eyes and ears. 3. Release the files! Dem4life1970 Friday #22
FUCK TRMP. spanone Friday #23
Please proceed the snowball already has too much momentum Tribetime Friday #24
Children get the wrong end of the stick, again. twodogsbarking Saturday #25
At a minimum, she will say he had nothing johnnyfins Saturday #26
if he pardons her, the target on his back will get bigger.... samnsara Saturday #28
They will be fine with it. "Those sluts chose to be there..." travelingthrulife Saturday #30
The anti-trafficking crew is awfully good to sex traffickers. travelingthrulife Saturday #29
I believe that trump will pardon Maxwell LetMyPeopleVote Saturday #31

gab13by13

(29,056 posts)
2. Krasnov could promise Maxwell a pardon
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 09:43 AM
Friday

after the 2028 election, and that pardon would never happen. Maxwell's attorney is good friends with Blanche.

Hassin Bin Sober

(27,177 posts)
27. Or, they get her "on record" right now saying Trump is innocent. Then pardon her for crimes she is convicted.
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 08:31 AM
Saturday

Then hold a perjury charge over her head if she recants recent testimony.

I think that’s what is happening. The limited immunity is meant to lock her in to a story now she can’t recant.

2na fisherman

(42 posts)
3. Subornation of Perjury?
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 09:49 AM
Friday

Last edited Sun Jul 27, 2025, 10:53 AM - Edit history (1)

Todd Blanche meeting with Maxwell to pressure her to lie is not only highly irregular for a Deputy AG , it is most certainly illegal. But nobody seems to care when it is done in service to the Pedo In Chief. Eventually, the truth will come out and such toadies may be held accountable for their actions.

sop

(15,324 posts)
4. Ghislaine Maxwell is holding the better hand, Trump knows she could bury him if he doesn't pardon her now.
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 09:53 AM
Friday

And it's too late in the game to have her "silenced." If anything were to happen to Maxwell at this point it would literally set off a MAGA conspiracy theory firestorm.

usonian

(19,374 posts)
5. I did my own research. But it's complex.
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 10:51 AM
Friday

What To Know About Ghislaine Maxwell’s Alleged Perjury

https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2025/07/24/what-to-know-about-ghislaine-maxwells-alleged-perjury-as-she-speaks-with-doj-today-about-epstein/

ByAlison Durkee,

Forbes Staff.
Alison is a senior news reporter covering US politics and legal news.
Jul 24, 2025, 01:55pm EDT

Ping Tung

(3,162 posts)
6. In return for what?
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 10:57 AM
Friday

I'm thinking (or his lawyer brigade) could offer her a future reduced sentence if she keeps her mouth shut.

NH Ethylene

(31,191 posts)
8. It's a no-brainer. This is what they are attempting to do.
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 11:18 AM
Friday

Since it will be so obvious that Maxwell was/will be rewarded for clearing Trump, I can't imagine that this farce is going to quell the masses. People will still want to see the files.

Martin68

(26,227 posts)
9. Everyone knows that's what's going on here. And it very well could work. Of course, Maxwell would take a deal.
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 11:24 AM
Friday

orangecrush

(25,878 posts)
10. What she says
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 11:34 AM
Friday

Won't change what's actually in the files.

It would at best provide another distraction.

There is now a bipartisan push to get those files, and he is toast when the truth comes out.

Katinfl

(440 posts)
12. That's all but certain. Deal and/or pardon is in the works as we speak.
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 12:01 PM
Friday

But it may backfire on him because it is so obvious he is covering his ass. But would his cult even recognize it for what it is?

NYC Liberal

(20,415 posts)
15. The other question is: does he care?
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 01:08 PM
Friday

He’s not running for election again, one way or the other (either he leaves office in 2029, or he tries a coup).

His only concern is protecting himself and not going to jail. He doesn’t give a shit about his party or the country.

mdbl

(7,024 posts)
11. The Trump administration is nothing but a bunch of fucking criminals.
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 11:43 AM
Friday

The worst and most blatant in history.

 

Tarzanrock

(1,250 posts)
14. One monster fucking deceitful prick
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 01:00 PM
Friday

This is one monster fucking deceitful prick who is an utter disgrace to the legal profession and should be disbarred. Just imagine, the Deputy Attorney General of the United States is purposefully engaging in blatant illegal and criminal witness tampering with a convicted criminal who has been convicted of heinous, despicable crimes involving sex trafficking of children for the benefit of criminal pedophiles and abuse by same and who has been sentenced to 20 years incarceration for those crimes -- the same person the US Justice Department publicly stated was so dishonest that she could not be believed about anything she said -- and yet Todd Blanche has now met with this criminal for two straight days to obtain lies to be used and manipulated to exonerate the Turd from his Epstein connections and sex conduct with Epstein's underage girls. This conduct is well beyond despicable! You have to ask yourself: where is the voice of the American Bar Association and its Model Rules of Professional Conduct and the voices of the Criminal Defense Bar Associations condemning this outrageous illegal and unethical conduct on the part of Blanche? Both Blanche and Bondi should be disbarred -- Blanche for committing this blatant criminal witness tampering and Bondi for permitting it to go forward. Get your shit together, Legal Profession and Judges -- it's past time to condemn this outrageous illegal conduct!

VGuerra276

(63 posts)
16. State charges
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 02:26 PM
Friday

There's probably no statute of limitations so the state should pick up the charges if she's pardoned.

Liberal In Texas

(15,452 posts)
18. Oooh, what a shock!
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 04:34 PM
Friday

"I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!"

Maxwell isn't stupid. She's going to parley this into freedom - a pardon.
So, the last 2 days have been dickering over terms. Hammering out a scenario. Going over a script.

kimbutgar

(25,662 posts)
21. A parson for someone who is guilty sure sounds fishy and unethical and shows OPP is guilty as F
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 05:32 PM
Friday

OPP orange pedo president

Tribetime

(6,743 posts)
24. Please proceed the snowball already has too much momentum
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 10:59 PM
Friday

You are pissing in the wind making it worse. You can't bullshit your way out of this. For the 1st time in your life your evil has caught up to you.

samnsara

(18,591 posts)
28. if he pardons her, the target on his back will get bigger....
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 08:56 AM
Saturday

does he think his rabid followers will be OK with that?

travelingthrulife

(2,944 posts)
29. The anti-trafficking crew is awfully good to sex traffickers.
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 09:33 AM
Saturday

No criminal left behind in jail during the Trump maladministration.

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