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Zorro

(17,919 posts)
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 09:37 AM Jul 25

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

gab13by13

(29,867 posts)
2. Krasnov could promise Maxwell a pardon
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 09:43 AM
Jul 25

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

Hassin Bin Sober

(27,267 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
Jul 26

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

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

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

(16,153 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
Jul 25

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

(20,783 posts)
5. I did my own research. But it's complex.
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 10:51 AM
Jul 25

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

(3,695 posts)
6. In return for what?
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 10:57 AM
Jul 25

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

NH Ethylene

(31,215 posts)
8. It's a no-brainer. This is what they are attempting to do.
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 11:18 AM
Jul 25

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

(26,503 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
Jul 25

orangecrush

(26,769 posts)
10. What she says
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 11:34 AM
Jul 25

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

(513 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
Jul 25

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

(20,424 posts)
15. The other question is: does he care?
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 01:08 PM
Jul 25

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

(7,417 posts)
11. The Trump administration is nothing but a bunch of fucking criminals.
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 11:43 AM
Jul 25

The worst and most blatant in history.

 

Tarzanrock

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

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

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

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

Liberal In Texas

(15,635 posts)
18. Oooh, what a shock!
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 04:34 PM
Jul 25

"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

(26,096 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
Jul 25

OPP orange pedo president

Tribetime

(6,845 posts)
24. Please proceed the snowball already has too much momentum
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 10:59 PM
Jul 25

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

(18,632 posts)
28. if he pardons her, the target on his back will get bigger....
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 08:56 AM
Jul 26

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

travelingthrulife

(3,327 posts)
29. The anti-trafficking crew is awfully good to sex traffickers.
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 09:33 AM
Jul 26

No criminal left behind in jail during the Trump maladministration.

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