Legal analyst is left shocked by Trump’s major mishap on ‘easiest question in human history’
Donald Trump is once again under fire, this time for how he responded to a question about Ghislaine Maxwell, the woman convicted of helping Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. The reaction from legal experts and the public has been swift, especially because Trump seemed unsure and vague when asked about whether he might pardon her in the future.
Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in Epstein’s sex trafficking operation. She’s been described as one of the worst offenders in modern cases of child sex abuse, second only to Epstein himself. Given the gravity of her crimes, many expected any public figure—especially a former president—to firmly and clearly say “no” when asked about the possibility of granting her a pardon.
But when Trump was asked during an interview if he would consider pardoning Maxwell, his answer caught many off guard. He didn’t say no. Instead, he said it was something he hadn’t thought about and that, while he’s legally allowed to issue a pardon, it wasn’t on his mind. This kind of response, lacking any firm stance or moral clarity, deeply concerned critics and legal analysts.
CNN’s senior legal analyst Elie Honig responded with disbelief. He said it should’ve been the easiest question to answer—something that didn’t require any thinking or political calculation. According to Honig, the obvious and immediate response should have been a firm rejection of the idea. He said that no one who has committed crimes as horrific as Maxwell should ever even be considered for a pardon.
Honig added that while he personally can’t imagine Trump actually going through with a pardon, people who know Trump well have said it’s not entirely out of the question. That idea—that Trump could even entertain helping someone like Maxwell—has alarmed many.
This situation has reignited public interest in Trump’s long and complicated relationship with both Epstein and Maxwell. Though Trump has tried to distance himself from Epstein over the years, old connections keep resurfacing. For example, The Wall Street Journal reported that Maxwell had gathered birthday messages from Epstein’s powerful friends in 2003—and Trump was reportedly one of the contributors. His note allegedly included strange, cryptic words: “Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.” Trump has since claimed the message is fake, but the New York Times reported his name does appear in Epstein’s birthday tribute book.
The fallout from this has been intense. Trump’s critics say his unclear answer about a pardon shows either poor judgment or that he’s unwilling to condemn those once close to him, no matter what they’ve done. Some even say it’s part of a pattern—when faced with questions about powerful or controversial figures from his past, Trump often dodges or downplays their wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, many are calling on Trump to release any files or information he may have related to Epstein and Maxwell, especially as pressure builds to uncover the full extent of who was involved in their crimes. For Maxwell, unless something extraordinary happens, like a presidential pardon, she is expected to serve the full term of her 20-year sentence behind bars for multiple counts of sex trafficking and conspiracy involving minors.
The broader concern here is what Trump’s response says about his values and leadership. In a moment where moral clarity was expected, he hesitated—and that silence has spoken volumes to many observers.
