BREAKING: Rosen Passes Resolution Opposing Ghislaine Maxwell Pardon Ahead of Todd Blanche Judiciary Vote

In February, Senator Rosen Introduced A Resolution That Would Oppose Any Presidential Clemency For Ghislaine Maxwell, A Convicted Child Trafficker

Watch the Full Video HERE

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, ahead of Todd Blanche's expected confirmation vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee tomorrow, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) took to the Senate floor to ask for unanimous consent to pass her resolution opposing any presidential clemency or pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's co-conspirator and convicted child trafficker. Senator Rosen successfully passed the resolution after receiving no objections on the Senate floor.

Under Blanche's supervision, the Department of Justice has completely mishandled the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell case. Todd Blanche met with Maxwell - who was sentenced to 20 years for her role in grooming and trafficking underage girls for Jeffrey Epstein - in order to get her to say positive things about Trump. She was soon after transferred to a minimum-security prison. In a podcast interview, Blanche called Maxwell's lawyer "a friend" and "someone I know pretty well." At the same time, Donald Trump has refused to rule out a pardon for Maxwell.

Below is the full transcript from her speech:

Tomorrow, the Judiciary Committee will vote on Todd Blanche's nomination for Attorney General.

While there are a number of reasons why the members of the committee should oppose Todd Blanche's nomination - from his willingness to enable Donald Trump's worst instincts, to his role in helping create Trump's corrupt slush fund to pay out January 6 rioters who assaulted police officers and others - there is one reason that stands out far ahead of the others.

It's his complete and total mishandling of the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell case.

Former Trump Attorney General Pam Bondi told the House behind closed doors that Todd Blanche, as her deputy, was responsible for how the Department handled the Epstein files.

Under his supervision, the Department of Justice promised the release of Epstein's client list, claiming there was a list they had compiled for and sent to Pam Bondi - only to backtrack and refuse to release documents for months.

It took Congress passing an overwhelmingly bipartisan, veto-proof federal law to force the release of these materials.

Even then, the Trump Administration - and specifically the Department of Justice under Todd Blanche's management - delayed their compliance with this law.

When files were finally released, the identities of many perpetrators - not victims - were redacted, raising serious questions and concerns about who the Administration was trying to protect. They redacted perpetrators, not victims.

And as the White House and Justice Department tried to manage the fallout from their mishandling of this case, Todd Blanche was reportedly in the Situation Room with senior Trump Administration officials working on a public relations strategy on behalf of the president.

According to the New York Times, one of the options was to have a Justice Department lawyer interview Ghislaine Maxwell in order to get her to clear Donald Trump.

Well, Todd Blanche apparently offered himself up to interview Ghislaine Maxwell and strangely raised the possibility that Maxwell's lawyer, quote: "might expect something in return for her candor," end quote, according to the Times. A convicted sex trafficker wants something in return from the president of the United States

The White House Counsel then laid out the possibility that Ghislaine Maxwell may be pardoned or have her sentence reduced.

You heard that right. There was a serious discussion at the White House to pardon or reduce the sentence of Ghislaine Maxwell, in order to get her to say nice things about Donald Trump.

Mind you, this is the same woman, the same woman who facilitated Jeffrey Epstein's horrific abuse of underage girls over many years, year after year, hundreds of young women.

Our justice system worked as it is supposed to. Maxwell was found guilty by a jury of her peers. She was sentenced to twenty years in prison for her crimes.

And that's why it was odd when Todd Blanche, in a highly unusual step, personally interviewed Maxwell, and days later, she was magically transferred to a minimum-security prison. Magic act.

But that's not the only thing that's odd.

Ghislaine Maxwell's attorney, who Todd Blanche calls a friend, said that Maxwell wanted a pardon from Trump in exchange for her public testimony that would help Donald Trump.

At the same time, Trump has refused to rule out pardoning her.

Trump has said, I'm gonna quote here: "I'm allowed to do it," end quote. And he has even gone so far as saying, quote: "I'll take a look at it. I'll speak to the DoJ"

The president has said he would have to speak to the DoJ, which would now be led by his former lawyer Todd Blanche.

It's frankly horrifying that Trump would entertain the idea of clemency even for a second. Even a second for a convicted sex trafficker

That alone should be enough for the Senate to speak up with one voice and affirm that there should be absolutely no pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell. Not now, not ever.

That's why earlier this year I introduced a resolution doing just that.

But given that Senate Republicans are poised to soon confirm Todd Blanche to lead the Department of Justice, the time to bring this resolution is now.

Earlier this month, the Senate passed a similar resolution saying there should be no presidential pardon for Sam Bankman-Fried.

So we have already set that precedent here in this chamber.

So let's now send a message to the White House and Department of Justice right now that there should be no pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell.

There should never be a pardon for someone who helped a monster abuse underage girls for years.

That's why I'm requesting that we pass my commonsense resolution today saying just that.

…

Sen. Rosen: I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Presiding Officer: Without objection.

Sen. Rosen: I'm so pleased that we could find unanimous agreement on a resolution against a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell.

If the nomination of Todd Blanche is confirmed during the Judiciary Committee, this is the least they can do to make their opposition to a Maxwell pardon clear.

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