Donald Trump could find himself in one hell of a pickle and very soon. One of his strategies to make the Epstein issue go away, besides his idiotic persecution of Obama, is to offer a reduced sentence to Ghislaine Maxwell. It makes perfect sense that he will pursue this strategy. If Maxwell can get out of prison early, of course she’s going to want to do that. That’s a no brainer. Also, if she would refuse to cooperate for any reason, then who’s to say that Ghislaine wouldn’t meet the exact same fate that Jeffrey Epstein met in his prison cell, with the “suicide?” Maxwell is not stupid. She’s going to do what will save her skin, as would any of us in that situation. But it may not be enough. Meidas Touch has a good analysis of this.
… Maxwell has every reason to lie at this point to protect Trump. DOJ can dangle a Rule 35 motion to her attorneys to reduce her 20-year prison sentence. A pardon is highly unlikely because that isn’t necessary – Trump can have DOJ do the dirty work for him. Maxwell knows if she implicates Trump in wrongdoing, her remaining time in prison may end the way Epstein’s did. But if she lies for him to claim he’s innocent, she will likely get a significant reduction of her time for “cooperation.”
… Dep. AG Todd Blanche announced this today: “This DOJ does not shy away from uncomfortable truths, nor from the responsibility to pursue justice wherever the facts may lead. If Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say. Therefore, at the direction of AG Bondi, I have communicated with counsel for Maxwell to determine whether she would be willing to speak with prosecutors. I anticipate meeting with Maxwell in the coming days.”
… Maxwell’s attorney David Oscar Markus to CNN: “I can confirm that we are in discussions with the govt and that Ghislaine will always testify truthfully. We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case.”
Oh, I bet they are grateful to Trump. That I wouldn’t doubt for a minute. Get out of jail free cards don’t fall from the sky every day. But, alas, alack, and quackety quack for Donald: it may not be that easy.
… Rep. Marge Greene (R-GA) to NYT: “Greene says she is skeptical of anything Maxwell has to say because ‘she could be bartering for something.’”
… MAGA activist and podcaster Laura Loomer: “Today’s statement by Pam Bondi seems like a massive cope. Why wasn’t this ‘interview’ with Maxwell done on day 1? Shouldn’t they have already done this? Maybe there is a mix up in communication. But I just can’t help but wonder whether or not this has already happened. And if not, why?”
The road to getting the Epstein matter to go away may not be as easy as Trump hopes. But he will at least try to sand down the rough edges by having Maxwell testify to his innocence in exchange for her freedom. Now, the obvious problem there is that it’s a quid pro quo, she’ll say Trump has been to the moon and back if it will get her out of prison and even MAGA has enough common sense to see things that way.
Expect Trump to go through the motions, though. He’s desperate and he can’t afford to leave any angle uncovered.
The famously Transactional (Trans?) Trump is making a deal. Maxwell exonerates him to get out of jail (and the country) early. It could get interesting though because I think you’re right that Trumpty knows how bad it would look to give her an outright pardon. Or even commute her sentence to time served. MAGAs will go batshit insane with some of the big influencers whipping them up into a frenzy. I’m not sure even if she swears under oath she held down a teenager so Bill Clinton could rape the kid that MAGA will be sated. I think Bannon and Carlson are looking past Trump to ensure MAGA continues because they don’t think he will last much longer!
However Maxwell, might demand release right away. As you say every day she’s in prison is a day she is subject to the same fate at ole Jeffrey. I’ve said before and still believe she’s taken steps to bury Trump’s fat orange ass if anything happens to her no matter how “innocent” it might be portrayed. If she convinces Blanche of that then if Trump thought he had a PR problem before you ain’t see nothing yet. Having her walk out of prison to the nearest airfield with a private jet fueled up (cue Erik Prince) to spirit her away to another country won’t go well for Trumpty. Especially if he doesn’t produce evidence that’s even semi-credible against Bill Clinton who is the person they really want fried!
I don’t know how this will play out but we might see ugly at once unimaginable levels.
Maxwell might want to recall that, even if Drumpf frees her, she will NOT be a free woman. Think about it: She does her quid pro quo and “Drumpf was completely innocent” ploy and gets out of jail. But she knows the truth–and always will–so that makes her a liability. So, she accepted a quid pro quo deal? She doesn’t risk any more jail time than the person who offers it so, let’s just say that the Democrats retake control of Congress in 2026 and Maxwell has a new fantastic opportunity to tell the truth about her deal (and MAGAts will not be inclined to fall for Drumpf’s “she’s lying; I’m innocent” routine) and so she testifies before the Democrats’ committee which leads to another impeachment proceeding (that actually gets enough GOP support to dump Drumpf once and for all).
Well, with that scenario–even if it doesn’t go that way–you know that Drumpf (and his smarter handlers) will know that as long as Maxwell is breathing, he’s toast. So, he manages to “arrange” a little “accident” in Maxwell’s new home, wherever it may be–whether the US or some little tropical island.
Hell, for that matter, does anyone think Maxwell is going to believe Drumpf will keep his word with getting her out of jail pronto that does not involve her winding up in a new prison–possibly in El Salvador or Alligator Alcatraz?