Will Trump Grant Clemency To Ghislaine Maxwell? Here's A List Of His Past Controversial Pardons

Last Updated:February 10, 2026, 11:52 IST

Trump has repeatedly indicated that he is considering clemency for individuals convicted in connection with the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack.

US President Donald Trump is once again at the centre of a clemency appeal, bringing the focus back on his previous controversial clemency decisions. Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein, has stated that if Trump ended her prison sentence, she was willing to testify that neither he nor former President Bill Clinton had done anything wrong in their connections with Epstein.

During the closed-door deposition, Maxwell’s attorney David Oscar Markus in a statement to the committee, said that “Maxwell is prepared to speak fully and honestly if granted clemency by President Trump". He added that both Trump and Clinton “are innocent of any wrongdoing," but that “Ms. Maxwell alone can explain why, and the public is entitled to that explanation."

This is not the first time that Trump is at the centre of a controversial clemency appeal. Here’s a list of Trump’s controversial clemency decisions in the current as well as his previous term as US President:

Capitol Attack Convicts

During his current presidency, Trump’s repeated indications that he is considering clemency for individuals convicted in connection with the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack have reopened a deeply polarising debate. Trump has described many of those prosecuted as victims of political targeting, while opponents argue that pardons or commutations would undercut accountability for an assault on democratic institutions. The issue remains one of the most politically charged tests of Trump’s approach to executive power and the rule of law.

Roger Stone (2020)

Trump’s commutation and subsequent pardon of longtime associate Roger Stone became one of the most scrutinised clemency decisions of his first term. Stone had been convicted of lying to Congress, obstructing an investigation, and witness tampering during the Russia probe. Trump characterised Stone as a victim of political persecution, while critics argued the move rewarded loyalty and signalled that close allies of the president could evade the consequences of obstructing investigations connected to him.

Dinesh D’Souza (2018)

Trump’s full pardon of conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza, who had pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations, drew criticism for appearing overtly ideological. Trump argued that D’Souza was treated unfairly by prosecutors, but the case had followed a standard judicial process. The decision brought back accusations that Trump’s clemency power was being used to vindicate political allies and culture-war figures rather than to correct demonstrable miscarriages of justice.

Joe Arpaio (2017)

Donald Trump’s pardon of former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio early in his first term marked a sharp break from conventional clemency norms. Arpaio had been convicted of criminal contempt for defying a federal court order that barred his office from racially profiling Latino residents during immigration enforcement. Trump justified the pardon by praising Arpaio’s hardline approach to border security, but civil rights groups and legal experts warned that the move sent a troubling signal — that elected law-enforcement officials could flout court orders without consequence if their politics aligned with the White House.

Charles Kushner (2020)

Trump’s pardon of real-estate developer Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, was widely criticised as an example of familial favouritism. Kushner had served a prison sentence for tax evasion, illegal campaign donations, and witness retaliation. The decision reignited debate over ethical boundaries in presidential pardons, particularly when beneficiaries have direct personal or family ties to the president.

With Ghislaine Maxwell’s recent statements reviving scrutiny of elite accountability, Trump’s clemency record is under scrutiny. All eyes are now if Trump will grant pardon to Maxwell at a time when the Epstein files continue to shake world politics.

News world Will Trump Grant Clemency To Ghislaine Maxwell? Here's A List Of His Past Controversial Pardons

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