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Possible Maxwell pardon ‘revictimizing’ to Epstein survivors: Attorney

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Editor’s Note: This story contains discussions of rape or sexual assault that may be disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can find help and discreet resources on the National Sexual Assault Hotline website or by calling 800-656-4673.

(NewsNation) — The possibility of a pardon for Jeffrey Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell has been revictimizing to Epstein’s victims, an attorney who represents 11 accusers told NewsNation. 

Arick Fudali says his clients have routinely been denied justice throughout various Epstein investigations and convictions.

“They have been wronged at every single step of the way, going back decades. It started in the ’90s when there was this sort of nonsense sham FBI investigation into Epstein that allowed him to continue to abuse young women,” Fudali said. 

“Then, of course, he’s arrested. And finally, the victims think, ‘Okay, now there’s going to be justice. He’s behind bars.’ What happens, of course, is somehow, miraculously, coincidentally, he’s allowed to kill himself under federal custody, in federal jail,” he also said. 


Ghislaine Maxwell spoke to DOJ about 100 people linked to Epstein: Attorney

He blames both sides of the political spectrum, saying they’re exploiting the victims who are still scared of Epstein, even after his death. 

From left, American real estate developer Donald Trump and his girlfriend (and future wife), former model Melania Knauss, financier (and future convicted sex offender) Jeffrey Epstein, and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell pose together at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Florida, February 12, 2000. (Photo by Davidoff Studios/Getty Images)Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell attend the 2005 Wall Street Concert Series on March 15, 2005, in New York City. (Photo by Joe Schildhorn/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)Portrait of American financier Jeffrey Epstein (left) and real estate developer Donald Trump as they pose together at the Mar-a-Lago estate, Palm Beach, Florida, 1997.(Photo by Davidoff Studios/Getty Images)FILE – This photo provided by the New York State Sex Offender Registry shows Jeffrey Epstein, March 28, 2017. (New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP, File)FILE – Ghislaine Maxwell, daughter of late British publisher Robert Maxwell, reads a statement expressing her family’s gratitude to Spanish authorities after recovery of his body, Nov. 7, 1991, in Tenerife, Spain. (AP Photo/Dominique Mollard, File)FILE – This image provided by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement shows financier Jeffrey Epstein, on July 25, 2013. A statement released on Sunday, Jan 1, 2023, by the governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, relieved of her duties the attorney general who pursued various cases against disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, including a lengthy legal fight that resulted in a $105 million settlement. (Florida Department of Law Enforcement via AP File)Modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel (not pictured) was found hanged in his prison cell on Saturday. Brunel had met Epstein (seen above in 2008) decades ago and founded a management company with Epstein’s financial help. (Uma Sanghvi/Palm Beach Post via AP, File)

“They still have to see his face every time they turn on the TV, the radio, every time they log on to their net. And it’s gross, and I really would like there to be an end to this. Just either release the files or don’t, but let’s stop talking about this. Please. Let’s not give Ghislaine Maxwell any leniency. She’s a convicted child sex trafficker, and she belongs behind bars,” Fudali said.

Possible pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell ‘ridiculous’: Attorney

Fudali points out Maxwell is the only person who has been held accountable in the sex crimes case.

“She was convicted of child sex trafficking, of tricking young women to be abused by Mr. Epstein, and now, there’s a consideration of a pardon so that perhaps President Trump can clear his name. I mean, it’s just the most ridiculous thing,” Fudali said. 

He believes discussions of a pardon may be a way for Trump to avoid releasing the Epstein files. Calls for transparency have grown louder after the Department of Justice and FBI announced earlier this year they would not be making any more Epstein evidence public.


Clintons subpoenaed in House Oversight’s Jeffrey Epstein probe

The agencies stated Epstein died by suicide, and there was no evidence that there was a list of co-conspirators. 

Since the announcement, Trump has asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein and Maxwell cases, which Maxwell’s attorneys have opposed. 

“This seems to be a very roundabout way of providing information. Remember, Ghislaine Maxwell is someone who was accused and had allegations of perjury because she allegedly lied under oath in 2016 in a deposition related to Jeffrey Epstein,” Fudali said. 


Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell to interview with DOJ again

Maxwell has garnered a lot of attention from her federal prison cell, interviewing with the Justice Department, where she reportedly spoke about 100 different people with potential connections to the Epstein case.  

She was also subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee, to which she responded she would testify if she were granted immunity. The request was denied, and her testimony was postponed.  

Maxwell has also been moved from a federal prison in Florida to a minimum-security prison work camp in Texas. 

“So this seems like a sweet deal between the two. Of course, once again, the victims are being forgotten,” Fudali said. 

Bill and Hillary Clinton subpoenaed over Epstein case

On Tuesday, former President and first lady Bill and Hillary Clinton were subpoenaed to testify by the House Oversight Committee, which was not surprising to Fudali. 

“I don’t think there’s any question whether former President Clinton had a relationship with Jeffrey Epstein; he was on the flight logs, just as President Trump was. And a lot of very wealthy and powerful people were listed on those flight logs, some more surprising than others,” Fudali said. 


Epstein’s lawyer insists Bondi, Trump aren’t withholding client list

Others that have been subpoenaed include former FBI Directors James Comey and Robert Mueller as well as former Attorneys General Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, Jeff Sessions, William Barr and Alberto Gonzales.

“There’s no question that Jeffrey Epstein had a very wide circle of very powerful and influential people. Anyone who’s been listening to any of the victims or has paid attention at all would know that there’s been so many names, there’s so much information out there that it almost leaves me wondering why there’s such a thirst for more information, when really we could glean so much for what’s already been alleged by so many victims,” Fudali said.