Senators unite to oppose presidential pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell

The US Senate has unanimously passed a non-binding resolution opposing any presidential pardon or clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking offences linked to Jeffrey Epstein.

According to The Guardian, the resolution was introduced by Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen and states that Maxwell "should not be granted a Presidential pardon or any form of clemency for her crimes with Jeffrey Epstein relating to the sexual exploitation and abuse of minors".

Speaking on the Senate floor, Rosen said: "It’s frankly horrifying that Trump would entertain the idea of clemency for even a second for a convicted sex trafficker."

She added the vote sent a clear message that "there should be NO special treatment for Ghislaine Maxwell".

The resolution states that granting Maxwell "a pardon, commutation, or any other form of executive clemency" would be "inconsistent with the interests of justice and accountability for crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children".

The measure comes after Maxwell exhausted her appeals, with the US Supreme Court declining to hear her case last year.

According to The Guardian, former President Donald Trump previously said of a possible pardon: "I’d have to take a look at it. I would have to take a look."

The resolution is symbolic and does not prevent a president from granting clemency.