‘Andy Burnham needs to tell Trump not to pardon my groomer Ghislaine Maxwell’

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 15: Lara Blume McGee, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein, gives remarks during a press conference in the Capitol Building on July 15, 2026 in Washington, DC. Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and survivors' families spoke against confirming Todd Blanche nomination to be U.S. Attorney General. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Getty Images) *** BESTPIX ***

Andy Burnham should tell Donald Trump not to pardon convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, an Epstein survivor and a lawyer for his victims have said.

Lara Blume McGee, who says she was groomed by Maxwell aged 20, has urged the new Prime Minister to ‘make it clear’ Epstein’s former girlfriend should stay behind bars.

Lawyer Spencer Kuvin, who has represented nine Epstein victims, said Burnham ‘has a voice’ over a feared pardon of Maxwell, who is a British citizen.

Trump has not ruled out granting clemency to the former socialite, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison on child sex trafficking charges in 2022.

FILE PHOTO: Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein are seen in this image released by the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., U.S., on December 19, 2025 as part of a new trove of documents from its investigations into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. U.S. Justice Department/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES/File Photo

Many survivors are outraged at Trump’s new US attorney general Todd Blanche, who was responsible for moving Maxwell to a minimum-security prison shortly after meeting her last year.

Make sense of the mad world of British politics

One of those who railed against Blanche’s confirmation last week was McGee, who was just 20 when she met Maxwell at New York Fashion Week in 2000.

She claims Maxwell used the prospect of modelling connections to lure her into Epstein’s orbit before he abused her.

McGee told : ‘A pardon for Maxwell would not only be a travesty of justice but a devastating message to survivors everywhere. We cannot allow this. We will not allow this.’

As well as being British, Maxwell’s victims were also groomed and abused at her residence in London, according to the US Department for Justice.

Asked what her message would be to the UK’s new Prime Minister, McGee said: ‘Prime Minister Burnham, stand with us.

‘Use your influence to ensure that the UK is a beacon of justice, not a sanctuary for those who exploit and abuse.

‘Make it clear to President Trump and the world that pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell would be a grave injustice that Britain will not tolerate.’

Lara Blume McGee, a survivor of deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking ring, joined by survivors of deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking ring, speaks to members of the media outside a closed-door session with former Attorney General Pam Bondi, not pictured, in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, May 29, 2026. Former Attorney General Pam Bondi is appearing before the House Oversight Committee for a closed-door interview regarding the Justice Department's handling and review of files related to investigations into deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking ring. Photographer: Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Burnham has agreed to meet Epstein’s victims but is not considering holding a public inquiry into the paedophile’s UK activities, Downing Street confirmed this month.

Kuvin, who has represented Epstein victims since 2006, called on the PM to support an independent statutory inquiry into Epstein and ‘say publicly if credible evidence exists that anyone’ participated in the financier’s crimes.

The attorney added that survivors are ‘extremely concerned’ by talk Maxwell could be pardoned after her lawyers said she would only co-operate with investigations into Epstein’s crimes if granted clemency.

Kuvin told : ‘Victims should never be placed in the position of wondering whether the person convicted of helping facilitate their abuse might be freed because she has information that powerful people want.

‘That would send a terrible message to trafficking survivors everywhere.’

Asked whether Burnham could persuade Trump not to pardon Maxwell, the lawyer said ‘Britain absolutely has a voice’.

He added: ‘I would encourage Prime Minister Burnham and his government to communicate directly to President Trump that clemency for Maxwell would have consequences far beyond American politics.’

Pic shows: Maxwell pleads fifth in new video released Convicted Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell stays silent for every question put to her at a Congressional hearing in the US. Ghislaine Maxwell refused to answer questions during a closed-door congressional deposition on Monday, prompting criticism from a House representative backing efforts to release Jeffrey Epstein investigative files. Robert Garcia, ranking member of the committee on oversight and government reform, said in a statement that Maxwell invoked the fifth amendment and refused to testify during her scheduled deposition. Maxwell???s attorney, David Oscar Markus, also said that she invoked her fifth amendment right. supplied by Pixel8000 07917221968
Spencer Kuvin - lawyer defending Jeffrey Epstein victims

Kuvin continued: ‘The Prime Minister could say publicly and privately that Britain believes Maxwell should serve the sentence imposed upon her.’

The lawyer said there are still questions British institutions have to answer about how Epstein was ‘able to operate for so long in plain sight, while surrounded by some of the most powerful people in the world’.

The Senate unanimously passed a resolution last month declaring it’s opposition to any presidential pardon for Maxwell, who has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing.

Senator Jacky Rosen, a Democrat of Nevada, said at the time: ‘It’s frankly horrifying that Trump would entertain the idea of clemency for even a second for a convicted sex trafficker.’

A Government spokesperson said: ‘Our thoughts are firmly with the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, who have suffered devastating trauma, and it is right that Ghislaine Maxwell has been handed out a 20-year prison sentence for her role.

 ‘The Prime Minister is committed to meeting with victims. We are looking at all options to support them.’

Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. Or you can submit your videos and pictures here.

For more stories like this, check our.

Follow Metro.co.uk on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here.

MORE: Andy Burnham to chair emergency COBRA meeting about heat wave

MORE: Former US Marine reunited with family after Russia releases him from four-year imprisonment

MORE: Burnham sets out ‘three options’ that could keep PC Harper killers locked up

Original source ‘Andy Burnham needs to tell Trump not to pardon my groomer Ghislaine Maxwell’

Back to home