The possibility of clemency for Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, however unlikely, has long outraged survivors and their advocates who view the former British socialite’s lengthy jail sentence as giving them some justice in the long-running saga.

Recent reporting that a pardon for Maxwell is now being discussed supportively in some circles, however, has highlighted how Epstein and Maxwell remain a political minefield for Republicans and Donald Trump – while presenting yet another blow to survivors’ fight for transparency.

News broke in late April that representatives on the House oversight and government reform committee had “split” opinions whether the president should pardon the convicted sex-trafficker Maxwell so she would cooperate with their investigation into Epstein. Survivors’ advocates responded with indignation.

“Any talk of clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell in exchange for testimony turns justice on its head – it risks rewarding the very person who helped enable the abuse,” said Goldlaw CLO and litigation director Spencer Kuvin, who has represented numerous Epstein survivors.

“While Congress has no power to grant a pardon, even entertaining that conversation signals to victims that their suffering is still being treated as secondary to political strategy. Justice should never be transactional when it comes to crimes of this magnitude.”

Sigrid McCawley, a managing partner at Boies Schiller Flexner who has long represented Epstein survivors, voiced similar sentiments in a statement, saying: “There could be no greater injustice to the survivors than for President Trump to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell.

“As Jeffrey Epstein’s co-conspirator, she was found guilty and convicted by a jury for incredibly serious sex crimes against minors,” McCawley said. “There is nothing credible that she will offer the government, and the assertion that she would provide information is simply a smoke screen.”

Jennifer Freeman of Marsh Law Firm, who represents Epstein and Maxwell survivor Annie Farmer, said that no form of clemency could ever be justified. “Any pardon or commutation of Ghislaine Maxwell’s rightful sentence would betray the survivors, mock the gravity of their suffering, and fundamentally undermine the integrity of our judicial system,” she said.

The survivors’ advocates are by no means alone in their views, with many oversight members – including Republican chair James Comer – reportedly opposing clemency. Although available information indicates clemency is unlikely at this time, the fact that a pardon discourse has resurfaced underscores how Epstein and Maxwell continue to roil Republican politics.

Trump vowed while campaigning that he would release the Epstein files. This promise firmed up Trump’s already extensive support among far-right Republicans – many of whom think that Epstein was among a cabal of global elite who sex-trafficked children with immunity.

Trump’s justice department repeatedly failed to deliver these files as promised. Meanwhile, Maxwell was moved to a low-security prison camp in Texas one week after her controversial interview with now-acting attorney general Todd Blanche, fomenting conspiracy theories and cover-up allegations.

Congress members then took it upon themselves to seek answers on their own. These efforts culminated in the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandated that justice release all documents by 19 December.

While one tranche was released on that date, other disclosures came past the deadline and these releases also contained numerous redactions. Trump and many Republicans now face dizzying political fallout months before midterms – as well as party infighting that raises the stakes still more.

Republican Congress members’ comments suggest internal dissent. When asked by Politico if he thought clemency with Maxwell for her testimony would be a good agreement, Comer reportedly said: “a lot of people do” and that “my committee’s split on that”.

Comer, who did not name the potential pardon supporters, does not himself back such an idea, telling the news outlet “I think it looks bad” and “Honestly, other than Epstein, the worst person in this whole investigation is Maxwell.”

Republican congressman Thomas Massie, who co-sponsored the Epstein Files Transparency Act, called out one of Trump’s closest political allies when asked about reported congressional pardon talk. “I’m adamantly opposed to it,” Massie said in a statement. “Blanche already inexplicably and inappropriately moved her to a country club prison with no new information or indictments of coconspirators.”

Although key Republicans are opposed to clemency – and the White House has insisted Trump wasn’t thinking about it – pardon mentions provide an opportunity for Democrats to slam Republicans despite their joint fight for transparency.

“It’s outrageous that Republicans on the Oversight Committee are considering a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell,” said Democratic congressman Robert Garcia, the ranking member of oversight. “She is a sexual abuser who facilitated the rape of women and children. This is a shameful way to treat survivors. Oversight Democrats are united in opposing any pardon.”

“It goes very much against what Republicans stand for, which is a more law and order based platform,” said Hank Sheinkopf, a veteran Democratic strategist. Clemency for someone who wasn’t convicted of such notorious crimes would be one thing, Sheinkopf said, but the Maxwell case “is something that is burned into the brains of a majority of the population of the country”.

Discussions of clemency might also be an effort to game out the next steps in addressing this controversy even if most Americans wouldn’t support a pardon. “Politicians will float an idea, and it’s like a balloon,” Sheinkopf said. “It goes up in the air, and if it drops to the ground quickly, it will suddenly disappear.”

Brittany Martinez, executive director of Principles First and a Republican strategist, called the reported mentions of pardon discussions “absolutely detestable”.

As for the rationale behind having these discussions, Martinez said: “I don’t know what the point is.

“I think it’s a terrible, terrible look for Republicans. Again, they were the party running on releasing the Epstein files,” Martinez said, noting how the Politico article indicated it was just Republican members discussing clemency. “Not only have you not fully released the Epstein files, but also you’re willing to pardon the number two to Jeffrey Epstein?”

Adding to the confusion are comments from Maxwell’s attorney, David Oscar Markus. “I don’t know what the percentages are,” Marcus recently told Politico. “There’s a good chance and for good reason that she would get a pardon.”

This stands in contrast to what the person who could grant clemency has said. In response to a question last fall on pardoning Maxwell, Trump said: “I haven’t thought about it.”

Markus did not respond to the Guardian’s request for comment. Maxwell has maintained her innocence.

Maxwell herself is not standing idly by during these reported congressional discussions. Manhattan federal court records last week reveal that she is once again challenging her conviction.

For Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor and founder of West Coast Trial Lawyers, that effort seems flimsy.

“Here you have Ghislaine Maxwell saying that she’s innocent,” Rahmani said. “Obviously, 12 men and women on a jury disagreed.

“I think there’s no chance, or almost no chance, that she’s going to get out.”