The Supreme Court announced Monday that it will not hear an appeal from Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted ex-girlfriend of late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, ending her latest legal challenge to overturn her sex-trafficking conviction. Here’s what you need to know about the high court’s decision and Maxwell’s legal arguments:
The Supreme Court decision
High court declines to review Maxwell’s conviction challenge:
- Supreme Court announced Monday it will not hear Maxwell’s appeal
- Maxwell is serving 20-year prison sentence for enticing minors to engage in sex acts and sex trafficking
- Conviction came in 2021 in Southern District of New York
- Would have taken four justices to vote in favor of hearing appeal for oral arguments to be granted
The plea deal argument
Maxwell claimed Epstein’s earlier agreement protected her from prosecution:
- Maxwell argued she should not have been charged based on plea deal Epstein secured years before her conviction
- Claimed Epstein’s 2007 plea deal in Southern District of Florida protected four co-conspirators from prosecution
- Co-conspirators’ names not listed in court filing
- Tried to cite plea deal language in hopes of having conviction dismissed
- Unusual deal for government to grant protection to unnamed co-conspirators
Epstein’s criminal history
Financier’s legal troubles span more than a decade:
- Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to procuring a child for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute
- Financier had entertained wealthy and powerful individuals
- Charged with sex-trafficking minors in 2019 in Southern District of New York
- Reportedly committed suicide while awaiting trial
Trump administration position
White House asked high court to stay out of case:
- Trump administration asked Supreme Court not to take up Maxwell’s challenge
- President Trump has denied connections to Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation
- Epstein case had consumed Trump administration following FBI and Justice Department announcement in July
- Announcement said Epstein killed himself despite conspiracy theories, “client list” Attorney General Pam Bondi intimated was on her desk did not actually exist, and no additional documents suitable for release, Associated Press reported
Controversy and conspiracy theories
Government announcements produced outrage from some Trump supporters:
- Announcement produced outrage from conspiracy theorists and Trump supporters hoping to see proof of government cover-up, AP reported
- Expectation driven partly by comments from officials including FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino
- Before taking current positions, both had repeatedly promoted on podcasts idea that damaging details about prominent people were being withheld
- Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Maxwell amid criticism and suspicion
- Afterward, Maxwell said publicly she never saw Mr. Trump engaged in sex abuse of minors with Epstein
Prison transfer
Maxwell moved to different facility after meeting with deputy attorney general:
- Shortly after interview, Maxwell moved from federal prison in Florida to minimum-security prison camp in Texas
- Reason for transfer not given, AP reported
- Maxwell’s lawyer, David Oscar Markus, said she is “innocent and never should have been tried, much less convicted”
Read more:
• Supreme Court rejects appeal from Ghislaine Maxwell, won’t review Epstein sex-trafficking case
This article is written with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence based solely on Washington Times original reporting and wire services. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Ann Wog, Managing Editor for Digital, at awog@washingtontimes.com
The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.
