Supreme Court Denies Ghislaine Maxwell Appeal | Epstein Case Update
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear an appeal from Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein, effectively ending her latest bid to overturn her 20-year federal prison sentence. Maxwell had argued that she should have been protected under a non-prosecution agreement that Epstein reached with federal authorities in Florida.
Background of Maxwell’s Case
Maxwell was sentenced in 2022 for her role in a years-long scheme to groom and sexually abuse underage girls alongside Epstein. Her appeal, filed in April, claimed she should have been covered by Epstein’s non-prosecution agreement. However, prosecutors in New York later charged her, and the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Florida agreement did not apply nationally.
“We’re, of course, deeply disappointed that the Supreme Court declined to hear Ghislaine Maxwell’s case,” said Maxwell’s attorney, David Oscar Markus. “But this fight isn’t over. Serious legal and factual issues remain, and we will continue to pursue every avenue available to ensure that justice is done.”
Legal and Political Context
Epstein pleaded guilty to state prostitution charges in 2008 and was indicted on federal sex trafficking charges in 2019 before his death in prison. Maxwell’s appeal touched on a broader legal question about whether a non-prosecution agreement with the U.S. is binding nationwide.
The Justice Department, defending Maxwell’s conviction, emphasized that Maxwell “was not a party to the relevant agreement,” which only involved Epstein and the Florida U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Earlier this year, Maxwell was transferred to a minimum-security prison camp. She has cooperated with federal authorities, including sharing information about high-profile figures connected to Epstein.
Public and Political Reactions
The Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the appeal has drawn attention from both legal experts and political figures. Some Republicans and supporters of former President Donald Trump have called for more transparency in the Epstein case. Last month, the House Oversight Committee released tens of thousands of pages of records, including a note bearing Trump’s name, which he denies writing.