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By Jenna Sundel and Amanda Castro
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The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal from Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite convicted of sex trafficking in connection with Jeffrey Epstein.
The decision, issued without comment on the first day of the Court’s new term, leaves intact Maxwell’s 20-year prison sentence and closes the door on a legal argument that sought to shield her from prosecution under a 2007 non-prosecution agreement negotiated by Epstein’s attorneys.
Why It Matters
Maxwell was convicted on multiple charges in 2021, including sex trafficking of a minor and transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
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The Epstein case has made headlines recently as the public continues to call for the release for an alleged list of Epstein's clients. Earlier this year, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) concluded that there is no "client list" of prominent individuals linked to Epstein and said no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted.
Epstein, a financier and convicted sex offender, was found dead at New York's Metropolitan Correctional Center in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide.
Epstein had social connections with many prominent individuals, including President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton. Neither have been accused of any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, with Trump saying his relationship with the financer ended years before his death.
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Supreme Court Ghislaine Maxwell’s Appeal: What We Know
Maxwell filed a petition for a writ of certiorari to the Court in April.
"Despite the existence of a non-prosecution agreement promising in plain language that the United States would not prosecute any co-conspirator of Jeffrey Epstein, the United States in fact prosecuted Ghislaine Maxwell as a co-conspirator of Jeffrey Epstein," Maxwell's attorney David Oscar Markus said in the filing.
In a brief filed in July, the DOJ argued that Maxwell was not a party to the non-prosecution agreement.
"There is no evidence that the parties to the NPA intended for the coconspirators clause to benefit petitioner," Solicitor General D. John Sauer, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti and attorney Ethan A. Sachs wrote in the filing.
Maxwell was interviewed by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in July where she was given limited immunity, allowing her to speak without fear of prosecution for anything she said except for false statements. She repeatedly denied witnessing any sexually inappropriate interactions involving Trump, according to records released the following month.
What People Are Saying
David Oscar Markus, attorney for Ghislaine Maxwell, in comments to CNN on Monday: "We’re, of course, deeply disappointed that the Supreme Court declined to hear Ghislaine Maxwell’s case. 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.”
Solicitor General D. John Sauer, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti and attorney Ethan A. Sachs, in a brief filed in July: "Petitioner was not a party to the relevant agreement; only Epstein and the Florida USAO were parties to the NPA."
Lauren Hersh, national director of World Without Exploitation, in a statement to Newsweek: “As America’s largest anti-trafficking coalition, we are pleased by the denial of Ghislaine Maxwell’s appeal. In 2022, the jury spoke loud and clear about the devastating harm Maxwell inflicted on countless women and girls over decades. We are heartened that she was justly denied leniency for her heinous crimes.”
What Happens Next?
Maxwell is currently housed at a minimum-security prison camp in Texas after being moved from a low-security federal prison in Florida following her interview with Blanche. Neither Maxwell’s lawyers nor the federal Bureau of Prisons has explained the reason for her transfer.
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