Ghislaine Maxwell makes long-shot Supreme Court bid to overturn sex trafficking conviction

Published: Monday, July 28, 2025 at 5:56 pm

Ghislaine Maxwell Appeals Sex Trafficking Conviction to Supreme Court

Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted in 2021 on federal sex trafficking charges, has formally appealed her conviction to the Supreme Court. Her legal team, David Oscar and Mona Markus, argues that Maxwell is covered by a 2007 plea agreement reached by Jeffrey Epstein with prosecutors. This agreement, which allowed Epstein to plead guilty to state charges, stipulated that the Miami U.S. Attorneys Office would not pursue criminal charges against any potential co-conspirators. The Markuses contend that this agreement, which did not specifically name Maxwell, granted her immunity.

Maxwell's attorneys emphasize that the agreement's terms were unqualified and not geographically limited. They argue that the government should honor its promise, regardless of the location or the government's knowledge of potential co-conspirators at the time. They believe the government cannot make a deal in one location and then prosecute in another.

Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2022. Justice Department officials have previously argued that the Miami U.S. Attorney at the time lacked the authority to bind other federal districts to the agreement's terms. Previous attempts to overturn the conviction in lower courts were unsuccessful.

The appeal comes after Maxwell participated in interviews with Justice Department officials regarding the Epstein case. The DOJ and FBI recently issued a memo concluding that Epstein died by suicide.

BNN's Perspective:

This case presents a complex legal question. While the government's actions in the Epstein case have been widely criticized, the Supreme Court must carefully consider the validity and scope of the 2007 plea agreement. The principle of upholding agreements, even those made in controversial circumstances, is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the justice system. However, the severity of the crimes involved and the potential for abuse of power must also be weighed.

Keywords: Ghislaine Maxwell, sex trafficking, Supreme Court, Jeffrey Epstein, plea agreement, immunity, conviction, legal appeal, Justice Department, co-conspirator, Alex Acosta, Todd Blanche, Trump, Epstein case

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