Jailed Maxwell Appeals Conviction For Sex Trafficking Citing Epstein Deal

By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite and convicted sex trafficker linked to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review and overturn her conviction, arguing that she was protected under a non-prosecution deal Epstein reached with federal prosecutors more than a decade ago.

“This case is about what the government promised, not what Epstein did,” Maxwell’s attorneys wrote in a newly filed petition to the high court.

Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year federal sentence handed down in 2022 for her role in a years-long scheme to groom and sexually abuse underage girls, is now mounting what her legal team calls a last-resort effort to secure justice.

The appeal highlights a 2008 non-prosecution agreement between Epstein and federal prosecutors in Florida, which Maxwell’s legal team argues should have shielded her and other alleged co-conspirators from prosecution.

Maxwell’s attorney, David Oscar Markus, invoked President Donald J. Trump, appealing not only to the justices but to the man who famously championed deal-making:

“President Trump built his legacy in part on the power of a deal – and surely he would agree that when the United States gives its word, it must stand by it,” Markus said in a statement. “We are appealing not only to the Supreme Court but to the president himself to recognize how profoundly unjust it is to scapegoat Ghislaine Maxwell for Epstein’s crimes, especially when the government promised she would not be prosecuted.”

POLITICAL FIRESTORM

The filing comes amid growing political pressure surrounding the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein case and the ongoing Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement’s call for transparency.

Maxwell has reportedly recently met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche for closed-door interviews.

Though widely speculated to include sensitive political material, those discussions were not referenced in the latest Supreme Court brief.

The timing of the legal battle is politically sensitive for Trump, who has faced increasing criticism from within his base over his reluctance to release the complete Epstein files.

Asked earlier Monday whether he would consider issuing a presidential pardon for Maxwell, Trump responded:

“Nobody’s approached me with it. Nobody’s asked me about it. It’s in the news about that, that aspect of it, but right now, it would be inappropriate to talk about it.” He has not ruled out the possibility in the past, asserting that he retains full authority to issue a pardon.

MAXWELL CONNECTION

Trump has previously attempted to distance himself from Epstein. Amid renewed scrutiny, he recently claimed he had banned Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, for “inappropriate behavior.”

However, the president claimed that Epstein’s behavior was not—contrary to earlier suggestions by aides—lewd or illegal, but rather involved attempting to hire away staff from the club.

The U.S. Supreme Court has yet to indicate whether it will take up Maxwell’s case.

Legal analysts note that her argument hinges on the enforceability of Epstein’s controversial 2008 plea agreement, which has come under renewed scrutiny in light of Maxwell’s conviction.

Commentators say if justices hear the case, it could have broad implications for how non-prosecution deals are interpreted.

It is also due to reignite political debate in the run-up to the 2026 U.S. elections.

Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.

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