Supreme Court Rejects Epstein Associate Ghislaine Maxwell’s Appeal of her Criminal Conviction
By Lawrence Hurley
Maxwell was convicted for her role in recruiting and grooming girls who were sexually abused by Jeffrey Epstein.
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday rejected Ghislaine Maxwell’s challenge to her criminal conviction for recruiting and grooming teenage girls for sexual abuse by Jeffrey Epstein.
The decision means that Maxwell’s conviction on three counts and her 20-year criminal sentence remain in place. The case was one in a list of dozens of appeals that piled up in recent months that the justices rejected as they started a new nine-month court term.
Maxwell lawyer David Oscar Markus argued in court papers that an agreement Epstein made with the then-U.S. attorney in the southern district of Florida, Alex Acosta, not to prosecute him or potential co-conspirators should apply to one of the three counts in her case, which was prosecuted in New York.
“We’re, of course, deeply disappointed that the Supreme Court declined to hear Ghislaine Maxwell’s case,” Markus said in a statement. “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,” he added.
Markus did not outline what those options would be now that her criminal appeal is over, but it could involve seeking a presidential pardon, something Trump has remarked upon in the past.
The Justice Department declined to comment on the Supreme Court action.
Asked whether he would consider a pardon for Maxwell, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday that he would speak with the Justice Department on the matter.
“I haven’t heard the name in so long. I can say this, that I’d have to take a look at it. I would have to take a look,” Trump said.
When asked to confirm whether he was considering a pardon for her, Trump responded, “I wouldn’t consider it or not consider, I don’t know anything about it.”
At issue in Maxwell’s appeal was whether the terms of a so-called nonprosecution agreement apply only in the district where it was negotiated or also bind federal prosecutors nationwide.
The Justice Department asked the Supreme Court to reject Maxwell’s appeal, with Solicitor General D. John Sauer noting in his brief that under internal policies, the U.S. attorney would have needed to obtain permission from superiors if the agreement were to apply outside his district. There is no evidence that occurred, he added.
The end of Maxwell’s criminal appeal process potentially opens the door for the House Oversight Committee to move forward with plans to interview her. That proposal had been put on hold while her appeal was pending.
Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., the top Democrat on the committee, said in a statement that Maxwell “must now answer our questions truthfully.”
The Supreme Court’s action was praised by the family of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a prominent Epstein victim who later died by suicide.
Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-rejects-epstein-associate-ghislaine-maxwells-appeal-crim-rcna233281