Supreme Court refuses Ghislaine Maxwell’s appeal, leaving 2021 conviction and 20‑year sentence intact
The Supreme Court declined to hear Ghislaine Maxwell’s appeal, leaving her 2021 sex‑trafficking conviction and 20‑year federal sentence intact; she had argued, among other claims, that a 2007 Jeffrey Epstein plea deal and statute‑of‑limitations issues should bar the conviction. The decision comes amid scrutiny over her transfer from a federal prison in Tallahassee to the minimum‑security camp at FPC Bryan, Texas after a July interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche conducted under limited immunity — a move reports call unusual for a sex offender, with accounts of added guards, lockdowns and chapel meetings; the DOJ denied any preferential treatment and the BOP declined to comment, and former President Trump said he would “have to take a look” at a possible pardon.
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📌 Key Facts
- The Supreme Court declined to take up Ghislaine Maxwell’s appeal, leaving her 2021 conviction and 20‑year sentence intact.
- Maxwell was transferred from a low‑security federal prison in Tallahassee to the all‑women minimum‑security camp at FPC Bryan in Texas; the placement is unusual because BOP policy typically bars sex offenders from minimum‑security camps.
- The transfer to FPC Bryan occurred less than three weeks after Maxwell’s July interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche; the interview was conducted under limited immunity.
- Records and the released interview transcript show Maxwell denied witnessing sexually inappropriate interactions involving President Trump.
- While other inmates were locked down on a mid‑August weekend at FPC Bryan, Maxwell met with several visitors in the prison chapel; the DOJ released the interview transcript less than a week after that chapel meeting.
- Inmates said the camp added armed guards, instituted more frequent lockdowns, and that Maxwell appeared to receive favorable treatment; the DOJ/BOP denied any preferential treatment and declined further comment, and Maxwell’s lawyer also declined to comment.
- Maxwell’s appeal had argued, among other points, that a 2007 Jeffrey Epstein plea deal immunized defendants and raised statute‑of‑limitations claims; the Supreme Court declined to review those arguments.
- The developments renewed scrutiny of the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein‑related materials and files, and after the Supreme Court denial former President Trump said he would “have to take a look” at a possible pardon for Maxwell.
📰 Sources (4)
Lockdowns and a Mysterious Meeting: A Quiet Texas Prison Adapts to Life With Ghislaine Maxwell
New information:
- While other inmates were locked down on a mid-August weekend at FPC Bryan, Maxwell met with several visitors in the prison chapel, according to people familiar with the matter.
- The transfer to minimum-security FPC Bryan occurred less than three weeks after Maxwell’s July interview with senior DOJ official Todd Blanche; DOJ released the interview transcript less than a week after the chapel meeting.
- BOP policy typically bars sex offenders from serving time in minimum-security camps, making Maxwell’s placement unusual; inmates report the camp added armed guards, had more frequent lockdowns, and that Maxwell appeared to receive favorable treatment.
- DOJ/BOP declined comment on the transfer and meeting; Maxwell’s lawyer declined comment.
- After the Supreme Court denial, Trump said about a possible pardon for Maxwell: “I’d have to take a look at it.”
Supreme Court rejects appeal from Ghislaine Maxwell, former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein
New information:
- Context about the Trump administration and DOJ seeking to tamp down criticism over refusal to publicly release additional Epstein investigative files.
- Report that Maxwell was moved from a low-security federal prison in Florida to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas after being interviewed in July by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
- Detail that Maxwell was interviewed under limited immunity allowing her to speak freely except for false statements, and that records show she denied witnessing sexually inappropriate interactions involving President Trump.
Supreme Court declines to take up Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex trafficking appeal
New information:
- Fox reports Maxwell was transferred from a federal prison in Tallahassee to an all‑women minimum‑security facility in Bryan, Texas.
- Fox reports the transfer occurred days after Maxwell met with DOJ Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche; DOJ denied any preferential treatment.
- Article reiterates the grounds Maxwell advanced on appeal (2007 Epstein plea deal immunization claim and statute‑of‑limitations arguments).