Supreme Court won’t hear appeal of Epstein’s sex trafficker

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to grant Ghislaine Maxwell’s request to appeal her 2021 sex trafficking conviction. Maxwell, a British socialite and associate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was previously found guilty of sexually trafficking minors and of conspiring to entice and transport them for sex. She received a 20-year prison sentence. The Supreme Court did not give a reason for rejecting Maxwell’s case. She was convicted following a one-month jury trial.

Maxwell’s lawyer, David Markus, on Monday said he would continue pursuing avenues to overturn her conviction. Maxwell and her lawyer have maintained her innocence and said she was scapegoated for Epstein’s crimes.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday addressed rumors that President Trump could pardon Maxwell after she cooperated with investigators. Leavitt said she had not heard the matter discussed. The White House generally did not comment on clemency requests, she added.

Dig deeper: Read Leo Briceno’s report on Maxwell’s recent conversations with federal investigators.