Ghislaine Maxwell filed a request with a federal appeals court on Tuesday, seeking to overturn her conviction and 20-year prison sentence for recruiting and grooming underage girls who were sexually abused by Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell argues that she was protected by an agreement federal prosecutors in Florida negotiated with Epstein in 2007.
“The plea agreement applies to preclude this prosecution. Denying the viability of this plea agreement strikes a dagger in the heart of the trust between the government and its citizens regarding plea agreements,” defense attorney Diana Fabi Samson explained to a three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
During the trial, Maxwell raised the same argument and requested a hearing to investigate the intentions of the Florida prosecutors. However, the trial judge dismissed this request, ruling that prosecutors in New York were not bound by the agreement.
On Tuesday, a prosecutor reiterated the stance that the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan was not obligated by the previous agreement with Epstein and asserted that even if it were, it would not apply to Maxwell.
In her written appeal, Maxwell's attorneys contended that she was effectively made a “proxy” for Epstein, who died in prison while awaiting trial, as a means to address public outrage regarding his actions. They also asserted that Maxwell was deprived of a fair trial, citing, in part, the failure of one juror to disclose their history of sexual abuse during jury selection. However, these arguments were not addressed during the oral arguments.
As of now, Maxwell is serving her sentence at a low-security prison in Tallahassee and is eligible for release in 2037.
