Topics: Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein, Crime, US News, Donald Trump
The US justice department has made a big announcement about Jeffrey Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell after she appealed her conviction.
The Epstein case has been plunged back into the spotlight again in recent weeks following the Trump administration's apparent U-turn on its intentions to release all the FBI files related the case.
The POTUS has since ordered the justice department to release all grand jury testimony in the late financier's case, while Maxwell, the former on-and-off partner of Epstein, remains behind bars.
It was back in 2021 when Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years behind bars after a jury found her guilty of luring teenage girls for convicted sex offender Epstein.
Advert
A court four years ago found her guilty of sex trafficking minors, conspiracy to entice a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, and conspiracy to transport a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
On top of that, Maxwell was found guilty of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors and of transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
Lawyers for Maxwell have long argued against her conviction, claiming she should have been covered by a non-prosecution agreement previously made between Epstein and the US government, ABC News reports.
Maxwell has made numerous attempts to secure a retrial in recent years, all of which have been denied by federal courts.
In new developments, the US justice department has asked Maxwell for a meeting, officials have confirmed.
Confirming the news, Todd Blanche, Deputy Attorney General, said: "President Trump has told us to release all credible evidence.
"If Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say.
"Therefore, at the direction of Attorney General Bondi, I have communicated with counsel for Ms. Maxwell to determine whether she would be willing to speak with prosecutors from the Department.
"I anticipate meeting with Ms. Maxwell in the coming days. Until now, no administration on behalf of the Department had inquired about her willingness to meet with the government. That changes now."
Trump told media in the Oval Office on Tuesday (July 22) that speaking to Maxwell 'sounds appropriate to do' after ordering some of the Epstein files to be released.
David Oscar Markus, Maxwell's attorney, has said: "I can confirm that we are in discussions with the government and that Ghislaine will always testify truthfully. We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case."
Last week, the Department of Justice urged the Supreme Court to dismiss Maxwell's most recent appeal, despite the former socialite's team stating their case.
"Despite the existence of a non-prosecution agreement promising in plain language that the United States would not prosecute any co-conspirator of Jeffrey Epstein, the United States in fact prosecuted Ghislaine Maxwell as a co-conspirator of Jeffrey Epstein," her attorneys penned to SCOTUS back in April.
