Ghislaine Maxwell case back in court as she appeals 2021 sex trafficking conviction
Maxwell, 62, was sentenced to 20 years behind bars last year, after being found guilty of five counts of trafficking and abusing young girls over decades
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Ghislaine Maxwell should have been protected by “immunity provisions” from a previous non-prosecution agreement in Florida, her attorneys have argued.
The disgraced British socialite, 62, returned to the spotlight this week as lawyers launched an appeal over her 2021 sex trafficking conviction.
During an appeal hearing in New York federal court on Tuesday, Diana Fabi Samson – representing Maxwell – referenced the 2008 non prosecution agreement, made by state prosecutors with late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein in Florida.
Ms Samson said not honouring the terms of the agreement would “strike a dagger in the heart of the trust between the government and its citizens.”
“In the end, Ms. Maxwell was prosecuted for crimes that she as a third party beneficiary to the plea agreement in Florida should not have been prosecuted,” Ms Samson said.
Maxwell’s attorneys had previously argued that a juror failed to disclose that they were a sexual abuse victim.
It was a 2021 interview journalist Lucia Osborne-Crowley conducted with the juror Scotty David published in The Independent in the weeks following the Maxwell sex-trafficking verdict that led her legal team to appeal on this matter.
One of Maxwell’s attorneys, Arthur Aidala addressed the issue of an “impartial juror” outside court saying that the failure of Mr David to disclose he had been the victim of sexual assault was “wrong” and that the juror had “totally misrepresented the truth”.
“That is absolutely verboten. It’s wrong. And although the judge had a hearing, and he acknowledged he wasn’t accurate at all she said, ‘well, I think he made an honest mistake by not checking off that box so I’m going to let the verdict stand’,” he said.
Mr Aidala said the case should be “dismissed”, adding: “If we allow the government to make deals with the citizens with us, and then they decide, for whatever reason, they’re going to rip up that room and rip up that deal, that handshake means nothing.”
Maxwell was not present in the courtroom for Tuesday’s hearing, but was reportedly listening remotely from her jail cell in Florida.
She was convicted in 2021 of five counts of trafficking and abusing young girls over decades with Epstein. She was sentenced to 20 years behind bars in June 2022.
Denying Maxwell plea agreement terms a ‘dagger in the heart of trust'
Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyers argued that by not honouring the terms of a 2008 plea agreement made between prosecutors in Florida and Jeffrey Epstein would “strike a dagger in the heart of the trust between the government and its citizens.”
During the appeal hearing on Tuesday in a New York federal court house, attorney Diana Fabi Samson told the court that the Department of Justice (DOJ) was looking into the possibility of “corruption” in the plea agreement.
“This case, count six is a count that is covered by that plea agreement in time in charge, and by the particular person who was interviewed in the Florida investigation,” she said.
“That charge should be precluded by the non prosecution agreement and should be dismissed. 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.”
Maxwell should have had ‘immunity provisions’ from previous prosecution agreement in Florida, say lawyers
Ghislaine Maxwell should have been protected by “immunity provisions” from a previous non-prosecution agreement in Florida, her attorneys have argued.
During an appeal hearing in New York federal court on Tuesday, Diana Fabi Samson referenced the 2008 non prosecution agreement, made by state prosecutors with Jeffrey Epstein in Florida.
In the agreement — also known as an NPA — Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges in Florida of soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution. That allowed him to avert a possible life sentence, instead serving 13 months in a work-release program.
Epstein was later charged by federal prosecutors in Manhattan for nearly identical allegations in 2019.
“In the end, Ms. Maxwell was prosecuted for crimes that she as a third party beneficiary to the plea agreement in Florida should not have been prosecuted,” Ms Samson said.
Maxwell was not present in the court room on Tuesday, but was reportedly listening remotely from her jail cell in Florida.
Life inside Ghislaine Maxwell’s prison
Maxwell – daughter of the late media tycoon and fraudster Robert Maxwell who was previously used to a life of opulent luxury – is currently housed at the Federal Correctional Institution Tallahassee.
Black filth smeared on walls, rodent infestations, and sanitary products being used to plug leaks in dilapidated living quarters are a few of the issues recorded at the prison, according to a Justice Department watchdog report, seen by The Independent.
A cafeteria was found to contain broken stools with sharp edges which could be used as weapons, leaking windows, and scores of dead insects.
Meanwhile, Maxwell is said to have lodged hundreds of complaints, including over a lack of vegan food options and access to black hair dye.
Read more:
Filth, rats and fear of reprisals: Life inside Ghislaine Maxwell’s prison
The former socialite was found guilty of recruiting and trafficking underage girls for disgraced billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2021 and later sentenced to 20 years. As Maxwell prepares an appeal against her conviction, Andy Gregory reports on her life inside prison
From Trump to Prince Andrew: All the famous names embroiled in the Ghislaine Maxwell trial
Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell palled around with presidents, movie stars and royalty, hosting household names aboard private jets and at palatial properties all over the world.
Those decades-long connections formed a key role in Maxwell’s conviction for sex-trafficking at a federal courthouse in Manhattan in December 2021.
As her appeal begins in New York today, here’s a look back at some of the famous names embroiled in the scandal:
From Trump to Prince Andrew: All the biggest names embroiled in the Maxwell trial
Maxwell’s accusers testified they found her famous connections both alluring and intimidating
Jeffrey Epstein’s 2008 non-prosecution agreement
At the hearing on Tuesday in New York, Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyers argued that the disgraced socialite should not have been prosecuted in 2019, as she was protected by provisions from a prior non-prosecution agreement (NPA) made by Florida prosecutors with late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The deal was made by former federal prosecutor Alex Acosta, and resulted in a jail sentence and a sex offender registration for the disgraced financier.
Under the 2008 NPA, Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges in Florida of soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution. That allowed him to avert a possible life sentence, instead serving 13 months in a work-release program. He was required to make payments to victims and register as a sex offender.
Epstein was later charged by federal prosecutors in Manhattan for nearly identical allegations in 2019, but he took his own life while in federal custody as he awaited trial.
Ghislaine Maxwell: The life of the Jeffrey Epstein associate found guilty of sex trafficking
Ghislaine Maxwell, the socialite daughter of the late British press baron Robert Maxwell, was jailed after being found guilty of federal sex trafficking charges for her role in procuring and grooming underage girls for billionaire paedophile ex-boyfriend.
As her lawyers gear up to launch an appeal in the case, here is a look at her life:
Ghislaine Maxwell: The Jeffrey Epstein associate found guilty of sex trafficking
Socialite daughter of late British press baron was jailed after being found guilty of federal sex trafficking charges for her role in procuring and grooming underage girls for billionaire paedophile ex-boyfriend
In pictures: Maxwell behind bars
Watch: Maxwell was protected under non-prosecution agreement, argues lawyer
ICYMI: Ghislaine Maxwell lawyers argue she should have been protected by Epstein deal as she makes bid for freedom
On Tuesday, attorneys for Ghislaine Maxwell argued that the disgraced British socialite should have been protected by a deal Jeffrey Epstein made years ago as they made a bid for her freedom in a New York courtroom.
Maxwell, 62, returned to the spotlight this week as her defence team launched an appeal over her sex trafficking conviction.
Read the full story here:
Ghislaine Maxwell lawyers argue she should have been protected by Epstein deal
Ghislaine Maxwell, 62, was found guilty in 2021 of recruiting and grooming teenagers for sexual abuse by the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein