Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyer appeals to toss out her sex trafficking conviction and prison sentence

On Tuesday, attorney Diana Fabi Samson, representing imprisoned British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, asked a federal appeals court to throw out Maxwell's sex trafficking conviction and 20-year prison sentence. Samson argued that Jeffrey Epstein's 2007 non-prosecution deal with a U.S. attorney in Florida should have prevented Maxwell's prosecution.

Debate in the Appeals Court

The three-judge panel at the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals engaged in a heated debate as Samson's argument was challenged by one of the judges. The panel reserved its decision after hearing the oral arguments.

Grounds for Challenge

Maxwell's lawyers are contesting her December 2021 conviction on multiple grounds, primarily focusing on whether Epstein's deal in Florida protected Maxwell in New York. Samson argued that it did, while the prosecution disagreed.

Maxwell's Current Situation

The 62-year-old Maxwell is currently serving her sentence at a low-security federal prison in Tallahassee, Florida, where she has access to yoga, Pilates, and movies.

Epstein's Legal Maneuver

Epstein's lawyers had previously made a similar argument about the force of his non-prosecution deal in Florida after his sex trafficking arrest in Manhattan in July 2019. However, the question became irrelevant after Epstein's death in a federal lockup a month later while awaiting trial.

Maxwell's Involvement with Epstein

Maxwell was arrested a year after Epstein's death and convicted at trial. Several women who were sexually abused by Epstein testified that she played a crucial role from 1994 to 2004 by recruiting and grooming teenage girls for Epstein to abuse. Maxwell had a romantic relationship with Epstein before becoming his employee at his various residencies, including a Manhattan mansion, the Virgin Islands, and a large estate in Palm Beach, Florida.