US govt to seek to block Ghislaine Maxwell's request for retrial

The US Department of Justice is set to formally oppose Ghislaine Maxwell’s request for a retrial on Monday, marking a critical stage in the convicted sex offender’s legal fight to overturn her conviction.

Maxwell, 63, is currently serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking operation. Her legal team has filed an appeal with the US Supreme Court, asking it to either throw out her conviction or order a new trial. Federal prosecutors plan to argue that the appeal is “meritless.”

She remains the only Epstein associate imprisoned in connection to the case. A source close to Maxwell said she is “anxious but hopeful” ahead of the hearing. “This is a critical moment, a do or die moment. Ghislaine believes she has multiple grounds for appeal,” the source said.

Solicitor General John Sauer recently requested more time to evaluate her petition. A senior Justice Department official reportedly told the Daily Mail on Sunday there is still a “powerful argument” for the high court to consider the case.

Maxwell had initially submitted her appeal request during the first Trump administration. Her family and legal team have not directly petitioned the president for clemency, but former Trump associate Alan Dershowitz has publicly advocated for it. “Certainly she should get a commutation,” he told the Daily Mail. “The sentence was way, way, way in excess of anything she was alleged to have done.”

Dershowitz argued Maxwell was made a “primary target” following Epstein’s death and that she is “in part a victim” of the disgraced financier. He also called for her immediate release.

Last week, the FBI confirmed it had ended its investigation into Prince Andrew and other individuals linked to Epstein. Andrew, who has denied allegations made by Virginia Giuffre, was a longtime friend of Maxwell’s.

Officials also recently said President Donald Trump’s promise to release a full “Epstein client list” would not be fulfilled, stating “there is no client list.” Elon Musk responded to the announcement on X, writing: “Then what is Ghislaine Maxwell in prison for?”

Maxwell’s legal team continues to claim the prosecution was flawed and that the sentence was excessive. Monday’s DOJ filing is expected to determine whether the Supreme Court moves forward or ends the appeal process.