Ghislaine Maxwell has faced a major setback following a bid to appeal her child sex trafficking conviction.
The disgraced socialite, 63, was found guilty of aiding Jeffrey Epstein in the sex trafficking of young girls in December 2021, receiving a 20-year prison sentence.
However, lawyers for Maxwell have argued against her conviction, saying that she should have been covered by a a non-prosecution agreement previously made between Epstein and the US government (per ABC).
She has made numerous attempts to secure a retrial in the past couple of years, all of which have been denied by federal courts.
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Earlier this week it was revealed by MailOnline that Maxwell faced a 'do or die' moment in her attempts to get her sentence thrown out, with a direct plea to the US Supreme Court for a retrial.
However the close friend of Epstein has been pushed back once again.
According to a new update from MailOnline, the US Department of Justice has responded by advising the Supreme Court against taking up her case.
The decision has been met with backlash from Maxwell's attorney David Oscar Markus, who took aim at President Donald Trump personally in his response to the outlet.
"He’s the ultimate dealmaker - and I’m sure he’d agree that when the United States gives its word, it should keep it," he said in a statement.
"With all the talk about who’s being prosecuted and who isn’t, it’s especially unfair that Ghislaine Maxwell remains in prison based on a promise the government made and broke."
Maxwell is currently incarcerated in a Tallahassee prison and will remain behind bars in the Florida correction facility until at least 2037.
The update in Maxwell's case comes at a time when the Trump administration is facing increased scrutiny over its handling of the Epstein case.
Earlier this year, US attorney general Pam Bondi appeared to confirm speculation about the existence of a 'client list' detailing high profile individuals who benefitted from Epstein's sex trafficking activities.
However, the FBI has since denied that such a list ever existed in the first place, making the massive u-turn in a recent memo: "This systematic review revealed no incriminating 'client list'. There was also no evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions.
"We did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties."
Meanwhile President Trump shut down reporters when they pressed for an update about the case, saying: "Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy's been talked about for years!"
Going on to accuse the press of deflecting attention from deadly floods in Texas, he continued: "We have Texas, we have this, we have all of the things that... and are people still talking about this guy, this creep? That is unbelievable.
"I can't believe you're asking a question on Epstein at a time like this, when we're having some of the greatest success - and also tragedy, with what happened in Texas."
Topics: US News, Crime, Jeffrey Epstein
Brenna Cooper