Ghislaine Maxwell has requested a lighter prison sentence, citing her relationship and work in philanthropy with former president Bill Clinton as her reasoning.
Maxwell was convicted of her crimes in December for helping Jeffrey Epstein traffic underage girls for sexual purposes as well as sexually abusing the girls herself, and her sentencing hearing is currently set for June 28. Maxwell’s attorneys have argued that she should only receive a four-year-and-three-month sentence due to her having shown she has a “desire to do good in the world” by working with Clinton.
Reportedly [1], Maxwell’s assistance in the launching of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) is part of her reasoning for the request
Further, Maxwell alleges she’s already received death threats in prison, which is apparently the explanation as to why she is currently in a higher security setting at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, where she is being held. Apparently, she was told by some of the guards that “there was concern she could be shot by a sniper.”
As a reminder, Jeffrey Epstein allegedly died by suicide during his 36 days of incarceration, despite the fact that he denied having suicidal thoughts [2] just days prior to his death.
“While in isolation,” Maxwell’s legal filing states, “a high-ranking prison guard told Ms. Maxwell that there was concern that she would be shot by a sniper. Putting aside the reason and propriety of dispensing this alarming information, the diminution of security concerns resulting in her transfer to general population appears correlated to Ms. Maxwell having been sufficiently safeguarded to fill Epstein’s empty seat.”
The 77-page legal filing asking for the lighter sentence states that Maxwell was used as a scapegoat in the sex trafficking charges since Epstein is no longer alive to pay the price for the many horrid crimes against children.
The filing also discusses her “history of philanthropy, charitable work, and helping others namely her work with the Clinton Global Initiative.”
“Ms. Maxwell has always worked hard,” the filing reads. “Her many educational, occupational, and avocational accomplishments include becoming an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), a helicopter pilot, a submersible pilot, a banker; partnering with the Cleveland Clinic to establish a telemedicine platform to enable people in remote areas to obtain quality medical treatment; helping develop the Clinton Global Initiative, and supporting a variety non-profit and charitable organizations.”
“She has supported friends and family through tough times and personal crisis and currently is assisting women in her unit at the MDC,” her lawyer wrote, also claiming, “She has energy, drive, commitment, a strong work ethic, and desire to do good in the world.”
The documents also include character witness statements and letters, although none from either prominent Clinton, at least not that is disclosed at this time.
Maxwell faces a maximum sentence of 50 years for her crimes.
“In sentencing Ms. Maxwell,” the filing says, “the Court cannot be influenced by this inexorable drumbeat of public condemnation calling for her to be locked away for good. The Court cannot heal the wounds caused by Epstein by heaping on Ms. Maxwell’s shoulders the pain of every one of his victims, the outrage of society, the public scorn of the community, and then driving her out of the community forever.
“While that may assuage the public and give the perception that ‘justice was done,’ that is not justice. That is scapegoating. Ms. Maxwell must be sentenced on the record before the Court and not these external pressures.”
The filing also says that Maxwell’s “life was ruined” because of the trial and conviction, though it mysteriously omits how many children’s lives were ruined by her actions.