Latest news with #4thAnnualWIESymposium
Newsweek
07-08-2025
- Newsweek
Ghislaine Maxwell Banned From Service Dog Training
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, a convicted sex trafficker, is reportedly barred from training service dogs at the minimum-security prison camp she was transferred to last week. Why It Matters The federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed on Friday that Maxwell had been transferred to the minimum security Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Bryan, Texas, but did not explain the circumstances. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. She was serving her sentence at a low-security prison in Tallahassee, Florida, until her transfer to the prison camp. Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died behind bars in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Her case has been the subject of heightened scrutiny since an outcry over the Justice Department's announcement last month that it would not be releasing any additional records from the Epstein sex trafficking investigation. Ghislaine Maxwell attends the 4th Annual WIE Symposium at Center 548 on September 20, 2013 in New York City. Ghislaine Maxwell attends the 4th Annual WIE Symposium at Center 548 on September 20, 2013 in New York City. Paul Zimmerman/WireImage What To Know Canine Companions, a nonprofit that trains and provides service dogs, runs training programs at the prison camp where Maxwell is located. But Paige Mazzoni, the organization's chief executive officer, told NBC News that inmates like Maxwell are not permitted to get involved. "We do not allow anyone whose crime involves abuse toward minors or animals—including any crime of a sexual nature," Mazzoni said. "That's a hard policy we have, so she will not be able to." Newsweek has contacted Canine Companions for further comment via a contact form on its website. Maxwell's transfer came days after she was interviewed over two days by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche amid pressure on President Donald Trump to release more information about the investigations of Maxwell and Epstein. The Department of Justice is reportedly weighing whether to release a transcript of the interview. It would come at the direction of Trump, who has ordered the disclosure of "all credible evidence" in the Epstein case. Maxwell is appealing to the Supreme Court to have her conviction overturned. Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly refused to rule out granting Maxwell a pardon, saying he is "allowed" to do it. What People Are Saying Asked if he had approved Maxwell's transfer, Trump told reporters on Tuesday: "I didn't know about it at all, no. I read about it just like you did." The President said in an interview with Newsmax on Friday that no one has asked him about pardoning Maxwell. He said: "I'm allowed to do it but nobody's asked me to do it." Blanche wrote on X on July 24: "Today, I met with Ghislaine Maxwell, and I will continue my interview of her tomorrow. The Department of Justice will share additional information about what we learned at the appropriate time." The family of Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein's most well-known accusers, has urged Trump not to pardon Maxwell, saying in a statement: "The government and the President should never consider giving Ghislaine Maxwell any leniency. Ghislaine Maxwell is a monster who deserves to rot in prison for the rest of her life for the extraordinary violence and abuse she put not just our sister Virginia through, but many other survivors, who may number in the thousands." What's Next Maxwell had been scheduled to speak before the House Oversight Committee on August 11. But Representative James Comer, the committee's chair, said in a letter to Maxwell on Friday that the committee was willing to delay the deposition until after the resolution of Maxwell's appeal to the Supreme Court. That appeal is expected to be resolved in late September. This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
Newsweek
28-07-2025
- Newsweek
How Ghislaine Maxwell Might Reduce Her Prison Term
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her part in the Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking scandal, could be looking to do a deal with the Department of Justice (DOJ) that may lead to an early release. Her meetings with U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on July 24 and 25 have sparked speculation that she may be cooperating with the DOJ's continuing investigation into the Epstein scandal. Her projected release date is July 17, 2037. Why It Matters Epstein was a wealthy financier and convicted sex offender who authorities said died by suicide in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. Following her December 2021 conviction on five counts related to sex trafficking and conspiracy, she was sentenced in June 2022 by U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan, and fined $750,000. She is serving the federal sentence at FCI Tallahassee in Florida. Maxwell has two principal legal avenues that could lead to an early release: cooperating with the DOJ investigation and presidential clemency, in the form of a pardon or commutation. Ghislaine Maxwell attends the 4th Annual WIE Symposium on September 20, 2013, in New York City. Ghislaine Maxwell attends the 4th Annual WIE Symposium on September 20, 2013, in New York City. Paul Zimmerman/WireImage What To Know In Maxwell's case, her sentence commutation or pardon would likely be highly controversial given the nature of her conviction and public attention surrounding Epstein's network. The question is what she might offer prosecutors that could warrant such leniency. Given her close association with Epstein and ties to influential figures, prosecutors could find any information that helps uncover additional victims, accomplices, or conspirators to be of great value. That value and timeliness of this cooperation, along with Maxwell's truthfulness and the public safety implications, are key factors the DOJ and courts would weigh when considering a sentence reduction. Cooperation deals are usually struck before sentencing, but post-conviction agreements do happen, especially in sensitive cases. The DOJ can request sentence reductions for inmates who provide substantial, credible assistance, though such deals are often sealed. Presidential pardons or commutations, while rare and politically fraught, are another possible avenue, particularly in high-profile cases. How Maxwell's DOJ Deal Could Look Maxwell could seek relief under Rule 35(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, which allows for sentence reduction if the DOJ certifies post-sentencing cooperation. On July 24 and 25, 2025, she met with Blanche and answered questions on approximately 100 individuals without invoking the Fifth Amendment—prompting speculation she may be cooperating. However, prosecutors require new, credible, and actionable intelligence to justify a Rule 35(b) motion. The DOJ has no obligation to request a reduction unless Maxwell's assistance produces concrete prosecutorial benefits like indictments or arrests. Her credibility, damaged by past perjury allegations, remains a key obstacle. As seen in Cohen's case, Trump's ex-lawyer, who pleaded guilty in 2018 to campaign finance violations, tax fraud, and lying to Congress. He cooperated extensively with the DOJ and testified in multiple investigations. While his assistance was noted, he still received a three-year prison sentence due to the seriousness of his offenses—showing that even extensive cooperation may not guarantee sentencing relief if deemed unhelpful. How Maxwell's Trump Deal Could Look Maxwell may also pursue presidential clemency—a pardon would clear her conviction, while a commutation would shorten her sentence. Such actions are rare, especially in politically sensitive cases involving serious crimes. President Donald Trump publicly addressed the possibility of pardoning Maxwell on July 25, 2025, stating: "I'm allowed to do it, but it's something I have not thought about." The remark came as he departed the White House en route to Scotland, and although the president affirmed he has the legal authority to grant clemency, he clarified that he had not seriously considered such action in Maxwell's case. Maxwell's attorney, David Oscar Marcus, has expressed hope for clemency, despite such decisions undergoing DOJ review and facing intense public scrutiny; but described the meetings with Blanche as "very productive," while the DOJ stated further details would be shared "at the appropriate time." What People Are Saying Attorney Mark Zaid, an expert in national security law, told Newsweek: "There is no reason whatsoever to believe a word that comes out of Ms. Maxwell's mouth," citing alleged past perjury and her role in Epstein's crimes. Prosecutors in her 2021 trial said Maxwell had made a number of false statements under oath. "The defendant's willingness to brazenly lie under oath about her conduct, including some of the conduct charged in the indictment, strongly suggests her true motive has been and remains to avoid being held accountable for her crimes," prosecutors wrote at the time in a pretrial motion, according to NBC News. Laurie Levenson, a professor of criminal law, criminal procedure and ethical lawyering at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, echoed Zaid's doubts, noting in an email to Newsweek that: "The information would have to be corroborated, and the prosecution would have to have confidence in the defendant's credibility. Obviously, all of this will be a problem with Maxwell." Levenson said: "It is very likely that what she has to say is already in the investigation file or was presented at her trial." What Happens Next Maxwell's chances of early release hinge on the quality and impact of her cooperation or a rare act of presidential clemency. Both mechanisms must satisfy strict legal criteria—credible new information, prosecutorial willingness, judicial approval, and, in the case of clemency, executive endorsement. The value of Maxwell's cooperation relies on the newness and reliability of her information, and whether prosecutors deem it sufficient to merit a Rule 35(b) request. However, such cooperation carries inherent risk, including retaliation fears, reputational damage, or legal instability. Not all insiders survive these trade-offs, and the government retains almost complete discretion over whether and to what extent relief is granted. Whether Maxwell will pursue either path remains uncertain—as of now, no formal deal has been confirmed.
