Ghislaine Maxwell’s hopes of freedom may now rest on Trump pardon, experts say

Ghislaine Maxwell has nearly exhausted her legal options to overturn her conviction over her role in Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse of girls and young women, according to legal experts.

Manhattan federal judge Paul Engelmayer last week rejected Maxwell’s latest attempt to challenge her conviction and sentence, finding no constitutional violations.

“Maxwell’s claims are all meritless and all or almost all are frivolous,” Engelmayer wrote, according to The Guardian.

Maxwell’s family criticised the ruling and said she “will continue to pursue every available legal avenue” for relief.

However, former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told The Guardian that Maxwell has already exhausted her direct appeals.

“Her only chance of ever seeing the light of day before her sentence runs is a presidential pardon,” Rahmani said.

Maxwell could seek permission from the second circuit court of appeals to challenge Engelmayer’s decision, although legal experts said her chances appear slim.

The US Supreme Court previously declined to review a separate Maxwell appeal involving a non-prosecution agreement connected to Epstein.

Attention could therefore shift towards whether US President Donald Trump would grant Maxwell clemency.

Trump has not ruled out a pardon, but has said: “I haven’t even thought about it, I mean, I haven’t thought about it for months.”

Maxwell’s family says no pardon application has been made to the Trump administration to their knowledge.