US Supreme Court rejects Ghislaine Maxwell appeal in Epstein case

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite who was convicted of sex-trafficking charges related to her former boyfriend, Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in recruiting and grooming underage girls for Epstein's sexual abuse. The Supreme Court's decision upholds the conviction and sentence handed down by a federal court in New York. Maxwell had argued that she was denied a fair trial due to pre-trial publicity and the impact of Epstein's death on the proceedings. However, the high court declined to hear her case, effectively ending her legal battle against the conviction. The case has been closely watched as it sheds light on the broader sex-trafficking scandal involving Epstein and his powerful associates. Maxwell's sentence is seen as a significant victory for the victims and prosecutors in their efforts to hold individuals accountable for such crimes.