Ghislaine Maxwell’s family has claimed she was the victim of “government misconduct” and denied any wrongdoing in the Epstein sex trafficking scandal.Meanwhile, supporters of Donald Trump are turning against him over his team’s handling of the case.Maxwell is convicted for her role in recruiting and grooming underage girls for Epstein and is currently serving a 20-year sentence at FCI Tallahassee.Maxwell is preparing to challenge her imprisonment by filing a writ of habeas corpus. Her family says she didn’t get a fair trial and was only targeted because the public wanted someone to blame after Jeffrey Epstein’s death.“Our sister Ghislaine did not receive a fair trial,” they said, adding that prosecutors were “determined to convict her” after Epstein’s suicide in 2019. They argue her sentencing should be vacated and that she should be resentenced due to the application of an incorrect guideline range.Maxwell was convicted in 2021. Her brother Ian Maxwell pointed to a 2007 agreement between Epstein and the Department of Justice in Florida, which promised not to prosecute his co-conspirators. The family claims this deal should have protected Ghislaine.Maxwell’s legal team is also seeking to resolve a difference in how the agreement is treated in Florida compared to New York, where she was prosecuted. Though the original deal did not name her, it promised not to prosecute Epstein’s co-conspirators if he fulfilled the terms. Prosecutors later found a loophole and still pursued charges in New York.Meanwhile, outrage is growing among Trump loyalists. Pam Bondi, Trump’s former Attorney General and close ally, is facing accusations from the MAGA base of botching the investigation into Epstein. In a recent memo, Bondi said there was no evidence of a secret client list linked to Epstein’s operations.Back in February, Bondi told Fox News that a client list was on her desk. However, her office later clarified that she had been referring to case files more generally. This has angered Trump’s base, with high-profile names like Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Megyn Kelly now calling for transparency and demanding the release of all Epstein-related files.Maxwell’s family said they “profoundly concur” with Marcus’ remarks and have denied the existence of any client list. Ian Maxwell told The Spectator, “My sister has always maintained there was never such a thing. It never existed.” He also criticised public figures like Elon Musk for spreading conspiracy theories about the list.Trump has tried to shut down the controversy, telling reporters last week that the flooding in Texas was more important. Despite Bondi’s memo ruling out foul play, Maxwell still believes Epstein was murdered. “That is, and remains, my sister’s view for what it’s worth,” Ian Maxwell said, suggesting Epstein may have paid someone inside prison to kill him.Recently released CCTV footage showed Epstein being escorted to his cell on the night before his death, reports Daily Mail. The justice department stated the footage does not capture the cell door itself but would show if anyone approached it. According to the investigation, no one was seen near the cell during the hours in question.Both the FBI and DoJ concluded Epstein died by suicide and confirmed no further charges will be brought in the case. Maxwell’s team, however, is continuing its legal fight, arguing the case against her was legally and ethically flawed.
