Ghislaine Maxwell has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for her part in the sex trafficking of underage girls.
“Jeffrey Epstein should have been here before all of you. It is not about Epstein, ultimately. It is for me to be sentenced,” she said in court. “I am sorry for the pain that you’ve experienced. I hope my conviction … brings you closure.”
20 years may sound like a lot but prosecutors wanted Maxwell to serve up to 55 years in prison. Maxwell’s attorneys asked for her to be sentenced between 4.25 and 5.25 years in prison.
Outside the courtroom, Maxwell’s attorneys claimed she had taken the hit for Jeffrey Epstein who died in jail.
“Clever and cunning to the end, Jeffery Epstein left Ghislaine Maxwell holding the whole bag,” they said.
“Today’s sentence holds Ghislaine Maxwell accountable for perpetrating heinous crimes against children,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. “This sentence sends a strong message that no one is above the law.”
