Ghislaine Maxwell faces decades in prison after being found guilty of orchestrating a sex trafficking ring with Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell does have a possible alternative; theoretically she could agree to a deal which would see her assist the government in bringing charges against other powerful people who were associated with her and Epstein. Maxwell might like this idea, but there are a number of hurdles which she would have to overcome if it were to become a reality.
Will Maxwell inform on former associates?
When Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his cell nearly everyone believed that something fishy had happened, despite assurances from the media that this was merely a conspiracy theory.
Had Epstein lived he might have started to name names. Now, with Maxwell in a similar position there are questions about whether or not she would even be allowed to betray her former associates.
If Maxwell knows something about the death of Epstein she may be reluctant to risk her own life, even if she might secure a lighter sentence in doing so.
Some legal experts have speculated that she has already tried to reach a deal with prosecutors and been turned down, either because the government already knows everything she could offer or because they don’t want to know.
Given that Maxwell surely knows incriminating facts about some of the most wealthy and powerful people in the country, the feds might not be too interested in hearing from her.
Other legal experts have argued that Maxwell seems to have no desire to cooperate or to inform on her former associates, thus dooming herself to decades in prison.
Experts debate likelihood of cooperation
Another problem is that Maxwell spent the entirety of her trial denying that she had committed any of the crimes she was accused of, potentially damaging her credibility if she suddenly were to change her story.
Some observers also feel that a deal is unlikely because there are no good targets for prosecutors now that Maxwell is convicted and Epstein is dead.
This shouldn’t necessarily be true but it is likely representative of what the government is thinking; given the lenient treatment of Epstein prior to his final arrest, there is not a good history in that department.
If Ghislaine Maxwell really told everything she knew then there is a very high likelihood that some very well known billionaires, elected officials, media figures, and even a former president or two might be implicated in some very serious crimes.
The real extent of Epstein’s doings will likely never be known. Common sense dictates that the rich and powerful people who enjoyed taking trips on his Lolita Express should have enough influence to shut Maxwell up if there is any chance of a deal.
The conviction of Maxwell is a step in the right direction for the victims, but for the American people the struggle to reach the truth of the Epstein story is far from over.
