By Robert Alexander
Senior Crime & Court Reporter
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Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her part in the Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking scandal, could be looking to do a deal with the Department of Justice (DOJ) that may lead to an early release.
Her meetings with U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on July 24 and 25 have sparked speculation that she may be cooperating with the DOJ's continuing investigation into the Epstein scandal.
Her projected release date is July 17, 2037.
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Why It Matters
Epstein was a wealthy financier and convicted sex offender who authorities said died by suicide in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.
Following Maxwell's December 2021 conviction on five counts related to sex trafficking and conspiracy, she was sentenced in June 2022 by U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan, and fined $750,000. She is serving the federal sentence at FCI Tallahassee in Florida.
Maxwell has two principal legal avenues that could lead to an early release: cooperating with the DOJ investigation and presidential clemency, in the form of a pardon or commutation.
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What To Know
In Maxwell's case, her sentence commutation or pardon would likely be highly controversial given the nature of her conviction and public attention surrounding Epstein's network.
The question is what she might offer prosecutors that could warrant such leniency. Given her close association with Epstein and ties to influential figures, prosecutors could find any information that helps uncover additional victims, accomplices, or conspirators to be of great value.
That value and timeliness of this cooperation, along with Maxwell's truthfulness and the public safety implications, are key factors the DOJ and courts would weigh when considering a sentence reduction.
Cooperation deals are usually struck before sentencing, but post-conviction agreements do happen, especially in sensitive cases. The DOJ can request sentence reductions for inmates who provide substantial, credible assistance, though such deals are often sealed.
Presidential pardons or commutations, while rare and politically fraught, are another possible avenue, particularly in high-profile cases.
How Maxwell's DOJ Deal Could Look
Maxwell could seek relief under Rule 35(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, which allows for sentence reduction if the DOJ certifies post-sentencing cooperation. On July 24 and 25, 2025, she met with Blanche and answered questions on approximately 100 individuals without invoking the Fifth Amendment—prompting speculation she may be cooperating.
However, prosecutors require new, credible, and actionable intelligence to justify a Rule 35(b) motion. The DOJ has no obligation to request a reduction unless Maxwell's assistance produces concrete prosecutorial benefits like indictments or arrests.
Her credibility, damaged by past perjury allegations, remains a key obstacle. As seen in the case of Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's ex-lawyer, who pleaded guilty in 2018 to campaign finance violations, tax fraud, and lying to Congress. He cooperated extensively with the DOJ and testified in multiple investigations.
While his assistance was noted, he still received a three-year prison sentence due to the seriousness of his offenses—showing that even extensive cooperation may not guarantee sentencing relief if deemed unhelpful.
How Maxwell's Trump Deal Could Look
Maxwell may also pursue presidential clemency—a pardon would clear her conviction, while a commutation would shorten her sentence. Such actions are rare, especially in politically sensitive cases involving serious crimes.
President Donald Trump publicly addressed the possibility of pardoning Maxwell on July 25, 2025, stating: "I'm allowed to do it, but it's something I have not thought about." The remark came as he departed the White House en route to Scotland, and although the president affirmed he has the legal authority to grant clemency, he clarified that he had not seriously considered such action in Maxwell's case.
Maxwell's attorney, David Oscar Marcus, has expressed hope for clemency, despite such decisions undergoing DOJ review and facing intense public scrutiny; but described the meetings with Blanche as "very productive," while the DOJ stated further details would be shared "at the appropriate time."
What People Are Saying
Attorney Brad Moss, an expert in national security law, told Newsweek: "There is no reason whatsoever to believe a word that comes out of Ms. Maxwell's mouth," citing alleged past perjury and her role in Epstein's crimes.
Prosecutors in her 2021 trial said Maxwell had made a number of false statements under oath.
"The defendant's willingness to brazenly lie under oath about her conduct, including some of the conduct charged in the indictment, strongly suggests her true motive has been and remains to avoid being held accountable for her crimes," prosecutors wrote at the time in a pretrial motion, according to NBC News.
Laurie Levenson, a professor of criminal law, criminal procedure and ethical lawyering at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, echoed Moss' doubts, noting in an email to Newsweek that: "The information would have to be corroborated, and the prosecution would have to have confidence in the defendant's credibility. Obviously, all of this will be a problem with Maxwell."
Levenson said: "It is very likely that what she has to say is already in the investigation file or was presented at her trial."
What Happens Next
Maxwell's chances of early release hinge on the quality and impact of her cooperation or a rare act of presidential clemency. Both mechanisms must satisfy strict legal criteria—credible new information, prosecutorial willingness, judicial approval, and, in the case of clemency, executive endorsement.
The value of Maxwell's cooperation relies on the newness and reliability of her information, and whether prosecutors deem it sufficient to merit a Rule 35(b) request.
However, such cooperation carries inherent risk, including retaliation fears, reputational damage, or legal instability. Not all insiders survive these trade-offs, and the government retains almost complete discretion over whether and to what extent relief is granted.
Whether Maxwell will pursue either path remains uncertain—as of now, no formal deal has been confirmed.
Correction 7/30/25, 11:23 a.m. ET: Analysis has been correctly attributed to attorney Brad Moss.
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