The US Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by Ghislaine Maxwell against her sex-trafficking conviction.
Without providing an explanation, the court declined to hear the former British socialite's appeal, which means her 20-year sentence will remain in place barring a presidential pardon.
Her lawyer, David Oscar Markus, told the BBC that her team was deeply disappointed but would continue exploring legal avenues to ensure that justice is done.
Maxwell was convicted for her role in luring underage girls for her former boyfriend, the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, to exploit. Epstein died in prison in 2019.
Family members of late Epstein victim Virginia Roberts Giuffre expressed gratitude for the court's denial, committing to ensuring Maxwell serves her full sentence.
The US Justice Department has not commented immediately on the Supreme Court's decision.
Maxwell was found guilty in 2021 of facilitating Epstein's abuse, with prosecutors claiming she recruited and groomed girls, some as young as 14, between 1994 and 2004 before they were abused by Epstein.
Maxwell's lawyers had argued she should never have been tried or convicted for her part in the scheme.
Speculation has arisen regarding a potential presidential pardon from Donald Trump, though the White House indicated that no leniency is under discussion.
The case remains a focal point in the ongoing investigation into Epstein's network and relationships with numerous high-profile figures. Investigative files surrounding his case are under scrutiny, with demands for full transparency.
Maxwell was recently moved to a minimum-security facility in Texas and has denied witnessing any inappropriate behavior involving Trump.
The family of Giuffre and others continue to push for Maxwell's imprisonment in more secure conditions, as discussions surrounding her case continue.
