Judge rejects Ghislaine Maxwell’s miscarriage of justice claims and bid for prison release

A federal judge has rejected Ghislaine Maxwell's attempt to overturn her sex trafficking conviction and secure her release from prison. Maxwell had filed a habeas petition claiming that exonerating information was withheld and false testimony was presented at her trial, constituting a "complete miscarriage of justice." Judge Paul A. Engelmayer ruled that her claims were "demonstrably meritless," "frivolous," and largely procedurally barred. The judge stated that the evidence presented at trial conclusively established her guilt and that her petition was based on speculation, distortions, and falsehoods. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.

A US federal judge has rejected Ghislaine Maxwell's attempt to overturn her five felony sex-trafficking convictions. Judge Paul Engelmayer deemed her claims "meritless" and "frivolous" in a 67-page opinion. Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for her role in recruiting and abusing underage girls with Jeffrey Epstein, argued that newly released Epstein files could exonerate her. However, the judge found that the released materials, made public under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, actually incriminated her or reinforced the validity of the original legal rulings. Maxwell's conviction was upheld by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in 2024, and the Supreme Court declined to hear a further appeal.

A federal judge has rejected Ghislaine Maxwell's bid for release from her 20-year prison sentence, dismissing her claims of a "miscarriage of justice." Judge Paul A. Engelmayer ruled that Maxwell's habeas petition, which argued for her conviction to be set aside based on new evidence, was "demonstrably meritless" and based on "speculation, distortions, and/or outright falsehoods." Maxwell had contended that exculpatory information was withheld and false testimony was presented at her 2021 sex trafficking trial. The judge stated that no disputed fact could potentially alter the trial's outcome. Maxwell was convicted in December 2021 and is currently serving her sentence.