US Judge Rejects Ghislaine Maxwell's Bid to Overturn Sex Trafficking Conviction

A federal judge has rejected Ghislaine Maxwell's attempt to overturn her sex trafficking conviction and secure her release from prison. Judge Paul A. Engelmayer of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled on Tuesday that Maxwell's habeas petition, filed last December, was based on claims that were "demonstrably meritless" and "frivolous." Maxwell, the former girlfriend and long-time associate of Jeffrey Epstein, had argued that exonerating information was withheld and false testimony was presented at her trial, resulting in a "complete miscarriage of justice." However, Judge Engelmayer found that the overwhelming evidence presented at trial conclusively established her guilt, and that her claims were procedurally barred. The ruling upholds her 20-year prison sentence. Maxwell's lawyers have not yet commented on the decision. Habeas petitions are often filed as a last resort after appeals are exhausted, to challenge unlawful confinement. This ruling marks a significant legal setback for Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 on charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy related to Epstein's abuse of underage girls.