Epstein’s accomplice Maxwell loses bid to overturn US conviction

New York's federal judge dismissed Ghislaine Maxwell's attempt to overturn her conviction on Tuesday. The 64-year-old became the only person found guilty in connection with the sex trafficking crimes of the late Jeffrey Epstein, who passed away in 2019 while awaiting his own trial. Judge Paul Engelmayer deemed Maxwell's assertions that her constitutional rights during trial and sentencing were breached as baseless and mostly frivolous.

Convicted in 2021 for providing underage girls to Epstein, the high-profile individual had deep connections with powerful executives, politicians, celebrities, and academics, sparking years of scrutiny and conspiracy theories. With a recent law, President Donald Trump released a wealth of investigative documents related to Epstein, bringing substantial public attention to the case.

Notable figures, including Britain's former Prince Andrew, faced public disgrace due to their association with Epstein. In February, Maxwell was subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee to discuss her relationship with Epstein, but she declined to answer any questions. Her attorney argued she would only speak if granted clemency by Trump.

The US Supreme Court declined to hear Maxwell's appeal of her sex trafficking conviction in October. President Trump, who also had an ongoing relationship with Epstein, had previously opposed the release of the so-called Epstein files, leading to accusations of a cover-up during his initial year in office. The Republican has denied any connection to Epstein's crimes.