U.S. judge rejects Ghislaine Maxwell’s ‘meritless’ bid for prison release

A federal judge dismissed Ghislaine Maxwell's request for release from prison on Tuesday, dismissing her claims that new evidence should overturn her sex trafficking conviction and free her from a 20-year sentence. Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend and longtime associate, filed a habeas petition in December, claiming that exonerating information was withheld and false testimony was presented at her trial, resulting in a "complete miscarriage of justice."

However, Judge Paul A. Engelmayer rejected her arguments, stating that nearly all claims were frivolous and that she presented nothing that could change the outcome of her trial. Engelmayer emphasized that nearly all of Maxwell's claims are procedurally barred, and that the overwhelming testimonial and documentary evidence at trial conclusively established her guilt.

Maxwell's claims of new evidence stem from documents released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, but the judge noted that many of these documents are irrelevant to Maxwell's charges and, if relevant, actually reinforce the correctness of the legal rulings she challenges. Maxwell's claim that she was selectively prosecuted and made a "scapegoat" was also rejected, as she could have raised this claim on appeal after her trial, but the judge found it to be frivolous.

The recent release of Justice Department documents has not revealed any unknown or instrumental confederates in Epstein's crimes, according to the judge.