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Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted associate of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has petitioned a federal court to vacate her 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. On Wednesday (December 17), Maxwell filed a motion in New York, claiming "substantial new evidence" proves she did not receive a fair trial. Her filing comes just days before the Justice Department is required to release Epstein-related files under the new Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump.
Maxwell, who represented herself in this filing, argues that evidence from civil cases, investigative reports, and other documents show constitutional violations during her trial. She claims these violations resulted in a "complete miscarriage of justice" and that no reasonable juror would have convicted her if the evidence had been presented. One example she cites involves a juror who allegedly concealed a history of sexual abuse, potentially biasing the trial's outcome.
The petition coincides with a looming December 19 deadline for the Justice Department to release materials related to Epstein's investigations, as mandated by the new law. These materials include search warrants, financial records, and interview notes with victims. The release of these documents could affect Maxwell's case if her petition for a retrial is successful.
Despite the request to vacate her conviction, Maxwell's legal team has expressed concerns that releasing the records could prejudice any potential retrial. A federal judge in Manhattan has approved the release of these documents, which do not identify anyone other than Epstein and Maxwell as having had sexual contact with a minor.