In a dramatic legal move, Ghislaine Maxwell has personally petitioned a federal court to overturn her sex trafficking conviction and 20-year prison sentence. The 63-year-old filed the request herself, without a lawyer, from the federal prison in Bryan, Texas, where she is serving her term.
The Core of Maxwell's New Legal Challenge
Maxwell's petition hinges on what she describes as "substantial new evidence" that has surfaced since her high-profile 2021 trial. In a detailed 51-page filing, she argues that this new information proves exculpatory evidence was withheld from her defence, false testimony was presented to the jury, and key facts were misrepresented.
The ultimate result, according to her filing, is "a complete miscarriage of justice, rendering petitioner’s conviction invalid, unsafe and infirm." She claims this evidence has emerged from various sources, including related civil lawsuits, government disclosures, and press reports.
Timing Coincides with Crucial Document Deadline
This latest legal effort comes at a critical moment. The US Department of Justice faces a Friday deadline to release a significant trove of documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who was Maxwell's ex-boyfriend.
This release is mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Former President Donald Trump had initially opposed making this data public for months. However, he reversed his position following intense public pressure demanding greater transparency about Epstein's network.
A Long-Shot Bid After Previous Failures
Maxwell's new petition is widely seen as a long-shot attempt. She has already lost previous appeals against the 2021 verdict, where a jury found her guilty of conspiring with and aiding Jeffrey Epstein in the sex trafficking of underage girls and young women.
In a significant blow to her legal team, the US Supreme Court rejected her appeal to overturn the conviction in October of last year. Her current pro se filing represents a direct, personal appeal to the court system she has so far been unable to convince.
The case is formally known as Maxwell v. US, 25-cv-10464, in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan. The world continues to watch as the legal saga surrounding one of the most notorious criminal cases in recent history unfolds further.
