A US federal judge has rejected a motion by Ghislaine Maxwell, a key accomplice of the late Jeffrey Epstein, to overturn her 2021 conviction on sex trafficking charges. Maxwell, 64, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence and remains the only person convicted in connection with Epstein, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial.
In his ruling, Judge Paul Engelmayer stated that Maxwell's claims alleging violations of her constitutional rights during trial and sentencing "are all meritless and all or almost all are frivolous." He further noted, "Nearly all its claims are procedurally barred; the overwhelming testimonial and documentary evidence adduced at trial conclusively established her guilt; and her petition's claims are demonstrably meritless, and generally based on speculation, distortions, and/or outright falsehoods."
Maxwell was convicted of supplying underage girls to Epstein, whose connections to influential business executives, politicians, celebrities, and academics have sparked extensive public scrutiny and conspiracy theories. Following a law passed last year, the administration of former President Donald Trump released extensive investigative files related to Epstein, heightening public attention on the case.
High-profile figures, including Britain's former Prince Andrew, have faced public disgrace due to their associations with Epstein. In February, Maxwell was subpoenaed by the US House Oversight Committee to discuss her relationship with Epstein but declined to answer questions. Her lawyer stated she would only cooperate if Trump granted her clemency.
Last October, the US Supreme Court declined to hear Maxwell's appeal against her sex trafficking conviction, leaving her sentence intact.
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