Key facts
- Ghislaine Maxwell argues that documents released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act show her due process rights were violated.
- Maxwell claims lawyers for Epstein's accusers acted as "De Facto Prosecutors and agents of the government."
- Prosecutors stated Maxwell's claims are baseless, speculative, or filed too late.
- Maxwell cited prosecutors' alleged failure to conduct a thorough investigation, including not interviewing Leslie Wexner.
- Maxwell is seeking a writ of habeas corpus to declare her 20-year sentence unlawful.
Ghislaine Maxwell has filed a new court petition arguing that documents released this year under the Epstein Files Transparency Act provide evidence that her due process rights were violated prior to her conviction and 20-year sentence. Maxwell, who is representing herself, is seeking a writ of habeas corpus to declare her punishment unlawful.
In her amended petition, Maxwell contends that lawyers representing Epstein's accusers acted as "De Facto Prosecutors and agents of the government." She cited a former federal prosecutor's letter suggesting an effort to set aside Epstein's 2007 non-prosecution agreement with Florida prosecutors, an agreement Maxwell has unsuccessfully argued shielded her from criminal prosecution.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, whose office prosecuted Maxwell, stated in a court filing that most of her claims were filed too late, and those filed on time were speculative, misstated the record or law, or failed to demonstrate an unfair trial. Clayton asserted that Maxwell "utterly fails to carry her burden to overturn her proper conviction and just sentence."
Maxwell also argued that prosecutors failed to conduct adequate investigations, pointing to their lack of an interview with retail billionaire Leslie Wexner, who hired Epstein to manage his finances. Maxwell claims this led to "misrepresentations to judges and the jury resulting in an unsafe conviction."
Maxwell is currently housed at a federal prison camp in Bryan, Texas, and is eligible for release in July 2037. The Epstein Files Transparency Act was signed into law by U.S. President Donald Trump following congressional approval. U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer is overseeing Maxwell's case.