Judge rejects Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex-trafficking appeal, calling claims ‘demonstrably meritless’
Maxwell sought to vacate Epstein-related conviction, alleging hidden trial evidence and juror’s abuse history
TL;DR
- Federal judge Paul Engelmayer denied Ghislaine Maxwell's legal effort to throw out her sex-trafficking conviction and sentence.
- The judge called Maxwell's claims "demonstrably meritless, and generally based on speculation, distortions, and/or outright falsehoods."
- Maxwell petitioned to vacate her conviction, citing issues like a juror's history of sexual abuse and alleged withheld evidence.
- The judge stated most of Maxwell's grounds for appeal were procedurally barred.
- Maxwell previously lost an attempt to overturn her conviction at the US Supreme Court.