- Maxwell filed a habeas corpus petition claiming new evidence shows constitutional violations and an unfair 2021 trial.
- The filing arrives two days before the mandated release of extensive Epstein-related records under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
- Her team warns public disclosures could prejudice any retrial while advocates demand transparency and full accountability for victims.
Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite and longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, has filed a dramatic new legal challenge to throw out her 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking minors.
On Wednesday, December 17, 2025, Maxwell submitted a habeas corpus petition in Manhattan federal court, claiming that fresh evidence proves her 2021 trial was fundamentally unfair due to constitutional violations.
The filing argues that information withheld from her defense, combined with allegedly false testimony presented to jurors, deprived her of a fair trial.
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“Since the conclusion of her trial, substantial new evidence has emerged … demonstrating constitutional violations that undermined the fairness of her proceeding,” the petition states.
It adds: “In light of the full evidentiary record, no reasonable juror would have convicted her.”
Details of the Ongoing Release Attempts
Maxwell contends this new material—drawn from civil lawsuits, government disclosures, investigative reports, and previously unavailable documents—would have led to her acquittal if presented at trial.
She describes the outcome as a “complete miscarriage of justice.”
This latest move comes at a particularly charged moment: just two days before the Justice Department is required to release a massive trove of Epstein-related records under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
President Donald Trump signed the law earlier this year amid intense public and political pressure.
The act mandates the disclosure of 18 categories of investigative materials by Friday, including search warrants, financial records, victim interview notes, and data from electronic devices.
Maxwell’s attorney, David Markus, has previously indicated she does not oppose the release of these records but has warned that it could prejudice any potential retrial.
He noted the materials contain “untested and unproven allegations” and that public disclosure might make a fair proceeding impossible if her conviction is overturned.
U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer, who last week approved the Justice Department’s request to unseal the files, stated that the materials do not identify anyone other than Epstein and Maxwell as having had sexual contact with a minor.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton confirmed at an unrelated news conference that his office would comply with the law and court orders.
A Recap of Maxwell’s Legal Battles
Maxwell’s conviction stems from her role in recruiting and grooming underage girls for Epstein between 1994 and 2004.
Epstein, the wealthy financier with ties to powerful figures, was arrested in July 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges but died by suicide the following month in a New York jail.
Maxwell was arrested in July 2020 and convicted in December 2021 on charges including sex trafficking of a minor.
She was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Earlier this year, she was transferred from a Florida prison to a minimum-security camp in Texas after being interviewed by the Justice Department’s second-in-command.
This habeas petition follows the exhaustion of her direct appeals.
In October 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear her case, rejecting arguments that a 2007 non-prosecution agreement Epstein made in Florida should have shielded her from charges in New York.
Lower courts had upheld her conviction, finding the Florida deal did not bind prosecutors elsewhere.
Habeas corpus petitions are rare and rarely successful mechanisms for challenging detention after appeals are exhausted, often alleging issues like prosecutorial misconduct or ineffective counsel.
Ongoing Scrutiny and Calls for Transparency
The timing of Maxwell’s petition has reignited debates over the Epstein case, which has long fueled speculation about unprosecuted accomplices and high-profile connections.
The impending release of files has heightened anticipation, with some viewing it as a step toward accountability and others wary of its implications.
Earlier reports indicated Maxwell was preparing a commutation application to the Trump administration, though no action has been confirmed.
There have also been controversies around her prison conditions and transfers, with whistleblowers alleging special treatment.
Victim advocates have consistently pushed for full disclosure, arguing that justice for survivors requires exposing the full extent of the network.
As one statement from a victim’s family noted after the Supreme Court’s October decision: “We are committed to ensuring that convicted child sex trafficker Maxwell serves out the entirety of her 20-year sentence in prison, where she belongs.”
What Happens Now?
The Epstein saga continues to cast a long shadow, blending legal battles with public demands for transparency.
With files set for release imminently and Maxwell’s new challenge pending, the coming days could bring significant developments in one of the most infamous cases of recent decades.
This is a developing story, with potential updates as the Justice Department proceeds with disclosures and the court responds to Maxwell’s petition.
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