Ghislaine Maxwell Seeks to Overturn Conviction Amid Juror Misconduct Claims
NEW YORK, N.Y. — Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted associate of Jeffrey Epstein, has filed a federal habeas petition seeking to overturn her 2021 sex trafficking conviction. The petition, submitted pro se on December 17, 2025, alleges juror misconduct, suppressed evidence, and improper coordination between prosecutors and victims’ lawyers corrupted the trial that resulted in Maxwell’s 20-year prison sentence.
Maxwell’s motion centers on newly discovered evidence, including revelations about Juror No. 50, who disclosed after the trial that he was a survivor of childhood sexual abuse—a fact he did not reveal during jury selection. Maxwell contends this omission was intentional and improperly influenced the jury’s deliberations. She also suggests other jurors may have withheld similar personal histories, raising questions about the fairness of the trial. While federal courts have previously ruled that the juror’s nondisclosure did not merit a new trial, Maxwell argues that recent statements contradict earlier findings and warrant renewed judicial scrutiny.
In addition to juror issues, Maxwell challenges the authenticity of key physical evidence presented at trial. She points to discrepancies in the handling and documentation of a massage table used to establish the interstate commerce element of the charges. Newly unsealed grand jury testimony, she claims, conflicts with law enforcement accounts concerning where and how the table was seized during a 2005 Palm Beach search. These inconsistencies, Maxwell argues, raise doubts about whether the exhibit shown to the jury was the same item recovered in the investigation.
The petition further accuses prosecutors of withholding exculpatory material, including internal communications that could have influenced the outcome of the case. This filing comes just days before the Department of Justice faces a December 19 deadline to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a law signed last month by President Donald Trump mandating the release of hundreds of thousands of sealed investigative documents related to Epstein and his associates. The Department of Justice is under growing pressure to make these records public, which could shed additional light on the case.
Maxwell was convicted in 2021 on charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy tied to Epstein’s decades-long abuse network. Epstein himself died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on similar charges. The case has drawn intense public scrutiny, with advocates calling for greater transparency and accountability. The Federal Bureau of Investigation continues to investigate aspects of Epstein’s network, and the release of grand jury materials could have far-reaching implications.
The habeas petition underscores ongoing controversies surrounding the trial’s integrity and the handling of evidence. Legal experts note that habeas motions are a critical avenue for defendants to challenge convictions based on constitutional grounds, including juror impartiality and prosecutorial misconduct. Maxwell’s filing will likely trigger a complex legal review amid heightened public interest.
As the Department of Justice prepares to disclose the Epstein-related files, the case remains a focal point for discussions about justice for survivors of trafficking and abuse. The Office for Victims of Crime emphasizes the importance of transparency in such high-profile cases to restore public trust.
Maxwell’s petition marks a significant development in a case that has captivated the nation, with potential ramifications for how sex trafficking prosecutions are conducted and scrutinized in the future.
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