Ghislaine Maxwell to make new plea to judge for release from prison

Ghislaine Maxwell, previously linked to Jeffrey Epstein and convicted of recruiting underage girls for sex trafficking, intends to petition a court for her release, according to recent filings.

In a letter submitted Wednesday to Judge Paul Engelmayer, Maxwells lawyer stated that she will soon submit a habeas corpus petition to seek freedom from the facility where she is serving a 20-year sentence. The filing notes that Maxwell intends to represent herself in this petition, proceeding pro se, without legal counsel.

The letter, written in response to a Justice Department request to unseal grand jury materials and adjust a protective order in her case, explained that Maxwell does not oppose the release of records but warned that making grand jury materials public could prejudice any future retrial should her habeas petition be successful.

The specific arguments Maxwell plans to present for her release were not disclosed in the filing. Her attorney, David Oscar Markus, has not provided further comment. The Supreme Court recently denied her appeal against her conviction and sentence.

Convicted in 2021 of sex trafficking minors, Maxwell was initially held at a low-security prison in Tallahassee, Florida, before being transferred to a minimum-security facility in Bryan, Texas, after an interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. The move sparked debate over whether she received preferential treatment.

Markus has previously confirmed that Maxwell is not seeking a pardon. Former President Donald Trump has stated he would consider whether to grant one. The Trump administration faced criticism for delaying the release of records connected to Epstein and Maxwell, but legislation signed last month requires disclosure within 30 days.

The Justice Department has asked courts in the Epstein and Maxwell cases to release grand jury transcripts and adjust protective orders to allow the public disclosure of financial documents, travel records, search warrants, and victim interview notes. Representatives of Epsteins estate stated they have no objection to releasing the records, given the governments commitment to redact sensitive information.

Author: Olivia Parker