Updated 1w+ ago · Politics

Judge Rejects Maxwell's Bid to Overturn Epstein Conviction

U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer rejected Maxwell's habeas petition Tuesday, ruling her claims rested on 'speculation, distortions, and/or outright falsehoods.' Her 20-year sentence stands.

67 pages long, Engelmayer's ruling called her filing 'lengthy and rambling.'
2.5 million pages of Epstein files Maxwell cited actually 'incriminates her,' the judge wrote.
Maxwell filed the December petition herself, without legal representation.
Engelmayer also denied the certificate needed for Maxwell to appeal his decision.

Why it matters: The ruling effectively ends Maxwell's court options after a string of losses spanning three years.

Her conviction was upheld on appeal in 2024; the Supreme Court declined her case last year.

How 48 sources split on this story

Source landscape

Factuality

High

Mixed

Low

Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right

Political Bias

Coverage by lean% of 48 sources

48 sources · 57 articles · 44% Center coverage

Where they split: Coverage agrees on the ruling's outcome but diverges on emphasis: left-leaning outlets highlight the judge's constitutional analysis, while Forbes centers on the pardon question and Trump's relationship with Maxwell.

Center coverage, 21 sources: The center presents the ruling factually as the latest in a series of failed appeals, with the habeas petition as a last legal resort now exhausted.

Associated Press1w+Federal judge rejects Ghislaine Maxwell's 'miscarriage of justice' claim and bid for prison release CTV News1w+Federal judge rejects Ghislaine Maxwell's 'miscarriage of justice' claims and bid for prison release Reuters1w+Juiz dos EUA rejeita anular condenação de Ghislaine Maxwell por auxílio a Jeffrey Epstein Forbes1w+Trump Could Be Ghislaine Maxwell’s Last Hope—But Still Unclear If He’ll Pardon Her PennLive1w+Federal judge rejects Ghislaine Maxwell’s ‘miscarriage of justice’ claims and bid for prison release abc27 (WHTM)1w+Federal judge declines Ghislaine Maxwell's bid to toss conviction Axios1w+Ghislaine Maxwell's bid to overturn conviction rejected BBC News1w+US judge rejects Ghislaine Maxwell's 'frivolous' appeal against conviction Jerusalem Post1w+Ghislaine Maxwell loses bid to throw out conviction for aiding Jeffrey Epstein Law and Crime1w+Ghislaine Maxwell pointed finger at '25 unindicted' Epstein 'co-conspirators' to get out of prison, but a judge saw right through it Newsweek1w+Ghislaine Maxwell's prison release denied by Obama-appointed judge PBS NewsHour1w+Federal judge rejects Ghislaine Maxwell's 'miscarriage of justice' claim and bid for prison release Sky News1w+Ghislaine Maxwell loses bid to overturn sex trafficking conviction The Hill1w+Federal judge declines Maxwell bid to toss conviction The National Desk1w+Federal judge declines Ghislaine Maxwell's conviction challenge Times of Israel1w+Federal judge rejects Ghislaine Maxwell’s bid for release from prison TMZ1w+Federal Judge Rejects Ghislaine Maxwell's Bid to Get Out of Prison USA Today1w+Judge refuses to overturn Ghislaine Maxwell's convictions WFLA News Channel 81w+Federal judge declines Ghislaine Maxwell's bid to toss conviction WKBN Youngstown1w+Federal judge declines Ghislaine Maxwell's bid to toss conviction Yahoo News1w+Ghislaine Maxwell loses bid to throw out conviction for aiding Jeffrey Epstein

Left coverage, 13 sources: The left frames the ruling as a straightforward legal defeat, emphasizing the judge's sharp language about constitutional violations Maxwell failed to prove.

Right coverage, 14 sources: The right foregrounds the pardon angle, noting Trump's prior social ties to Maxwell and the political calculus surrounding any clemency decision.

Daily Mail1w+Judge slaps down Ghislaine Maxwell's bid for release Just the News1w+Judge rejects Ghislaine Maxwell's request to toss conviction, says her claims are meritless The Epoch Times1w+Judge Rejects Ghislaine Maxwell’s Bid for New Trial Fox News1w+Federal judge slaps down Ghislaine Maxwell petition for new trial as ‘rambling,’ ‘meritless’Hot Air1w+Federal Judge to Ghislaine Maxwell: Thanks for Proving the Jury's Point New York Post1w+Judge brutally slaps down Ghislaine Maxwell’s bid to free herself Newsmax1w+Ghislaine Maxwell Loses Bid to Throw Out Conviction for Aiding Epstein NTD1w+Judge Rejects Ghislaine Maxwell’s Bid for New Trial One America News1w+Judge rejects Ghislaine Maxwell’s latest bid to overturn 20-year sentence, saying her petition was 'lengthy and rambling'RedState1w+Ghislaine Maxwell Claims New Epstein Files Help Her Case - This Judge Says Quite the Opposite The Gateway Pundit1w+Federal Judge Slams Ghislaine Maxwell’s Petition, Denies Yet Another Attempt by Epstein’s Co-Conspirator To Overturn Her Conviction and 20-Year Prison Sentence * The Gateway Pundit * by Paul Serran The Washington Times1w+Judge upholds Ghislaine Maxwell's conviction Washington Examiner1w+Judge denies Ghislaine Maxwell’s bid to toss conviction over miscarriage of justice ZeroHedge1w+Ghislaine Maxwell To Rot In Prison After Judge Denies Bid For New Trial

What’s next: Maxwell's attorney David Oscar Markus has said she will seek a Trump pardon when Epstein coverage fades.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in February Trump is not considering a pardon.
Whether Trump will ultimately pardon or grant clemency to Maxwell remains unresolved.
No new criminal charges have resulted from the Justice Department's review of the Epstein files or interviews.