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
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 releaseCNCTV 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 HerPenPennLive1w+Federal judge rejects Ghislaine Maxwell’s ‘miscarriage of justice’ claims and bid for prison releaseabcabc27 (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 releaseLeft 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.
CBS News1w+Judge rejects Ghislaine Maxwell's effort to overturn sex-trafficking conviction and sentence
The Independent1w+Ghislaine Maxwell’s bid to toss sex trafficking conviction rejected by judge
Al Jazeera1w+US judge denies Ghislaine Maxwell’s ‘frivolous’ bid to throw out conviction
HuffPost1w+Federal Judge Rejects Ghislaine Maxwell's Bid For Prison Release
Los Angeles Times1w+Federal judge rejects Ghislaine Maxwell's 'miscarriage of justice' claims and bid for prison release
Mediaite1w+JUST IN: Judge Rejects Ghislaine Maxwell’s Bid for Freedom as ‘Demonstrably Meritless’MeiMeidasTouch1w+Court Crushes Ghislaine Maxwell’s Latest Escape AttemptMHMiami Herald1w+‘Meritless:’ Judge rejects Maxwell’s claim to toss her prison sentence
MSNBC1w+Judge denies Ghislaine Maxwell’s petition for release from prison
NBC News1w+Judge rejects Ghislaine Maxwell’s bid to toss conviction and warns against further appeals
Raw Story1w+Trump becomes Ghislaine Maxwell’s last hope as judge ends ‘frivolous’ release bidTBGThe Boston Globe1w+Judge rejects Ghislaine Maxwell’s bid for prison releaseRight 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 convictionWhat’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.