Applaud the Court for Keeping Ghislaine Maxwell’s Conviction

Ghislaine Maxwell will remain behind bars after a federal judge rejected her latest attempt to overturn her sex-trafficking conviction and 20-year prison sentence.

U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer denied Maxwell’s habeas petition, calling her effort “demonstrably meritless” and finding that none of her arguments could reasonably change the outcome of her trial. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 on charges related to recruiting, grooming, and trafficking underage girls for Jeffrey Epstein.

Maxwell argued that newly released Epstein-related documents undermined her conviction, but the judge found the opposite: He said the records either incriminated her or reinforced the evidence that led the jury to find her guilty.

Survivors of sexual exploitation deserve a justice system that takes their experiences seriously and holds powerful people accountable. After a jury conviction, years of appeals, and extensive judicial review, Maxwell should not escape accountability through unsupported claims that courts have repeatedly rejected.

The ruling is also an important reminder that wealth, influence, and powerful connections do not place someone above the law. Accountability matters, especially when the crimes involve the exploitation and abuse of vulnerable people.

Add your name to applaud Judge Paul Engelmayer for upholding Ghislaine Maxwell’s conviction, respecting the jury’s verdict, and ensuring accountability for the exploitation and trafficking of underage girls.

(Image Source: Andrew Savulich / TNS via Getty Images file)