Judge rejects Ghislaine Maxwell’s bid to toss sex trafficking conviction

Maxwell, representing herself, sought to overturn the 2021 guilty verdict over sex trafficking girls and women for Jeffrey Epstein.MANHATTAN (CN) — A federal judge on Tuesday rejected Ghislaine Maxwell’s request to overturn her sex trafficking conviction, finding the jurors in her 2021 trial had “overwhelming” evidence to find her guilty.In a 67-page order, U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer slammed Maxwell’s “lengthy and rambling petition” to toss the jury’s finding that she recruited and coordinated underage girls for sexual abuse by infamous pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.“Maxwell’s claims are all meritless and all or almost all are frivolous,” wrote Engelmayer, a Barack Obama appointee in the Southern District of New York.Maxwell, 64, represented herself in the December motion, filed from federal prison in seven detached segments and twice supplemented with additional filings. She argued a myriad of new evidence has surfaced since her trial that justifies tossing her guilty verdict.She claimed that, following Epstein’s death in federal custody in 2019, the Department of Justice rushed to prosecute her as a scapegoat. Maxwell argued the government could have gone after other supposed Epstein associates but targeted only her “for expediency and purely political motives.”Engelmayer was unconvinced, writing in his Tuesday ruling, “this claim is patently frivolous.”“Far from being discriminatory or unjust, this was the epitome of a virtuous prosecution,” the judge wrote. “The government and the jury justly held Maxwell accountable for gravely serious federal offenses.”Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads