A federal judge in Manhattan has denied a request by Ghislaine Maxwell. She had asked for the motion she filed for a new trial to be kept under seal as it was not in the public interest. However, Judge Alison Nathan denied the motion, on Friday, saying that it would not violate her right to fair proceedings.
Judge Alison J. Nathan wrote in her ruling that the court was unpersuaded by Maxwell’s concern that “media interest in the motions warrants temporary sealing of the documents in their entirety.”
Ghislaine Maxwell. a former partner of accused pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, was found guilty of five charges of sex trafficking. Underage girls alleged that she was a partner in the crimes committed by Epstein. They said that she was the one who groomed them to satisfy the urges of billionaire Epstein, in his various mansions and properties across the world.
Both Jeffrey Epstein and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell led a high profile life and had influential friends including Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton and Donald Trump. Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide before his trial came up. This was also highly controversial as there were rumors that he was killed as he knew too much, although his death was ruled as a suicide.
Ghislaine Maxwell faces up to 65 years in jail. She is scheduled to be sentenced on June 28. After her conviction, a juror Scotty David told media that he had shared experiences of being sexually abused and that had swayed the jury. Another juror also shared a personal story of facing abuse and Maxwell’s lawyers say that a third juror also spoke of being abused.
After these revelations were made to the media, Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyers have filed a new motion. They are reportedly looking for a new trial or an acquittal.
Maxwell’s lawyers have reportedly asked the court to vacate her convictions. They want the court to acquit her despite the jury’s verdict on multiple counts. They say that the prosecutors failed to prove the case on Ghislaine Maxwell beyond a reasonable doubt.
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