Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyers try to block release of ‘sex trafficking’ deposition
British socialite argues that unsealing the documents would prevent her right to fair trial
Ghislaine Maxwell has launched a legal bid to prevent the release of a deposition containing “testimony about intimate matters” from a previous case relating to her relationship with late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
During a civil lawsuit in 2016, Epstein’s key accuser, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, claimed that Maxwell trafficked her as a teenager to become a sex slave for the billionaire financier. Guiffre also alleged that Maxwell and Epstein pressured her to have sex with other wealthy and powerful men, including Prince Andrew.
Following Maxwell’s arrest this summer for alleged sex crimes, conspiracy and perjury linked to Epstein, Manhattan federal court judge Loretta Preska ordered that the 418-page deposition from the previous case be unsealed. Maxwell secured a delay, however.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The British socialite is now urging the US Circuit Court of Appeals in New York to reverse Preska’s decision, arguing that unsealing the deposition “will lead to a violation of [her] due process right to a fair trial by an impartial jury” in the on-going criminal case.
The row “stems from a legal push by the Miami Herald” to have the files released, The Guardian reports. A lawyer for the newspaper told a panel of three judges on Tuesday that documents relating “to the sex trafficking of young girls for years on behalf of the wealthy and the powerful” have been “kept secret for too long”.
The judges will issue a written ruling at a later date, but “appeared unconvinced” by the arguments made by Maxwell’s lawyers, says The Independent.
Maxwell, who is being held in federal custody in Brooklyn, did not attend the hearing. She has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Prince Andrew also denies the allegations against him relating to Epstein, who was found hanged in his prison cell last August while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Chas Newkey-Burden has been part of The Week Digital team for more than a decade and a journalist for 25 years, starting out on the irreverent football weekly 90 Minutes, before moving to lifestyle magazines Loaded and Attitude. He was a columnist for The Big Issue and landed a world exclusive with David Beckham that became the weekly magazine’s bestselling issue. He now writes regularly for The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Independent, Metro, FourFourTwo and the i new site. He is also the author of a number of non-fiction books.
-
The history of Donald Trump's election conspiracy theories
The Explainer How the 2024 Republican nominee has consistently stoked baseless fears of a stolen election
By David Faris Published
-
Two ancient cities have been discovered along the Silk Road
Under the radar The discovery changed what was known about the old trade route
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
'People shouldn't have to share the road with impaired drivers'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
The Epstein papers: what do they reveal?
Talking Points Documents adding new detail to existing claims cause 'new furore'
By The Week UK Published
-
Epstein files released: Prince Andrew back in the spotlight
Talking Points Duke of York named in nearly 1,000 pages of newly released court files
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Inside FCI Tallahassee: the low-security prison where Ghislaine Maxwell can ‘teach yoga and bake’
In Depth Former socialite convicted of trafficking underage girls not eligible for release until 2037
By The Week Staff Published
-
What we know about the Copenhagen mall shooting
Speed Read Lone gunman had mental health issues and not thought to have terror motive, police say
By The Week Staff Published
-
Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell sentenced to 20 years for sex trafficking
Speed Read
By Grayson Quay Published
-
Texas school shooting: parents turn anger on police
Speed Read Officers had to be urged to enter building where gunman killed 21 people
By The Week Staff Published
-
DJ Tim Westwood denies multiple sexual misconduct allegations
Speed Read At least seven women accuse the radio and TV presenter of predatory behaviour dating back three decades
By The Week Staff Published
-
What happened to Katie Kenyon?
Speed Read Man charged as police search for missing 33-year-old last seen getting into van
By The Week Staff Last updated