Ghislaine Maxwell, a former associate of Jeffrey Epstein, has requested a federal judge to vacate her sex trafficking conviction and release her from a 20-year prison sentence. In her habeas petition, Maxwell asserts that substantial new evidence has emerged, indicating that constitutional violations compromised the integrity of her trial. She contends that critical information was withheld and that false testimony was presented to the jury, leading to a 'complete miscarriage of justice.'

A habeas petition is a legal mechanism that allows individuals in custody to challenge the legality of their detention, ensuring due process and protection against unlawful confinement. Maxwell's filing claims that the cumulative effect of the alleged constitutional violations would have led a reasonable juror to acquit her.

The petition was submitted shortly before the scheduled public release of records related to her case, mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by former President Donald Trump. This law requires the Justice Department to disclose various investigative materials by December 19, including search warrants and victim interview notes.

Maxwell was arrested in July 2020 and convicted in December 2021 for her role in Epstein's sex trafficking operation. Epstein, a financier, was arrested in July 2019 and died in custody a month later, with his death ruled a suicide. Following her conviction, Maxwell was transferred from a federal prison in Florida to a prison camp in Texas.

The Justice Department has indicated it will comply with the court's order to release the materials, which Maxwell's attorney argues could prejudice her case if unsealed. The materials reportedly do not implicate anyone other than Epstein and Maxwell in sexual misconduct involving minors.