If she can’t have them, no one can.
Ghislaine Maxwell, the infamous associate of Jeffrey Epstein involved in sex trafficking, has opposed the Justice Department’s request to unseal grand jury transcripts from her case. Despite her efforts to access the records herself, Maxwell’s lawyers argue against the disclosure, stating that she is alive and fighting her legal battles.
Maxwell’s attorney, David Oscar Markus, emphasized that she is actively litigating her case and has no knowledge of the contents of the grand jury record, hence her opposition to the government’s motion to unseal it.
The push to keep the transcripts hidden follows Maxwell’s conviction in December 2021 for various sex crimes related to her involvement in Epstein’s abuse of young girls. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence and is seeking a review of her conviction by the US Supreme Court.
While the Department of Justice has argued for unsealing the transcripts citing public interest, they have acknowledged that much of the information in Maxwell’s testimony was already revealed during her trial. However, the grand jury testimony from Epstein’s case, as he never faced trial due to his death, may provide new insights into the extent of the abuse.
Despite the government’s efforts to unseal the transcripts, Maxwell’s legal team and Epstein victim Maria Farmer’s lawyer have urged for transparency to shed light on the abuse and those involved in enabling it.
Maxwell, aged 63, recently transferred to a Texas prison with a reputation for being more comfortable, raising questions about the reasons behind the move. The Department of Justice has not provided an explanation for relocating Maxwell to a facility typically reserved for shorter-term inmates.
