By Gabe WhisnantShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberGhislaine Maxwell plans to ask a court to release her from the 20-year sentence she is serving for sex trafficking, according to a letter filed in Manhattan federal court and reported first by The New York Times. The filing, submitted by her attorney David Oscar Markus, said she intends to bring a habeas petition but did not specify the arguments she will raise.
The letter also noted that Maxwell expects to submit the request on her own, without legal representation, according to The Times.
How Did Jeffrey Epstein Make His Money?
Jeffrey Epstein amassed his wealth through a mix of finance, consulting work and high-profile connections, though the true origins of his fortune remain murky. He began his career on Wall Street, later running his own firm that purported to manage assets for an extremely small number of wealthy clients. Epstein also cultivated relationships with influential figures in business and politics, which helped fuel both his reputation and access to elite social circles. Despite decades of scrutiny, investigators have never fully documented how he generated much of his income.
...Where Is Ghislaine Maxwell Now?
Ghislaine Maxwell is serving a 20-year federal sentence for sex trafficking and related crimes. After time in a Florida prison, she was transferred to a minimum-security federal camp in Texas, where she is currently held. The move came shortly before she was interviewed by senior Justice Department officials about the Epstein case.
Have the Epstein Files Been Released?
Most federal files related to Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes have not been publicly released. Congress recently passed a law requiring the Justice Department to disclose many of the records, but officials have said only limited materials will be made public. A letter issued by the department indicated there would be no further disclosures for now, frustrating lawmakers and members of the public who have sought greater transparency. Some names appear in the files, but officials have stressed that inclusion alone does not suggest criminal wrongdoing.
Updates: 12/3/25, 2:09 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
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