On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer denied a petition filed by Ghislaine Maxwell, who sought to have her 2021 sex trafficking conviction vacated. Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence, represented herself in this habeas corpus petition, which argued that her detention was unlawful and that she deserved a new trial.

Judge Engelmayer dismissed the request, labeling the motion as "frivolous" and "meritless." The court noted that the arguments presented in the petition had been previously litigated and rejected during her original trial and subsequent appeals. The judge further remarked that the petition failed to provide any new evidence or legal grounds that would warrant overturning the jury's verdict. In his ruling, the judge suggested that the nature of the filing served only to further highlight the evidence against her rather than provide a valid defense.

While all sources agree on the outcome of the ruling, they differ in their characterization of the petition. The Hill focuses on the procedural aspect of the habeas petition and the judge's rejection of the longshot bid. Conversely, both the BBC and The Independent emphasize the judge’s harsh language, specifically highlighting his use of the term "frivolous" to describe Maxwell’s legal strategy. The Independent goes further by quoting the judge’s assertion that the attempt to overturn the conviction actually served to further incriminate her.