Maxwell Defense Files Motion for New Trial Over Sex Trafficking Charges

Dave Paone
By Dave Paone
January 20, 2022New York
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Maxwell Defense Files Motion for New Trial Over Sex Trafficking Charges
Ghislaine Maxwell, the Epstein associate accused of sex trafficking, watches as Lawrence Visoski, longtime pilot of the late Jeffrey Epstein, is cross-examined during her trial in a courtroom sketch in New York, on Nov. 30, 2021. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)

NEW YORK—Ghislaine Maxwell’s defense team filed a motion in federal court on Dec. 19 requesting a new trial for the British socialite.

On Dec. 29 Maxwell was found guilty of five out of six sex-trafficking charges on behalf of the late convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Accompanying exhibits for the new trial request are under seal.

At the center of the motion is Juror No. 50, who had recently stated publicly he was a victim of childhood sexual abuse and made this known to his fellow jurors during deliberations.

The prosecution had previously requested there be an inquiry into the juror and the defense had previously requested a new trial.

On Jan. 5, Judge Alison Nathan set a briefing schedule with Jan. 19 as the date the defense could officially file a motion for a new trial. The prosecution could respond on Feb. 2 and the defense could reply to that on Feb. 9.

The prosecution informed Nathan on Jan. 10 that if there’s no new trial it will drop its two outstanding perjury charges against Maxwell.

On Jan. 14 Nathan scheduled Maxwell’s sentencing for June 28.

From The Epoch Times