Maxwell challenges conviction as Gates testifies over Epstein ties

Maxwell challenges conviction as Gates testifies over Epstein ties
Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein in a DOJ-released image; Bill Gates leaves a closed-door House Oversight Committee interview on Epstein investigation.
AnewZ/Reuters

New developments linked to Jeffrey Epstein have brought renewed attention to his former associate Ghislaine Maxwell and billionaire Bill Gates. Maxwell is seeking to overturn her conviction, while Gates testified before Congress about his past interactions with the late financier.

Ghislaine Maxwell has argued in a new court filing that recently released Jeffrey Epstein documents contain evidence that her rights were violated before she was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison for helping Epstein abuse teenage girls.

Maxwell, who is seeking to overturn her 2021 conviction, filed a habeas corpus petition claiming her trial was unfair.

Prosecutors rejected the claims, saying they were either submitted too late or lacked legal basis.

Maxwell claims legal process was unfair

Maxwell argued that documents released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act showed that lawyers representing Epstein’s accusers acted as “de facto prosecutors” and influenced the case against her.

She also accused prosecutors of failing to properly investigate evidence, saying their actions led to an “unsafe conviction.”

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton rejected the claims, saying Maxwell had failed to prove that her trial was unfair or that her conviction should be overturned.

"In short, the defendant for multiple, independent reasons- utterly fails to carry her burden to overturn her proper conviction and just sentence," Clayton said in a court filing also made public on Wednesday.

Gates questioned over Epstein ties

Billionaire Bill Gates testified before the House Oversight Committee that he never interacted with Epstein’s victims but acknowledged he may have been in their presence.

Gates said his relationship with Epstein was strictly professional and denied witnessing or participating in any misconduct.

“I may have been in the presence of victims,” Gates said.

The testimony was part of a congressional investigation into Epstein’s network following the release of additional documents related to the convicted sex offender.

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