
Ghislaine Maxwell's family hint at using ‘new evidence' in shock bid to FREE her… as MAGA civil war erupts over Epstein
Maxwell, 63, was found guilty in December 2021 of luring young girls to massage rooms for paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein to molest them between 1994 and 2004.
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She was sentenced to 20 years in prison at the federal court in the southern district of New York (SDNY) in June 2022.
Maxwell's family has suggested that "government misconduct" could be used as new evidence to challenge her imprisonment.
The family argue that Maxwell should have been protected under an agreement Epstein entered with the Department of Justice in 2007 - in which they vowed not to prosecute any of his co-conspirators after he "paid fines to victims".
He family has frequently claimed she "did not receive a fair trial".
Although legal appeals against her sex trafficking convictions have been rejected by the courts.
In a statement, the disgraced socialite's family said: "Our sister Ghislaine did not receive a fair trial.
"Her legal team continues to fight her case in the courts and will file its reply in short order to the government's opposition in the US Supreme Court.
"If necessary, in due course they will also file a writ of habeas corpus in the US district court, SDNY.
"This allows her to challenge her imprisonment on the basis of new evidence such as government misconduct that would have likely changed the trial's outcome."
Judges previously dismissed her lawyers' arguments that she "should never have been prosecuted" because of a "weird" agreement drafted more than 15 years ago - concluding that the Florida agreement "does not bind" the United States Attorney's Office for the SDNY.
The US Justice Department has reportedly written to the Supreme Court to ask a judge to further deny Maxwell's appeal against her convictions.
During her three-week trial in 2021, jurors heard prosecutors describe Maxwell as "dangerous", and were told details of how she helped entice vulnerable teenagers to Epstein's various properties for him to sexually abuse.
It comes as The Sun on Sunday exclusively revealed that Maxwell was seeking a pardon from Donald Trump.
Her legal team believes the former socialite has a 'window of momentum' after the Jeffrey Epstein inquiry was brought to an abrupt close in the US.
A source said: "Those close to her believe it's unfair that she alone is paying for Epstein's crimes and call into question much of the evidence against her.
'Now her legal team feel as if they have a rare window of momentum so they are set to take up her case with the President."
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MAGA CIVIL WAR
Trump's MAGA camp has been left divided over a lack of clarity regarding the release of the hyped files in Epstein's sex trafficking investigation.
The US Department of Justice (DoJ) and FBI's decision to close the Epstein inquiry has sparked fury among Trump's base.
DoJ last week announced that Epstein died by suicide - although conspiracy theories are to the contrary.
They added that there was no 'incriminating client list' to be revealed to the public - and no further revelations would be made regarding the case.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi had suggested in February that Epstein's supposed client list was sitting on her desk waiting for review.
Though last week she appeared to suggest she'd been referring generally to the Epstein case file, not a client list.
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Bondi said: "I did an interview on Fox, and it's been getting a lot of attention because I said I was asked a question about the client list, and my response was, it's sitting on my desk to be reviewed.
"Meaning the file, along with the JFK, MLK files as well. That's what I meant by that."
Meanwhile, Trump insisted the much-hyped documents are "pretty boring" amid a slew of conspiracies surrounding the death of Epstein - and his so-called client list.
Many within Trump's MAGA movement allege that the files about the paedophile's crimes have been withheld to protect big names.
Last night, Trump said the DoJ should release all "credible" information from its probe into the notorious sex criminal.
Though he repeated his claim that the so-called Epstein files were "made up" by his Democratic predecessors in the White House - even though he said multiple times during the election campaign that he would "probably" release them.
He told reporters in the White House: "I don't understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody.
"It's pretty boring stuff."
THE 'EPSTEIN FILES'
One key theory centres on a rumoured client list of individuals who committed sex offences alongside Epstein.
The Trump administration has insisted that no such list exists.
Trump was himself dragged into the conspiracy theories after his former advisor Elon Musk claimed in June -- in a now-deleted X post -- that Trump was "in the Epstein files".
His administration's efforts to appease demands for a full disclosure of the files have largely fallen short.
A bundle released in February that promised to shed light on the Epstein case contained little new information.
Sceptics also allege suspicious circumstances in Epstein's death, such as the security cameras around his cell apparently malfunctioning on the night he died, alongside other irregularities.
An almost 11-hour video published this month to dispel theories that Epstein was murdered fell flat.
The camera angle showed a section of the New York prison on the night Epstein died - but appeared to be missing a minute of footage, fueling more speculation online.
Bondi explained that the lost minute in the footage - which occurs at 11.59pm - was due to the prison's outdated system.
The missing minute happens at 11.59pm - with the time switching from 11.58.59pm to midnight.
Bondi said: "There was a minute that was off the counter, and what we learned from the Bureau of Prisons is every night they redo that video… every night should have the same minute missing."
A memo from the Justice Department and FBI last week saying the Epstein files did not contain evidence that would justify further investigation was met by calls for the heads of each agency to resign.
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Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
CNN interrupted for major breaking news which could have 'huge impact' on Donald Trump
A breaking news story halted proceedings on CNN and the future outcome could have ramifications for president Donald Trump. The news organisation broke to breaking news to inform that Ghislaine Maxwell has been granted a form of limited immunity to talk during her meetings with Department of Justice officials. CNN news reporter Erin Burnett read out live on air: "We are just learning this hour that Jeffrey Epstein's ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell was granted limited immunity in order to talk with Trump's personal attorney turned deputy attorney general, Todd Blanch." The British socialite and former ex-girlfriend of convicted sex offender Epstein met with Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche on multiple occasions this week. It's said she was the one who initiated the meetings. The limited immunity means that anything Maxwell said that was truthful couldn't be used against her in the future. According to her attorney, David Oscar Markus, during the past days worth of talks, Maxwell was asked questions by DOJ on "maybe about 100 different people". He told CNN and other reporters, she answered the questions put to her and "didn't hold anything back". It's said Maxwell spoke for nine hours over the two days. Trump is mentioned within the Epstein files, with has name appearing multiple times on flight logs for Epstein's private plane in the 1990s. However, it is unknown whether Maxwell's questions involved the president. Trump had said earlier he hasn't thought about giving Maxwell a pardon or commutation for her cooperation. However he hadn't ruled it out. He explained how he is "allowed to do it" but hasn't thought about it. After Maxwell's arrest in connection to Epstein's crimes in 2020, Trump had said: "I do wish her well. I'm not looking for anything bad for her." Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in jail for trafficking underage girls. She was convicted of five charges in December 2021 for recruiting and grooming four girls to have sexual encounters with Epstein, then her boyfriend, between 1994 and 2004 following a month-long trial. Before imposing a 20-year sentence, Judge Nathan summarised the cases of several of the victims. She said Maxwell and Epstein used a "playbook" over the years, and the result was "incalculable" damage to their victims. "The sentence I impose must reflect the gravity of Ms Maxwell's conduct," she said. 'A substantial sentence will send an unmistakable message that those who engage in the sexual abuse and trafficking of underage victims will be held accountable by the law. 'The rule of law demands, and this court agrees, that whether you are rich or powerful or entirely unknown, nobody is above the law." Judge Nathan added: 'It is important to emphasise that although Epstein was central to this criminal scheme, Ms Maxwell is not being punished in place of Epstein or as a proxy for Epstein." She went on to call the crimes "heinous and predatory'. Maxwell continues to appeal her conviction. The initial appeal against her convictions was rejected by a US court in September last year. She currently isn't eligible for release from prison until July 2037.


The Independent
2 hours ago
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Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
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Lone protester slams Donald Trump at golf course with brutal Scottish insult
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Trump was seen playing golf on Saturday morning, and was shuttled around the course in a 15-strong motorcade of golf buggies. He wore a white USA baseball cap, and waved at photographers gathered outside the course's fence. The sole protester at Turnberry - Matt Halliday, 55, from Stranraer - came to Turnberry today bearing two placards. One featured a picture of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, and another of a set of bagpipes. The message read: "TRUMP GO HOME: The only "blowhard" pumped up windbags that we want to listen to are these bad boys". The second placard was much less family friendly. "I'm here to show my displeasure at Trump being here," he told the Mirror. "I just find him morally repugnant. I see what he's doing in the states, rolling back civil rights for women and minorities, folk getting lifted from their houses, medicaid getting taken away - and he comes here and thinks he's got the authority to pontificate to us. "Because he wants us to do the same, and he'll try and bully us through tariffs and trade - similar to Canada which he wants to make the 51st state. "That's what's coming for us if we don't stand up to him." Protests raged in Edinburgh and Aberdeen today, with thousands expressing their displeasure at Trump's arrival. In Aberdeen, the group that gathered in the city centre were seen waving banners with anti-Trump slogans - with one demonstrator even dressed as the president with a large papier mache head. As speeches ended at the rally, chants of "Trump Trump Trump, out out out" could be heard, along with "Donald, Donald, hear us shout, all of Scotland wants you out". But the winding roads and windswept beaches of South Ayrshire, where Turnberry sits, remained calm and quiet. 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Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Mr Halliday said he was "very" disappointed to have arrived in Turnberry to find no other protesters - but he said he thought most people had gone to Edinburgh instead. Mr Halliday said he was "very" disappointed to have arrived in Turnberry to find no other protesters - but he said he thought most people had gone to the Edinburgh rally instead. 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She said there was more anger towards Trump following his first inauguration in 2017, but added: "Especially after those immigration ICE raids, I think the anger has now come back. "Because he's even worse than he was the first time."