Judge denies Ghislaine Maxwell new trial, will question juror on sex abuse claims

The UK socialite was convicted for sex trafficking, but the verdict was thrown into doubt because one juror did not disclose his history as a victim

The juror later revealed he shared his experiences of being abused as a child with other members of the jury during deliberations

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An undated picture released by the US attorney’s office shows British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell kissing US financier Jeffrey Epstein on the cheek. Photo: US Attorney Office via dpa

Published: 6:50am, 25 Feb 2022

A US judge on Thursday will question a juror in Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex trafficking case who failed to disclose having been sexually abused as a child.

US District Judge Alison Nathan in Manhattan also denied Maxwell’s bid for a new trial, at least until after a March 8 hearing when the Manhattan man known as Juror 50 will testify under oath in open court.

Nathan said Maxwell had met the “high” legal standard to obtain a post-verdict hearing.

Maxwell, 60, was convicted on December 29 of five of the six counts she faced for aiding the late financier Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse of underage girls.

A selection of headlines from British newspapers is seen at a store in London on December 30, the morning after a jury in New York found Ghislaine Maxwell guilty of recruiting and grooming young girls to be sexually abused by the late American financier Jeffrey Epstein. Photo: AFP

The British socialite faces up to 65 years in prison.