Maxwell’s retrial arguments must be aired, judge rules

GHISLAINE MAXWELL’S lawyers cannot keep secret legal arguments used to claim she should be granted a new trial, a judge has ruled.

The socialite, 60, was convicted in December of conspiring to recruit and groom teenage girls to be abused by the financier Jeffrey Epstein, who took his own life in a New York City jail while awaiting trial.

Her lawyers raised concerns about the truthfulness of one of the jurors who convicted her, and contend that he failed to disclose during the jury selection process that he had been a victim of sexual abuse.

Maxwell has formally requested a retrial, and her lawyers claimed that filing their defence documents publicly would allow the juror to plan what he will say when questioned in court.

However, US District Judge Alison Nathan denied their request, saying doing so was not in the public interest.

The judge said neither public access to the documents nor any publicity that might ensue would not violate Maxwell’s right to fair proceedings.