NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge has rejected claims by Ghislaine Maxwell that new evidence has emerged that should grant her freedom following her sex trafficking conviction. Judge Paul A. Engelmayer said in a written ruling Tuesday (Aug. 25, 2026) that the claims by Jeffrey Epstein’s former gir lfriend and longtime associate were based on “speculation, distortions, and/or outright falsehoods.” He said Maxwell’s habeas petition seeking to set aside her conviction and free her from a 20-year prison sentence was “demonstrably meritless.” The Associated Press has sent a request for comment to lawyers who have represented Maxwell in the past. ...read more read less