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In a sharp courtroom rebuke, U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer strongly criticized Ghislaine Maxwell on December 22, 2025, for publicly disclosing names of confidential Epstein victims in exhibits attached to her self-filed habeas corpus petition. The judge ordered the documents immediately sealed and mandated redactions to protect victim identities, emphasizing the seriousness of the breach.
Maxwell, serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking minors in connection with Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes, filed the pro se petition on December 17, seeking to vacate her 2021 conviction. She cited “substantial new evidence” from civil cases, depositions, and disclosures, alleging constitutional violations including withheld exculpatory material and juror misconduct. However, the attached exhibits included unredacted information identifying victims not publicly named at trial—a direct violation of longstanding protective orders.
In his order, Judge Engelmayer stated that the exhibits “will be kept under seal and out of public view until they have been reviewed and appropriately redacted to protect the identities of victims.” He “reminded Maxwell, in strong terms,” that she is prohibited from including such identifying information in any public filings. Future submissions, he ruled, must be filed under seal pending review.
The incident has drawn outrage from victims’ advocates, who view it as a callous disregard for survivors’ privacy amid ongoing trauma. “This is retraumatizing,” one advocate said anonymously. “Victims have fought for anonymity to rebuild their lives, and Maxwell’s actions undermine that.”
The petition’s timing—filed days before the Justice Department began releasing Epstein-related files under the newly enacted Epstein Files Transparency Act—adds irony. That law, signed by President Trump in November, mandates disclosure with protections for victims. Maxwell’s filing leverages similar “new” sources while risking those very safeguards.
Legal experts note habeas petitions are rarely successful post-appeals, especially pro se ones. Maxwell’s prior appeals, including to the Supreme Court, were denied. Judge Engelmayer gave her until February 17, 2026, to indicate intent to incorporate Epstein files and until March 31 to file an amended petition.
As DOJ processes over a million newly discovered documents, delaying full compliance, Maxwell’s maneuver highlights tensions between transparency and victim protection. For survivors, the judge’s swift action reaffirms the court’s commitment to shielding those harmed by Epstein and Maxwell’s scheme—ensuring justice prioritizes healing over sensationalism.
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