• Ghislaine Maxwell's appeal to overturn her conviction was rejected by a US judge.
• The judge described her claims as "frivolous" and "meritless."
• Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.
• Her bid relied on newly released Epstein files, which the judge found incriminating.
• Maxwell previously failed to overturn her conviction in a Supreme Court appeal.

Ghislaine Maxwell has experienced a significant setback as a U.S. judge denied her attempt to overturn her five felony convictions related to aiding Jeffrey Epstein in sex trafficking. U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer called Maxwell's claims “frivolous” and “meritless,” rejecting her arguments as lacking relevance and substance, according to Reuters and BBC.

Maxwell, 64, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence, attempted to highlight alleged violations of her constitutional rights during her trial and sentencing. However, Judge Engelmayer emphasized that the evidence she presented from newly released Epstein files contradicted her claims and reinforced previous court rulings, indicating that her petition was “lengthy and rambling,” according to CBS News and Al Jazeera.

Engelmayer also noted that Maxwell's assertions about suffering from unfair treatment while other Epstein associates were not pursued were unfounded, as she had not implicated anyone else in her defense. Her claims regarding the handling of Epstein-related materials in court, including allegations of trial mismanagement, were dismissed as lacking merit, fortifying the judge's decision against her appeal, according to Reuters, BBC, and CBS News.