OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Ghislaine Maxwell, the former partner of disgraced financier, the late Jeffrey Epstein, is planning to appeal her prison sentence.
The former socialite will appeal her two-decade sentence for child sex trafficking later this week, The Daily Mail reported.
The 20,000-word appeal will be filed by her high-powered attorney Arthur Aidala, who also represented Harvey Weinstein, by the deadline on Tuesday.
A source said that the appeal will focus on the fact that a juror spoke to his psychologist during the trial, which they allege was in violation of the law.
“The juror admitted he called his psychiatrist during deliberations because he was so upset. This is in clear violation of the judge’s order not to discuss the case with anyone,” the source said. “It doesn’t matter that he was calling a medical professional. He clearly broke the rules and violated the jurors’ oath which gives strong grounds for appeal.”
Scotty David, who was juror 50, also admitted later that he was a victim of sexual abuse which assisted him in convincing other jurors to see things his way which was something he did not disclose prior to the trial.
“Her lawyers will argue that Ms. Maxwell was not tried by 12 fair and impartial jurors,” the source said.
In October, 2022 she came forward with some new information about her “special friendship” with a former President of the United States.
That friend was former President Bill Clinton whose friendship she described as “special,” she said in an exclusive interview with The Daily Mail.
“It was a special friendship, which continued over the years,” she said of her friendship with the former president.
“We had lots in common. I feel bad that he is another victim, only because of his association with Jeffrey. I understand that he, like others, can no longer consider me as a friend.
“I said in open court in my statement that meeting Jeffrey Epstein was the greatest mistake of my life,” she said.
“And obviously, if I could go back today and I would avoid meeting him, and I would say that would be the greatest mistake I’ve ever made, and I would make different choices for where I would work. Obviously,” she said.
“I think there are many women who can identify with my story. Many have either fallen in love with or had relationships with men that in hindsight they look back on and say ‘What was I thinking?’ I imagine there’s not a woman on the planet who would not think that about one or other of their boyfriends,” the former socialite said.
“There were things to mention here about him that I cannot discuss because of the appeal, but I can’t say anything more than that.
“All this is a fictional version of me.
“It has been created to fit the storyline. It has nothing to do with who I am.
“So many people contribute to the fake, created version, like a Disney character, the Wicked Witch if you will,” she said, before going on to say she is frightened of what will happen to her in prison.
“Jails are dangerous.
“And, actually, given what I have seen and witnessed in jail – guards selling drugs and being inappropriate in every way, I have seen all those things and therefore feel prisons are not safe spaces.
“Until you’ve been here, you really don’t understand how appalling it is.
“I would tell anybody to do everything possible to avoid coming to jail,” she said.
She also spoke about her former friendship with Prince Andrew.
“Yes, I follow what is happening to him,” she said. “He is paying such a price for the association with Jeffrey Epstein. I care about him, and I feel so bad for him.
“There are many people who have been impacted by this story who have been canceled, some friends of mine who never even met Epstein lost their jobs. People who literally had nothing to do with him whatsoever have been canceled.
“So I think for all those people, including some of them who never met him, it’s been a very heavy price that has been paid due to the cancel culture. So, you know, from that perspective, I think it’s been very difficult for a lot of people,” the former socialite said.
“I accept that this friendship could not survive my conviction.
“I don’t have an expectation. People who I have been friends with – and very close friends with – whoever they may be, well, I can’t think about what they will want to do or not do. I can only control what I do,” she said.
