In her appeal, Maxwell’s lawyers said prosecutors scapegoated her because Epstein was dead and “public outrage” demanded that prosecutors pin blame somewhere.
The lawyers also said the government waited too long to bring charges, and that Maxwell was immune under a 2007 non-prosecution agreement between Epstein and federal prosecutors in Florida.
In addition, Maxwell’s lawyers said the trial was tainted because one juror failed to disclose he had been sexually abused as a child.
Prosecutors believe the appeal is meritless.
No, by that logic, no woman who has been raped could sit on the jury. Being a victim of a specific crime is an extra level of negative association, and are often looking to punish people, overlooking evidence that exonerated them.
Do I think Maxwell is innocent? Absolutely not. Is there a chance for a mistrial here? Definitely a chance.
The “joke” is that virtually no woman hasn’t been sexually assaulted.