Ghislaine Maxwell challenges release of Epstein documents
On February 21, 2026, lawyers for imprisoned British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell filed legal papers in Manhattan federal court seeking to block the release of approximately 90,000 pages of documents related to her and Jeffrey Epstein. The documents originate from a civil defamation lawsuit filed by Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre against Maxwell roughly a decade ago.
Maxwell’s attorneys argue that the Epstein Files Transparency Act, recently passed by Congress, is unconstitutional because it infringes on the judiciary’s authority to control court records. They contend that the materials, which include deposition transcripts and private information, were improperly obtained by the Department of Justice during Maxwell’s criminal prosecution.
The legal challenge comes as the U.S. Justice Department has been releasing Epstein‑related records under the transparency law, increasing public access to information about Epstein’s criminal activities and associated legal proceedings. Maxwell’s attorneys seek to prevent disclosure while the court reviews the constitutionality of the law.
