Sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell set to launch legal appeal after $1million divorce deal
SEX trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell will this week launch an appeal against her conviction — having secured a million- dollar divorce deal.
Her challenge is expected now papers have been filed with a US judge to finalise her split from husband Scott Borgerson.
But under the terms of the settlement Maxwell will receive only a small portion of her fortune, estimated at £25million.
A source said: “Ghislaine has long been waiting for her appeal and she believes she has a technically strong case.
“However, even if her appeal is successful she wouldn’t have enough cash to fund a retrial.”
Maxwell, 61, transferred her fortune and property portfolio to a fund controlled by her tech entrpreneur husband while on the run.
But when their marriage broke down, Mr Borgerson, whom she married in 2016, refused to release funds to pay for her appeal or her legal bills.
A source said: “The papers for the divorce have been filed but it’s come at a price.
“Ghislaine used to live a life of unimaginable luxury of private jets and luxury yachts.
“But now, between her legal bills and the divorce she is broke.”
Maxwell was jailed for 20 years in June last year after she was found guilty of procuring teenage girls for her sex offender former lover Jeffrey Epstein.
Last year, Prince Andrew — a one-time close friend of Maxwell’s — agreed to pay a reported £12million to Virginia Giuffre to settle the sex assault case she brought against him.
Ms Giuffre claimed that the prince had sex with her on three occasions when she was 17, an allegation he has repeatedly denied.
The court heard that one girl, who was just 16 at the time, was given a naked massage by Maxwell.
Maxwell has hired lawyer Arthur Aidala, who represented disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.
Maxwell’s 30-page, 22,000- word appeal must be filed by Tuesday.
Her legal team will focus on technical claims that the judge in her case did not apply the law correctly.