In a surprising legal maneuver, Ghislaine Maxwell, the former associate of Jeffrey Epstein and a convicted accomplice, intends to petition for her release from a Texas minimum-security prison. This comes as part of an effort to represent herself in upcoming legal proceedings, according to a recent letter from her prominent attorney.

Maxwell, who was relocated from Florida to the Federal Prison Camp Bryan earlier this year after consenting to an interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, is expected to file a habeas corpus petition soon. Her attorney, David Oscar Markus, communicated this plan to a federal judge in a formal correspondence.

In his letter to Judge Paul Engelmayer, Markus referenced the Epstein Transparency Act, recently signed into law by President Trump. “Ms. Maxwell does not oppose the government’s motion to unseal the grand jury transcripts and revise the protective order,” Markus wrote, highlighting her neutral stance on the matter.

Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell were both charged with federal sex trafficking offenses related to Epstein’s long-standing exploitation of underage girls, a scandal that has captivated the public and media alike.

Markus further elaborated, “Ms. Maxwell plans to soon file a habeas petition in her own defense. The release of grand jury materials from her case, which consist of allegations that remain unverified and unexamined, would cause undue prejudice. Such a disclosure could severely compromise the fairness of any potential retrial, should Ms. Maxwell’s habeas petition be granted.”

He did not elaborate on her reasoning for the petition.

Ghislaine Maxwell is seen walking in her minimum-security prison camp in Texas on Sept. 20, 2025. (Matthew Symons/Mirrorpix/Mega)

Habeas petitions have a high burden of proof and often come once other appeals have failed, experts tell Fox News Digital.

“It appears from the filing that Ms. Maxwell is attempting to shield herself from the materials that will be released pursuant to the president’s order regarding the Epstein materials to protect her appellate rights, specifically her anticipated habeas corpus petition,” said James Leonard Jr., a New Jersey-based criminal defense attorney.

Annie Farmer, who has accused Jeffrey Epstein of abuse, stands with her lawyer outside of Manhattan Federal Court after the sentencing of Ghislaine Maxwell on June 28, 2022, in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

“Habeas motions are typically the final step in the appeals process and they are seldom granted as the burden is extremely high on the defendant and it appears that Ms. Maxwell is taking that step without a lawyer, which makes her being successful even more difficult,” he added.

Sigrid McCawley, an attorney for Epstein victim Annie Farmer, wrote in a separate court filing that her client supported the government’s move to unseal grand jury transcripts and other evidence in the case.