Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyers complained to a court about anonymity for an "accuser who has told her story most publicly on Netflix, ABC News, and the New York Times," a filing seen by Newsweek has revealed.
The British socialite has asked to keep salacious details of her sex life with "consenting adults" out of her Jeffrey Epstein trafficking case.
Prosecutors have argued some details should be unsealed, citing the fact they are already in the public domain.
However, in defense of her own privacy, Maxwell's lawyers have accused the government of protecting the identity of an alleged victim whose story has been told publicly already.
A court filing, seen by Newsweek, reads: "The government also persists in using pseudonyms in this case such as 'Minor Victim 2' in place of an accuser who has told her story most publicly on Netflix, ABC News, and the New York Times.
"Ms. Maxwell's privacy rights to her zealously guarded intimate sexual affairs deserve at least as much protection as third-parties who have chosen at every turn to publicize their salacious allegations."
Netflix documentary Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich told the stories of numerous of the New York financier's victims.
Maxwell's court filing was triggered by attempts to unseal a deposition she gave as part of a libel case brought against her by Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre.
In her evidence, the socialite described having a threesome with an adult "blond and brunette" and as a result her lawyers want five pages of testimony to remain sealed to protect her privacy.
Judge Loretta Preska previously ruled details about Maxwell's sex life with consenting adults could remain sealed.
Quoted in a court filing, she wrote: "Although the prurient interest of some may be left unsatiated as a result, Ms. Maxwell's interest in keeping private the details of her sexual relationships with consenting adults warrants the sealing of those portions of her testimony (and any materials that reference them)."
A separate court filing contains a broadside against the alleged victims in the case and their relations with the U.S. attorney.
They accused the prosecution of "willful blindness" and of hiding meetings with the victims in the early stages of the investigation.
It reads: "In February 2016 (and likely at least one other time in the weeks and months that followed), lawyers representing numerous civil litigants, including then-Plaintiff Virginia Giuffre, met with the government to foment an indictment of Ms. Maxwell.
"These lawyers and their clients sought a tactical advantage in their civil litigations, worth millions of dollars."
Maxwell's lawyers want the disclosure of a diary belonging to one of the alleged victims which they say will show their client was not involved in Epstein's crimes.
The filing added: "By way of example, Alleged Victim 2 kept what she claimed was a contemporary journal of the events surrounding her meetings with Epstein.
"The 'journal' does not mention Ms. Maxwell and contains no reference to any alleged sexual misconduct.
"The absence of any contemporaneous recording about Ms. Maxwell is powerful evidence of innocence."
Ghislaine Maxwell pleaded not guilty to the original indictment when it was put to her last year but now faces a new indictment containing allegations from a fourth victim.
She is due to be arraigned on those charges this Friday.
Uncommon Knowledge
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About the writer
Jack Royston is Newsweek's Chief Royal Correspondent based in London, U.K. He reports on the British royal family—including King Charles ... Read more
