A previously unseen mugshot of Ghislaine Maxwell has surfaced following the release of millions of pages of records tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, marking one of the most striking visual discoveries in the latest disclosure ordered under federal law.
The image, included in a jail intake document from Maxwell’s July 2, 2020 arrest, appeared among the newly published records released Friday by the U.S. Department of Justice. The documents were made public as part of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by Donald Trump in late 2025.
The mugshot, along with a side profile image and booking information, was embedded in a Joint Automated Booking System file related to Maxwell’s detention following her arrest on federal charges connected to Epstein’s trafficking operation. While Maxwell’s conviction and sentencing have been widely covered, the specific booking photographs had not previously circulated publicly, making their appearance notable amid the massive data release.
Maxwell’s name became synonymous with one of the most notorious sex trafficking scandals in modern history. Born in 1961 in France and raised in the United Kingdom, Maxwell is the daughter of media tycoon Robert Maxwell, whose own dramatic rise and fall left a lasting imprint on her life. After her father’s death in 1991, Maxwell moved to the United States, where she embedded herself in elite social and political circles.
For years, Maxwell was widely seen as Epstein’s closest confidante. Prosecutors later alleged that she played a central role in recruiting, grooming, and abusing underage girls for Epstein, helping to normalize and facilitate a pattern of sexual exploitation that spanned years. While Epstein cultivated relationships with powerful figures and shielded himself behind wealth and influence, Maxwell was accused of managing the day-to-day mechanics of his abuse network.
In 2021, Maxwell stood trial in federal court in New York. After weeks of testimony from survivors and extensive evidence, a jury convicted her on multiple counts related to sex trafficking and conspiracy. In 2022, she was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, marking a rare instance of accountability connected to Epstein’s crimes after his death in custody in 2019.
Maxwell’s conviction was widely viewed as a partial measure of justice for victims who had long been ignored or silenced. At the same time, it intensified scrutiny of the broader system that allowed Epstein and Maxwell to operate for so long with minimal consequences. Today, Ghislaine Maxwell remains incarcerated.
On Friday The Justice Department announced the publication of more than 3 million additional pages of records tied to Epstein and Maxwell, bringing the total number of disclosed documents to nearly 3.5 million pages. The release also included approximately 2,000 videos and roughly 180,000 images, making it one of the largest transparency disclosures in the department’s history.
According to DOJ officials, the materials were gathered from multiple investigations, including federal criminal cases in Florida and New York involving Epstein, the New York prosecution of Maxwell, FBI investigations into Epstein’s death, and reviews conducted by the Office of Inspector General. A Florida case involving a former Epstein employee was also included.
Justice Department leadership said the agency deliberately over collected records to ensure full compliance with the law. More than 6 million pages were initially identified as potentially responsive before duplication across agencies reduced the final release to roughly half that number. More than 500 attorneys and reviewers participated in the review process.
Officials stressed that redactions were narrowly applied and designed solely to protect victims, their families, sensitive personal information, and legally privileged communications. No materials were withheld on the basis of national security or foreign policy concerns.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York conducted an additional review process to comply with a court order requiring certification that no victim identifying information was released unredacted. DOJ officials said sexually explicit images were also redacted in many cases, including commercial pornography, because all women depicted were treated as potential victims.
The DOJ also issued a warning that the production includes materials submitted to the FBI by members of the public without verification. Officials acknowledged that some records contain false or sensationalist claims, including unfounded allegations involving President Trump that were submitted shortly before the 2020 election.
“To be clear, the claims are unfounded and false,” the department said. “If they had any credibility, they would have been weaponized against President Trump already.”
Approximately 200,000 pages were withheld or redacted under recognized legal privileges, including attorney client privilege and deliberative process protections. A formal report detailing the release and redactions will be submitted to congressional judiciary committees within 15 days.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said the disclosure marks the conclusion of an extensive review process aimed at delivering transparency while protecting victims.
