This courtroom sketch shows Ghislaine Maxwell, left, conferring with her defence attorney Bobbi Sternheim before the start of her sex abuse trial in New York. Photo / AP
This courtroom sketch shows Ghislaine Maxwell, left, conferring with her defence attorney Bobbi Sternheim before the start of her sex abuse trial in New York. Photo / AP
Ghislaine Maxwell, a socialite, has denied allegations from multiple women that she helped the millionaire Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. Her lawyers say she's being wrongly targeted by prosecutors on a vendetta to hold someone accountable after Epstein killed himself while awaiting trial on related sex-abuse charges.
With justdays left in Maxwell's trial, it's time to take stock of developments.
Who are Ghislaine Maxwell's accusers?
The prosecution, mounted by the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, hinges on the accusations of four women who say they were teenagers when Maxwell and Epstein sexually exploited them in the 1990s and early 2000s. Three testified under the pseudonyms Jane, Kate and Carolyn. One, Annie Farmer, decided to tell her story publicly.
Maxwell was arrested in July 2020 — almost a year after Epstein killed himself in jail while awaiting trial. After Epstein's death, she withdrew from public activities like running an oceans charity. Her whereabouts became a subject of public speculation. Was that her eating a burger and reading a book on CIA operatives in Southern California? Was she living in Britain or Paris or maybe even Massachusetts? Prosecutors say she went into hiding in New Hampshire — where she was eventually arrested — in a million-dollar home where she kept her cellphone wrapped in foil.
Isabel and Kevin Maxwell leave the courthouse during a lunch break in the trial of their sister, Ghislaine Maxwell, in New York. Photo / AP
Has Ghislaine Maxwell been in jail?
Yes, despite multiple requests for bail, Maxwell has spent well over a year lodged in a federal lockup in Brooklyn. Maxwell has triple citizenship with the US, UK and France, which does not extradite its citizens. Her attorneys and family have lambasted jail conditions, which they say are punitive and inhospitable to Maxwell's ability to mount a proper defence.
Is the trial on TV?
No. It's in federal court, which doesn't allow cameras. That's why all the images from the courtroom are sketched.
When did testimony begin?
November 29.
How long is the trial supposed to last?
Well, it was originally projected to last six weeks, but prosecutors rested much earlier than expected. The defence has yet to present its case, but the whole thing could be over before Christmas.
It's unclear whether Maxwell will take the stand in her own defence but it's rare for a defendant to do so.
What was Maxwell's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein?
They were romantically involved, but at some point — the timeline is unclear — she says she transitioned to being more of an employee, running his households. Prosecutors have accused of her of functioning as Epstein's madam, procuring underage girls to satisfy him sexually.
In this courtroom sketch, a witness testifying under the pseudonym Carolyn breaks down on the witness stand testifying about her experiences with Jeffery Epstein. Photo / AP
Where did Jeffrey Epstein have homes?
All over the place: Palm Beach, Florida; New Mexico; Manhattan; the US Virgin Islands; Paris.
What did Jeffrey Epstein do for a living?
He left his teaching career at a tony Manhattan prep school to work at Bear Stearns, an investment bank and then started his own money-management business. He would not disclose his assets and income even after his July 2019 arrest, but he seems to have built a fortune managing investments for others.
How is Prince Andrew involved?
He's not. Not exactly, at least. A woman is suing the British royal, saying he sexually abused her when she was 17. She says Maxwell facilitated her meetings with Andrew, who has denied the account. But the woman's accusations have been left out of this trial. That lawsuit won't go to trial until at least late 2022. Andrew's name has come up in this trial, though: a pilot of Epstein's private jet, dubbed the "Lolita Express" by the news media, testified he had flown Andrew and an accuser confirmed she told the FBI she had flown with the prince, as well.
Who is Ghislaine Maxwell's husband?
Also unclear! She was living with him when she was arrested in New Hampshire, but court documents have not made his name public. He did support her bail attempts but has not been spotted at the trial.
Does Maxwell have any supporters?
Her family — the scions of the late publishing magnate, Robert Maxwell — is sticking by her. Two of her siblings, Kevin and Isabel, have attended each day of proceedings. The Maxwells strongly assert the US justice system is making a patsy of their youngest sister. Ghislaine is notably the baby of the family and said to have been the favourite of her father, who died falling off a yacht named for her.
Who is the judge?
US District Judge Alison J Nathan, who was recently nominated by President Joe Biden to serve on the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. That promotion is not expected to interfere with proceedings in the Maxwell case.
How has Maxwell been spending her time in jail?
According to a website set up by her family, Maxwell has been working through a pile of books. Her reading list runs the gamut of criminal-justice related books like the award-winning Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson to Licensed to Lie: Exposing Corruption in the Department of Justice by Sidney Powell, a conspiracy theorist and former lawyer for President Donald Trump. She's also been making her way through Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials fantasy series and popular book club fiction pick Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman.
A superseding indictment in March also charged Maxwell with two counts of perjury, but the judge granted the defence's request to spin those off into a separate trial.
So there's more to come?
Yes. Regardless of the outcome of this trial, there's more to come.
