The victims have been waiting for this for over 20 years. After nearly a week of deliberation, Ghislaine Maxwell was found guilty by a New York court of five out of six charges, including sex trafficking of a minor for the benefit of her ex-companion Jeffrey Epstein, as well as a criminal association. . She faces a maximum of 65 years in prison, with 40 years just for the sex trafficking charge. The fallen socialite remained stoic when the verdict was announced, taking a sip of water before sitting down.
“A unanimous jury has found Ghislaine Maxwell guilty of one of the worst crimes imaginable – facilitating and taking part in the sexual assault of children,” the federal court’s prosecutor said in a statement by Manhattan Damian Williams. These “crimes were perpetrated with his lifelong partner and accomplice, Jeffrey Epstein,” who committed suicide in a New York prison in August 2019, before being tried for sex crimes.
A probable call
“The path to righteousness has taken too long. But justice was delivered today, “welcomed the prosecutor, praising the” courage of girls who have become women “, four victims who testified for three weeks against the daughter of Robert Maxwell.
In all likelihood, Ghislaine Maxwell should appeal. His lawyer had notably affirmed that the non-prosecution clause negotiated with Jeffrey Epstein in 2008 protected all his accomplices, in particular Ghislaine Maxwell. Judge Nathan had brushed aside this argument, pointing out that the agreement had been reached with the federal justice of Florida, and that it did not apply in the jurisdiction of New York.