Ghislaine Maxwell took the judgment outwardly unmoved. She poured some water from a carafe into a paper cup and took a sip. She said something briefly to one of her lawyers. She glanced at her siblings seated in the front row of the Manhattan courtroom where her case had been heard for the past few weeks. Then she left the room with the prospect of spending the rest of her life in prison.
For five days, after a three-week process, a jury discussed whether Maxwell had helped the millionaire Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019, to abuse underage girls between 1994 and 2004. Again and again the jury had requested new material – copies of the testimony, a writing board, post-its. Once the jury asked what exactly was meant by the word “Enticement” – in German it means temptation or seduction. On Wednesday evening, the jury finally came to a decision: They found Maxwell guilty on five out of six counts.
Most serious of all, she came to the view that Maxwell was guilty of “sexual trafficking of minors” guilty. That alone means up to 40 years imprisonment in the USA, which means for Maxwell that he may never be released again. The sentence will be announced at a later date. Judge Alison Nathan initially left it open exactly when that would happen. Experience has shown that in the USA this can take a few days, sometimes a few weeks.
Maxwell is said to have led women and girls to Epstein
Jeffrey Epstein is widely recognized as one of the most notorious sex offenders in the country in the recent past. For years and decades he had sexually abused young women, not infrequently minors. Maxwell has long been Epstein’s closest confidante, who was found hanged in his cell in a New York prison in August 2019 after being arrested a month earlier. After Epstein’s death, the investigation turned to Maxwell. The accusation: She fed the young women to Epstein. She persuaded her to massage Epstein. And that often ended with Epstein allowing himself to be sexually satisfied by women, some of whom were still girls. Sometimes she, Maxwell, was there, said the witnesses.
Maxwell was arrested at a property in New Hampshire almost 18 months ago and has been in custody in New York ever since. The prosecution argued over the past few weeks that Maxwell was someone who not only supported Epstein, but was his ally in all of the crimes. “The defendants and Epstein committed heinous crimes behind closed doors,” said prosecutor Lara Pomerantz, “they molested underage girls.”
Ghislaine Maxwell in a 2013 photo.
(Photo: Rick Bajornas / dpa)
The defense took the view that Maxwell would only be charged because Epstein could no longer answer questions after his suicide. Maxwell’s attorney Bobbi Sternheim said: “Ever since Eve was accused of seducing Adam with the apple, women have been blamed for the crimes of men.”
Four women had called the prosecution. Two testified under a pseudonym. One only used her first name. The fourth woman, Annie Farmer, testified under her full name. After the guilty verdict, she stated, “I am relieved and grateful that the jury recognized the pattern of predatory behavior that Ms. Maxwell was part of. She harmed so many more women than those who were in the courtroom.”
Maxwell as a temptress
According to the witnesses, Maxwell played a crucial role in Epstein’s system of abuse. All four women described how Maxwell had ensnared them. She invited them to meet Epstein and made sure that it initially felt normal for him to ask for a massage.
According to the witnesses, the massages turned into more intimate encounters, because Epstein also wanted to be sexually satisfied. Some of the girls were only 14 years old at the time. Maxwell, the prosecution said, knew all of this and Epstein not only fed the girls, but weighed them safe, even though she knew what was going to happen next. It is in this context that the word “Enticement” is important. Maxwell, so the prosecution, seduced the girls, enticed them to get involved with the sex offender Epstein.
The defense had stated that it was possible that the witnesses no longer correctly remembered what happened more than 20 years ago. Last but not least, the defense accused the witnesses of greed because they wanted to get money from Epstein’s fortune, which was paid into a fund with which his numerous victims are to be financially compensated.
Maxwell had refrained from giving evidence in court. Her lawyers had argued that it wasn’t necessary as she was innocent. Her attorney Bobbi Sternheim said after the verdict: “We firmly believe in Ghislaine Maxwell’s innocence. We are clearly disappointed with the verdict. We have already started working on an appeal and we are convinced that she will be rehabilitated.”
Meanwhile, Maxwell, who celebrated her 60th birthday over the Christmas holidays, will have to stay in prison in Brooklyn, New York. She faces up to 65 years in prison.