On the first day of the proceedings against Ghislaine Maxwell in New York, only a good 20 spectators were allowed in the courtroom due to the pandemic restrictions, and they had to get the impression that two completely different people were being charged here.
One, according to the prosecution, is a “Predator”, a predator who brought minors to millionaire Jeffrey Epstein between 1994 and 2004 to sexually abuse them. The other, so the defense, was an innocent person who was accused on behalf of Epstein’s actions as a scapegoat.
Both descriptions were about the same person, and it will ultimately be the task of the jury to decide whether Ghislaine Maxwell is a perpetrator or a follower. The trial in a Manhattan court is scheduled for around six weeks. 59-year-old Maxwell faces 40 to 70 years in prison if convicted.
Maxwell has long been the closest confidante of Epstein, who was found hanged in a cell in a New York prison in August 2019 after being arrested for underage sexual abuse a month earlier. After Epstein’s death, the focus of the investigation turned against Maxwell. The accusation: You fed Epstein girls. She persuaded these girls to massage Epstein. And that often ended with Epstein being sexually satisfied by these girls, some of whom were allegedly no older than 14.
Almost 17 months ago Maxwell was arrested on a property in New Hampshire. Since then she has been in custody in New York. Judge Alison Nathan had denied all bail requests. Reason: Maxwell, the daughter and heiress of media entrepreneur Robert Maxwell, who died 30 years ago, is rich and well connected, and there is a high risk of flight.
Entering the court without handcuffs for the first time
Maxwell entered the court on Monday, the first time he was handcuffed. At previous hearings, when it came to jury selection or her bail requests, the bailiffs had only removed her shackles in the courtroom. After a few formalities, which revolved around the exact composition of the jury, the prosecution and the defense made their first statements.
According to the prosecution, 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.”
Pomerantz stated that Maxwell had recruited girls by offering them support and encouragement from the wealthy Epstein. These girls were often flown to one of Epstein’s many residences, where he ultimately abused them.
The defense takes the view that Maxwell will be charged solely because Epstein can no longer answer questions after his suicide. Attorney Bobbi Sternheim, known for her pictorial language, said: “Ever since Eve was accused of seducing Adam with the apple, women have been blamed for the crimes of men.” She later described Epstein, who had already been convicted of the sexual abuse of minors in 2008, somewhat surprisingly to everyone present as a “James Bond of the 21st century”.
Epstein’s private jet was called “The Lolita Express”
The first witness to the trial was a pilot. Larry Visoski flew Epstein to his numerous residences and around the world in his private jet from 1991 to 2019. “We flew to somewhere every four days,” said Visoski in court. Mostly it went back and forth between Epstein’s residences. These were among others in New York, New Mexico, Paris, Florida and the Virgin Islands.
According to the prosecution, Epstein’s private jet was nicknamed “The Lolita Express” because it was used to transport minors to their respective whereabouts. To abuse her there.
To what extent Ghislaine Maxwell knew, to what extent she actively helped with this, is now being negotiated. At least four witnesses will testify that Maxwell led them to the Epstein abuse. A judgment is expected in the coming year.