GHISLAINE Maxwell's defense team are attempting to claim alleged victims of Jeffrey Epstein may have "false memories" of being abused.
The defense team for Jeffrey Epstein's alleged madam began its case yesterday, after prosecutors rested last week following a number of witnesses over 10 days, including four alleged accusers and two of Epstein's former pilots.
Yesterday Elizabeth Loftus – a psychologist who has "studied the fallibility of human memory" and has previously been called as a witness for Harvey Weinstein, Robert Durst, and OJ Simpson – was called in the trial.
The expert "false memory" witness may be used to undermine the credibility of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s alleged victims.
Maxwell, 59, who is said to be “too fragile” to take the witness stand, is charged with several felony counts, some of which include human trafficking charges and has denied all charges against her.
Her lawyers argue she is being made a "scapegoat" for Epstein's crimes.
Read our Ghislaine Maxwell live blog for the very latest news and updates…
- H. J. Hayes
Will Maxwell testify?
Maxwell is unlikely to testify in her sex trafficking trial.
The British socialite, 59, is said to be “too fragile” to take the witness stand as her defense began today.
Her spokesman said: “Ghislaine Maxwell is unlikely to testify over serious worries she is too fragile and will not be able to acquit herself properly.”
Her family has complained she is not being fed correctly and shackled to and from court. A friend said: “There are significant concerns about her health.”
- H. J. Hayes
Virginia Roberts’ claims
Virginia Roberts Giuffre – as she’s now known – has claimed she had sex with Prince Andrew in a toilet when she was 17, after he had allegedly plied her with vodka in a posh London club.
The royal has vehemently denied the accusations against him, branding them “false” and “without foundation”.
- H. J. Hayes
Who is Virginia Giuffre?
Virginia Giuffre is 38-years-old and from Sacramento, California.
She is married to Robert Giuffre and has three children.
She is known for being a public victim of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking ring, and has allegedly been trafficked to Prince Andrew.
Giuffre is an advocate of justice for sex trafficking survivors, and she created a non-profit organization called Victims Refuse Silence, which is based in the US.
- G. P. Rodriguez
How long could Maxwell face in prison?
If convicted on all counts, Maxwell could face up to 80 years in prison.
Depending on how the trial goes and whether she is convicted, she could spend the rest of her life behind bars.
- G. P. Rodriguez
Maxwell’s response to allegations
The British socialite has repeatedly denied any involvement in Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes.
Her spokesperson said “the allegations made against Ghislaine Maxwell are untrue” and she “strongly denies allegations of an unsavoury nature, which have appeared in the British press and elsewhere, and reserves her right to seek redress at the repetition of such old defamatory claims”.
- G. P. Rodriguez
What was Jeffrey Epstein accused of?
Jeffrey Epstein was accused of abusing women and underage girls for decades, assembling a network of enablers to help carry out and cover up his crimes.
The serial sex abuser reportedly made a secret plea deal with the government in 2008 to avoid a potential life sentence and continued to abuse women.
- G. P. Rodriguez
Who flew on the ‘Lolita Express?’ continued
Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey flew to Africa on the Lolita Express in 2002 as part of a project to raise awareness on the Aids crisis and poverty.
Comedian Chris Tucker was also part of the group, including Clinton and Spacey, who flew to Africa on a five-day humanitarian trip in 2002.
Flight logs reveal that Naomi Campbell also travelled on Epstein’s plane in 2002.
Epstein’s lawyer Alan Dershowitz took trips on the jet in the late 1990s, flight records show.
- G. P. Rodriguez
Who flew on the ‘Lolita Express?’
Former Epstein pilot Lawrence Visoski testified that former President Donald Trump was aboard Epstein’s distinctive Gulf Stream plane.
The Sun reported in 2019 that Prince Andrew flew on a private jet with Epstein and his alleged 17-year-old sex slave Virginia Roberts.
Brit socialite Ghislaine Maxwell travelled on the Lolita Express on a number of occasions, flight logs show.
According to flight logs obtained by Fox News in 2016, former US president Bill Clinton was a passenger on the jet.
- G. P. Rodriguez
What was the ‘Lolita Express?’
Jeffrey Epstein was alleged to have used the plane to court underage girls and fly them between his residences across the US.
The luxury Boeing 727 aircraft was owned by Epstein, though what exactly happened on the flights remains a close guarded secret.
Victims of Epstein say he organised orgies on board the three-engine commercial jet.
The luxury aircraft boasted deluxe furnishings, a spacious galley, expansive cabin lounge and a master bedroom.
The pilot of the plane reportedly undertook around 1,000 flights during his time flying Epstein and others.
- G. P. Rodriguez
Maxwell’s brother says she thinks Epstein was murdered
Ghislaine Maxwell’s brother, Ian, alleged that the accused madam believes disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein did not take his own life.
Epstein was found hanged in his New York jail cell while awaiting trial for child sex charges in 2019.
“I don’t buy a lot of the conspiracy theories at all. It so happens one of the conspiracy theories about my father is that he was murdered rather than committed suicide or died by accident,” Ian said.
“And I would venture to believe that she may also think that Epstein was murdered… I do happen to think my sister does think that he was killed.”
- G. P. Rodriguez
Charges against Maxwell
Prosecutors allege that between 1994 and 1997 she helped Epstein to groom girls as young as 14.
Maxwell has been charged with six counts of perjury and sex trafficking offenses:
- Count one: Conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts
- Count two: Enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts
- Count three: Conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity
- Count four: Transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity
- Count five and six: Perjury – the offence of wilfully telling an untruth or making a misrepresentation under oath.
The 17-page indictment against Maxwell accused her of grooming and befriending victims, normalizing inappropriate behavior, being present during abuse to put victims at ease, encouraging victims to accept Epstein’s help, and encouraging victims to engage in sexual activity and taking part herself.
What is Ghislaine Maxwell’s net worth?
Maxwell is worth an estimated £7.4million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
In 2000, the New York Post reported that Maxwell lived off an £80,000 a year trust fund set up by her father.
Maxwell called Epstein “thoughtful, kind, generous”
In 1992, Maxwell had a romantic relationship with American financier Jeffrey Epstein and remained closely associated with him up until his death on August 10 of 2019.
After Epstein was arrested for sexually abusing minors, Maxwell claimed he was a “kind generous loving man”.
She stated he had a “keen sense of humor and ready smile” as she tried to get charges against him dropped in Palm Beach.
Ghislaine is quoted as saying in a document obtained by The Sun: “My experience of Jeffrey, is of a thoughtful, kind generous loving man, with a keen sense of humor and a ready smile – a man of principles and values and a man of his word.”
Maxwell is accused of luring children into the clutches of her former boyfriend and even taking part in some of the abuse – claims she strongly denies.
Maxwell allegedly name-dropped Trump, Prince Andrew
A witness known as Kate told the court in New York last week that Maxwell would name-drop celebrities.
Kate was asked by prosecutor Laura Pomerantz about Maxwell’s social circle to which she replied she “seemed to know everybody.”
“She was friends with Prince Andrew, friends with Donald Trump,” she said.
“Sometimes their names would just come up or she would be talking on the phone about them with me present.”
Neither are accused of wrongdoing in relation to the case.
58-page rule book
Maxwell’s trial has heard Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged “madam” acted as the “Lady of the House” for the multimillionaire.
And as part of that role, she is said to have handed out a 58-page rulebook to staff which included chilling instructions such as “see nothing, hear nothing”.
Epstein’s former housekeeper Juan Patricio Alessi, 71, who worked at the paedo’s mansion in Palm Beach from 1990 to 2002 took the stand on day five.
And he revealed Maxwell once handed him a hefty booklet with a checklist detailing the tasks he was to carry out to “maintain the house” – something he said he found “degrading”.
The book, which was submitted into evidence and was written by a “Countess”, the court heard, was released showing yet more strict rules staff members were told to follow.
- G. P. Rodriguez
Maxwell and Epstein at Queen’s cabin
A picture of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein lounging in the Queen’s log cabin at Balmoral was shown at her trial.
The never-before-seen image shows the pair at Her Majesty’s Scottish home, where it has been reported Prince Andrew hosted multi-millionaire pedophile Epstein in 1999.
The Duke of York’s relationship with Epstein has been in the spotlight in recent years, though he vehemently denies any wrongdoing.
- G. P. Rodriguez
What is a socialite?
Socialites are well known in high society. They typically come from a wealthy background and spend their time attending fashionable gatherings, as opposed to having traditional employment.
Ghislaine Maxwell is a British socialite, who is known for her affiliation with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
She has been charged in connection to his crimes and her trial commenced today.
- G. P. Rodriguez
How long will the trial take?
The trial was originally set to take six weeks. However, the prosecution rested its case much sooner than expected.
Maxwell has been charged with six counts of sex trafficking and perjury in connection to her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
She has pled not guilty to the charges, and was denied bail several times.
- G. P. Rodriguez
Ghislaine Maxwell’s romantic history, continued
According to a 2009 deposition, several of Epstein’s household employees testified that Epstein referred to Maxwell as his “main girlfriend.”
It is unclear exactly when or if their relationship went from romantic to platonic before he was jailed for soliciting a minor for prostitution in 2008.
Following his initial release, the two were no longer seen in public together.
Maxwell was then linked to the founder of Gateway Computers, Ted Waitt. The two attended Chelsea Clinton‘s wedding together in 2010, and Maxwell reportedly helped Waitt to renovate a luxury yacht, Plan B, before they eventually split.
While the exact time and date of the wedding is unknown, Maxwell and Borgerson have been married since 2016.
- G. P. Rodriguez
Ghislaine Maxwell’s romantic history
While Maxwell has not been married prior to her nuptials with Scott Borgerson, she has been linked to a series of high-profile men over the years.
In the 1990s, Maxwell dated Count Gianfranco Cicogna, an Italian aristocrat and millionaire. According to reports, the two ended on bad terms.
Following her relationship with Cicogna, Maxwell began dating Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who killed himself while behind bars in 2019.
- G. P. Rodriguez
Anonymity denied
In a ruling made on Wednesday, Judge Alison Nathan denied the defense’s request for anonymity for some of the 35 witnesses they’re likely to call on, according to The Independent.
Judge Nathan said that “none of the Defense’s witnesses intend to testify to sensitive personal topics or sexual conduct. Rather, they all are anticipated to deny misconduct by Epstein and Ms Maxwell.”
- G. P. Rodriguez
What happened to Jeffrey Epstein?
Jeffrey Epstein died in his prison cell in August 2019, after being federally charged with exploiting dozens of underage girls in New York and Florida in the early 2000s.
He previously attempted suicide in late July of 2019, before his reported successful suicide attempt in early August.
The guards who were supposed to monitor Epstein are facing federal charges for not properly supervising him prior to his death.
One day before he reportedly killed himself, a federal appeals court released the transcript of a 2016 deposition in which Epstein repeatedly refused to say whether Maxwell had procured young girls for him.
- G. P. Rodriguez
Maxwell holds multiple citizenships
Ghislaine Maxwell is a US citizen, and she also holds British and French citizenships.
This increased the concern of her being a possible “flight risk,” if granted bail.
- G. P. Rodriguez
How long could Maxwell face in prison?
If convicted on all counts, Maxwell could face up to 80 years in prison.
Depending on how the trial goes and whether she is convicted, she could spend the rest of her life behind bars.
- G. P. Rodriguez
Defense will call 35 witnesses
In a court filing on Sunday, lawyers for the British socialite confirmed their intention to call the large number of witnesses — 11 more than the prosecution.
Her lawyers have scrambled to put together a line-up after the prosecution in the New York case rested two weeks earlier than anticipated.
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