Ghislaine Maxwell trial news LIVE – Jeffrey Epstein ‘Madam’ hearing back underway TOMORROW with defense to make its case
GHISLAINE Maxwell's trial gets back underway this week, and the defense team for Maxwell is expected to present arguments on Thursday after prosecutors wrapped up their case last week.
The prosecution rested nearly a month earlier than expected.
The trial was not able to sit from Monday through Wednesday due to a scheduling conflict with the judge.
Witnesses who took the stand for the prosecution included four of Maxwell's accusers as well two of Jeffrey Epstein's former pilots and a Mar-A-Lago staffer.
Maxwell's trial has been told she and Epstein had been in a relationship but remained "the best of friends" after they split, and prosecutors described Maxwell and convicted sex offender Epstein as being “partners in crime” in the abuse of girls.
Maxwell is being charged with several felony counts, some of which include human trafficking charges. She has denied all charges against her, and 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...
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.
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.
Where is Ghislaine Maxwell now?
She has been detained since July 2020 at a Brooklyn detention center, where she has complained about her alleged ill-treatment.
Her trial began on November 29, 2021, and is not expected to conclude until after the holiday season.
She has been charged with six counts of sex trafficking and perjury in relation to her relationship with pedophile financier Epstein.
Creepy 'schoolgirl outfit' claim
An alleged victim told a court that Ghislaine Maxwell laid out a schoolgirl outfit for her to wear while serving tea to Jeffrey Epstein.
The former actress, who was giving evidence at Maxwell’s sex trafficking trial under the pseudonym “Kate”, said she the socialite when she was 17.
After being invited to her home in Belgravia, central London, the teen gave massages to Epstein, where he initiated sex acts, the New York court heard.
Kate, now 44, also testified that Maxwell once gave her a small schoolgirl’s costume and told her to wear it while serving tea to Epstein, which she did.
Farmer believed she would receive tuition support
Farmer said she believed Epstein would help her pay for her college education, and expected other students to be at the ranch - which there weren't.
While at the ranch, Maxwell offered to give Farmer a massage, Farmer testified.
Farmer, now 42, agreed to receive the massage and got undressed, she said. Maxwell touched her breasts during the massage, Farmer said.
"Once she pulled down the sheet I felt kind of frozen," Farmer said.
Later on during the trip, Farmer said Epstein came into her room and climbed into bed with her.
"Suddenly Epstein kind of opened my door, bounding into the room in a playful way, saying that he wanted to cuddle," Farmer said, adding that Epstein "pressed his body into me."
She said she became uncomfortable and said she had to use the bathroom, which she described as an "excuse" to get away from Epstein.
Annie Farmer testifies in court
Testifying at Maxwell's ongoing sex trafficking and abuse trial in New York Friday, Annie Farmer said she met the disgraced financier and his alleged madam at just 16.
Farmer - the only accuser taking to the stand under her real name - says Maxwell, 59, tried to coax her into a sexual encounter when she was a teen, alleging the pair plied her with gifts.
She testified that Epstein took her to see the cinema with her older sister Maria - who was working for him at the time in New York - and during the film the multi-millionaire paedophile "caressed" her hand and then her leg.
"I felt sick to my stomach. It wasn't something that I was at all expecting," she told the court.
She claimed that age of 16, she visited Epstein at his New Mexico ranch in the spring of 1996, where she met Maxwell for the first time.
Maxwell and Epstein were ‘partners in crime’ say prosecutors
Prosecutors have described Epstein and Maxwell as being “partners in crime” in the abuse of girls.
The couple shared a bedroom at the Palm Beach mansion, with Maxwell helping in the running of the property.
Prosecutors released more than 60 images from a police raid at the infamous property as part of the case.
Other images include one that appears to be framed nude picture of Maxwell and were shown to the jury on Mond
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.
On Friday, Ghislaine's older brother was asked about Epstein's suicide.
“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."
Courtroom sketches of Ghislaine Maxwell
Maxwell was sketched hugging her lawyers and drinking water.
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.
How did prosecution wrap up case?
The prosecution wrapped up its case against Maxwell at the end of last week.
Prosecutors told the opening of her trial in New York that the Brit heiress is a "dangerous predator" and said she and Epstein were "partners in crime."
She is alleged to have walked the victims into Epstein's massage room lair - where she watched him molest them and sometimes even joined in.
The jury has also been shown pictures that show the intimate nature of their relationship, including at the Queen's Balmoral Residence, where they were hosted by Prince Andrew.
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 offences:
- 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, normalising inappropriate behaviour, 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.
Maxwell's New York socialite history
Ghislaine Maxwell moved to New York in the early 1990s after her father, the media mogul Robert Maxwell, died.
She started dating Jeffrey Epstein in 1992 and remained in a close friendship until his fall from grace.
The court heard during the December 8 and 9 trial that Maxwell and Epstein were in a romantic relationship.
Prosecutors said that Maxwell and Epstein were "partners in crime" in the abuse of the girls.
Maxwell would fly on his private jet, live with him in his mansions and eventually got her own five-story Manhattan townhouse.
After Epstein was arrested for sexually abusing minors, Maxwell claimed he was a "kind generous loving man".
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 wrong doing.
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.
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.
What was Jeffrey Epstein’s net worth?
Epstein’s net worth was over $577million, according to a will signed two days before he died.
Details regarding his beneficiaries have not been made public.
Buckingham Palace denies Prince Andrew allegations
Buckingham Palace denied the allegation in 2015 saying “any suggestion of impropriety with underage minors” by the Duke was “categorically untrue”.
“Any suggestion of impropriety with underage minors is categorically untrue.
“It is emphatically denied that the Duke of York had any form of sexual contact with Virginia Roberts. Any claim to the contrary is false and without foundation.”
Virginia Giuffre’s shock surrogacy claims
Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who claims she was recruited into sex trafficking ring by when she was just a teen, said the two pressured her to help the couple deliver a baby.
New unsealed documents detail the alleged abuse, including Giuffre’s allegations.
By the time she turned 18, Giuffre claims Epstein lost interest in her.
That’s when Epstein allegedly asked Giuffre to be the couple’s surrogate.
She claims to have been offered a mansion in return for the baby, which would’ve been raised by Maxwell.
Giuffre was able to escape instead of having to bear the child, ultimately fleeing to where she now lives with her husband and children.
Prince Andrew braces for hearing
Prince Andrew has ordered his legal team to cancel their Christmas plans so they can focus on his sexual assault case, royal sources have claimed.
The Duke of York is said to have told the US team they must leave “no stone unturned” ahead of his hearing due to take place on January 4.
Andrew strongly denies Jeffrey Epstein sex slave Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s claims that the royal abused her three times when she was under 18.
And sources close to him now say the Duke is “totally consumed” by the legal battle and has been staying up late in the night to talk constantly with lawyers in California.
They told : “The tension in the camp is palpable.
“No one is really sure what Andrew’s involvement is other than asking a lot of questions, but he spends his days and nights poring over documents.
“He is totally consumed by it, keeping most irregular working hours so he can be in contact with his team.”
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”.
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.
Pilot testified he flew Virginia Roberts Giuffre
David Rodgers is the second pilot to testify in the trial.
He testified on Wednesday that he flew Virginia Roberts Giuffre, Epstein and a Maxwell accuser, a total of 32 times in the early 2000s.
Most of the flights were from airports near Epstein’s properties in Florida, New Jersey, New Mexico, and US Virgin Islands.
Maxwell and Epstein were ‘partners in crime’ say prosecutors
Prosecutors have described Epstein and Maxwell as being “partners in crime” in the abuse of girls.
The couple shared a bedroom at the Palm Beach mansion, with Maxwell helping in the running of the property.
Prosecutors released more than 60 images from a police raid at the infamous property as part of the case.
Other images include one that appears to be framed nude picture of Maxwell and were shown to the jury on Monday.