In this courtroom sketch, Ghislaine Maxwell looks over her shoulder in front of the courtroom audience before starting jury selection during her trial, November 16, 2021, in New York.
Elizabeth Williams / AP
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Elizabeth Williams / AP
In this courtroom sketch, Ghislaine Maxwell looks over her shoulder in front of the courtroom audience before starting jury selection during her trial, November 16, 2021, in New York.
Elizabeth Williams / AP
The open arguments in Ghislaine Maxwell’s much-anticipated trial began Monday in a Manhattan federal court.
Maxwell is being tried on multiple counts, including trafficking underage girls to financier Jeffrey Epstein for sexual abuse.
Here’s what you need to know when you start trying it out.
What is Maxwell accused of?
It is alleged that Maxwell groomed underage girls, provided them with lavish travel and gifts in exchange for exploiting them, and in some cases herself participated in it. abuse case.
Maxwell has in jail since his arrest in July 2020, when she was accused enticing a minor to travel to engage in criminal sex activity, transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sex activity, conspiring to commit both of those crimes, and perjury relating to the oath of impeachment.
Maxwell is the daughter of the late media mogul Robert Maxwell. In the 90s, she had a romantic relationship with Epstein.
Epstein died in 2019 while in federal custody at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan. It was ruled a suicide.
The trafficking is alleged to have taken place from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s. Maxwell has pleaded not guilty and claims she is being held unfairly and mistreated while in custody.
What the defense is expected to say
The defense is expected to argue that there is no way that Maxwell could get a fair trial; that she was, in essence, on trial for Epstein’s crimes and had been found guilty before a court of public opinion.
At least four women who said they were underage and wanted by Maxwell will testify.
Notably absent was Virginia Giuffre, one of the most famous accusers, who said she was 17 when Epstein and Maxwell began flying her around the world to have sex with politicians, royals and famous billionaires.
Giuffre said that included Prince Andrew. She also said that she was instructed to have sex with the former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. Both have repeatedly denied Giuffre’s allegations.
Prince Andrew has publicly denied the allegations. Richardson’s Spokesperson tell NPR that “the charges are completely untrue.”
What we are waiting to find out
NS The charges against Prince Andrew and Maxwell will not be heard this time, according to the Associated Press, but it is unclear whether Richardson was called to testify.
In fact, there is a lot of mystery surrounding who will be the witness to this case.
Prosecutors said they would use parts of Maxwell’s communications book, which captured the imaginations of those who followed the case. Maxwell and Epstein moved into the rich and famous, and there was much speculation about whether some of their acquaintances were involved in the alleged exploitation of young girls.
What remains unclear is whether Maxwell had accomplices, and if so, whether they would be brought to court.
The trial can last up to six weeks.
