January 1, Ghislaine Maxwell Trial Begins

The sex-trafficking trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, longtime companion of the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, got underway on Monday afternoon.

Maxwell, a British socialite, is accused of assisting convicted sex offender Epstein recruit and sexually abuse underage girls. The Associated Press reported the trial is expected to last roughly six weeks.

Maxwell, 59, was a close confidant of Epstein, who dated him at one point. She is charged with conspiracy to entice a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, enticing a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, conspiracy to transport a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors, and sex trafficking of minors.

She also faces two counts of perjury in connection to a sworn deposition, but a trial on those charges has not yet been scheduled.

Maxwell has pleaded not guilty to all charges against her. She has been held in a Brooklyn jail while awaiting trial after being repeatedly denied bail.

Her trial comes more than two years after Epstein was found dead in his jail cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan while awaiting trial for allegations of sex abuse. The New York City medical examiner later ruled that his death was a suicide by hanging.

Maxwell was arrested and indicted in July 2020 after prosecutors claimed that she “exploited girls as young as 14, including by enticing them to travel and transporting them for the purpose of engaging in illegal sex acts” during the 1990s.

Prosecutors said the British socialite “played a critical role in the grooming and abuse of minor victims” for Epstein in New York, Florida, and New Mexico and acted in such a way “knowing that Epstein had a preference for young girls.”

Prosecutors claim that they have evidence showing that Maxwell knew the girls were minors.

Maxwell’s lawyers, however, have said that she is being used as a scapegoat to hold someone accountable for Epstein’s crimes since he cannot be prosecuted due to his death.

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Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex-trafficking trial begins Monday. Prosecutors allege she created a network of underage victims for Jeffrey Epstein