Ghislaine Maxwell: Merely an Epstein associate or a criminal accomplice?

Nov 30, 2021

Shannon Longworth Reporter

By Shannon Longworth (Reporter), Ryan Tiedgen (Editor)

Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial began Monday, as the 59-year-old former socialite is charged with six counts of sexual exploitation. With her former companion Jeffrey Epstein dead, many see Maxwell as his proxy in the Manhattan courtroom.

Depending on the jury’s decision, she could be held responsible for the sex-trafficking network that the pair allegedly used to abuse minors. If Maxwell is convicted on all six charges, she could face up to 70 years in prison. Maxwell has denied involvement in the alleged crimes.

LONGWORTH: JEFFREY EPSTEIN MAY HAVE DIED BY SUICIDE BEHIND BARS, BUT PROSECUTORS ARE STILL TAKING HIS SEXUAL ABUSE CHARGES TO COURT—THROUGH HIS FORMER GIRLFRIEND.

THAT’S WHY GHISLAINE MAXWELL IS JUST ONE NAME YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY.

59-YEAR-OLD MAXWELL IS ON TRIAL, ACCUSED OF GROOMING UNDERAGE GIRLS TO HAVE UNWANTED SEXUAL ACTIVITY WITH EPSTEIN.

TERESA HELM: “SHE TOLD ME TO GIVE JEFFREY WHAT HE WANTS BECAUSE JEFFREY ALWAYS GETS WHAT HE WANTS.”

LONGWORTH: MAXWELL PLEADED NOT-GUILTY AND HAS SPENT MORE THAN A YEAR IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT IN A BROOKLYN DETENTION FACILITY AWAITING TRIAL.

IT’S A DRASTIC LIFESTYLE CHANGE FOR THE OXFORD-EDUCATED BRITISH SOCIALITE, WHO–ALONGSIDE EPSTEIN–HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE LIKES OF DONALD TRUMP, PRINCE ANDREW, AND BILL CLINTON.

GHISLAINE’S ALSO THE DAUGHTER OF BILLIONAIRE ROBERT MAXWELL.

HE DIED IN 1991, AFTER SOMEWHAT MYSTERIOUSLY FALLING OFF HIS YACHT–NAMED AFTER HIS DAUGHTER–WHILE IN THE CANARY ISLANDS.

AFTER HIS DEATH, IT CAME OUT THAT HIS COMPANIES RACKED UP ENORMOUS DEBT.

AROUND THAT TIME, GHISLAINE MOVED TO NEW YORK AND BEGAN DATING JEFFREY EPSTEIN.

EVEN AFTER THEIR RELATIONSHIP ENDED, THE TWO MAINTAINED A PARTNERSHIP IN THE HIGH SOCIETY WORLD OF FUNDRAISERS, GALAS, FASHION SHOWS, AND THE LIKE.

BUT THINGS TOOK A TURN, WHEN A CIVIL LAWSUIT PAINTED MAXWELL AS EPSTEIN’S ASSOCIATE IN ALLEGEDLY KEEPING A GIRL AS A TEENAGE “SEX SLAVE.”

EPSTEIN WAS CONVICTED AS A SEX OFFENDER IN FLORIDA IN 2008.

BUT THE LARGER CASE OF SEX TRAFFICKING AND CONSPIRACY IN A MANHATTAN COURT CAME IN 2019.

A YEAR LATER, THE US ATTORNEY’S OFFICE UNSEALED FEDERAL FELONY CHARGES AGAINST MAXWELL.

THOSE CHARGES—RANGING FROM ENTICEMENT AND TRANSPORTATION OF A MINOR TO ENGAGE IN ILLEGAL SEX ACTS TO CONSPIRACY AND PERJURY.

SHE’S ALSO REPORTEDLY BEEN INVESTIGATED FOR INVOLVEMENT IN EPSTEIN’S ELABORATE SEX TRAFFICKING AND ABUSE THAT TOOK PLACE ON HIS SECLUDED PRIVATE ISLAND IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, ACCORDING TO THE TERRITORY’S DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

FAMILY MEMBERS, INCLUDING HER BROTHER, IAN MAXWELL, INSIST SHE’S INNOCENT.

IAN MAXWELL: “MEDIA, WRITING, AND DOCUMENTARIES AND PODCASTS HAVE PAINTED MY SISTER AS A MONSTER TODAY. SHE’S A CARDBOARD, TWO-THREE-DEGREE MONSTER. AND THIS IS NOT THE GIRL THAT I KNOW.”

LONGWORTH: OTHERS WHO CLAIM TO KNOW HER OFFER MURKIER THEORIES.

“YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE IN SUPPORTING MY FRIEND AND I BELIEVE THAT SHE IS A VICTIM OF JEFFREY EPSTEIN, JUST LIKE OTHER PEOPLE WERE. IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT WHAT SHE DID WAS RIGHT AND SHE SHOULD PAY FOR HER CRIMES.”

LONGWORTH: WHATEVER THE COURT DECIDES, THE PUBLIC IS USING MAXWELL TO TRY EPSTEIN BY PROXY–MAKING GHISLAINE MAXWELL JUST ONE NAME YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY.