Ghislaine Maxwell denies sex crimes in Epstein case
Ghislaine Maxwell pleaded not liable in a fresh York court Tuesday to sex trafficking minors on her behalf former partner, the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, as a judge denied her bail.
The 58-year-old denied six charges linked to alleged crimes committed by Epstein, a well-connected sex offender who killed himself in prison while awaiting trial last summer.
"Not liable, your honor," said Maxwell, who showed no emotion during the a lot more than two-hour-long hearing where one of her alleged victims called her a "sexual predator."
Maxwell appeared in a Manhattan federal court via video link from a little white room in Brooklyn's high-security Metropolitan Detention Center, where she is being held following her arrest earlier this month.
Prosecutors accuse Maxwell, daughter of the late newspaper baron Robert Maxwell, of helping Epstein "recruit, groom and eventually abuse" multiple underage girls.
The alleged crimes occurred between 1994 and 1997, and relate with three women - among whom was just 14 when she was sexually abused, according to the indictment.
Maxwell allegedly befriended girls with shopping and cinema outings, and later coaxed them into giving Epstein nude massages where he would take part in sex acts.
Prosecutors say Maxwell sometimes participated in the alleged abuse, which occurred at her London home and at Epstein's properties in Manhattan, Palm Beach and New Mexico.
They allege she "persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced" minor victims to visit across US state lines and abroad for the purpose of the illegitimate sex acts.
Maxwell has been charged with four counts relating to the trafficking, including transporting a with intent to activate in criminal sex.
She also faces two counts of perjury for allegedly lying about the claims during a 2016 civil lawsuit.
Maxwell could serve up to 35 years in prison if convicted.
Judge Alison Nathan set July 12, 2021 as the opening date of Maxwell's trial, ordering the former jet-setter remain detained without bail for another year.
Your choice came despite pleas from her defense team, which insisted she had not been a flight risk and argued for home confinement in New York with GPS monitoring on bail of US$5 million.
They argued the coronavirus crisis would put her health at "serious risk" if she remained incarcerated.
However the judge agreed with prosecutors that Maxwell poses an "extreme" flight risk. She described the socialite has passports from the United States, Britain and France together with wealth and an international social circle.
Maxwell is a citizen of France, the prosecution says, which will not extradite dual citizens.
Prosecutors claim to have discovered 15 bank accounts connected with Maxwell recently, with their total balance at one point exceeding US$20 million.
They said it seems she actually is shielding assets and used an alias to get the secluded New Hampshire luxury property where she was arrested on July 2.
They reiterated that agents had to breach leading door of this residence to detain her, also saying she used aluminium foil to wrap her phone in a bid to evade authorities.
Maxwell's "recent activity shows her extraordinary capacity to evade detection," Judge Nathan said.
Alleged victim Annie Farmer dubbed Maxwell a "sexual predator" in arguing against bail in a statement to the court, as another complainant said the defendant's "sole purpose is that of self-preservation."
"Jeffrey Epstein couldn't did what he did without her. She egged him on and encouraged him," said the unnamed alleged victim.
Epstein's accusers have for a long time alleged that Maxwell managed a network of women who recruited girls right into a trafficking scheme he ran. She's always denied this.
After Epstein hanged himself in a fresh York cell last August before his trial on sex-trafficking charges, prosecutors vowed to pursue any possible co-conspirators.
Epstein, 66, was a multi-million-dollar hedge fund manager who befriended countless celebrities through the years, including former president Bill Clinton and Britain's Prince Andrew.
Maxwell's arrest has intensified the spotlight on Andrew, who vehemently denies claims he previously sex with a 17-year-old girl procured by Epstein.
Epstein was convicted in Florida in 2008 of paying young girls for massages, but served just 13 months in jail under a secret plea deal struck with the then-state prosecutor.
While his death was ruled a suicide, it has fueled conspiracy theories, most speculating he was murdered to avoid him from revealing compromising information about wealthy acquaintances.--AFP
