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A assemblage successful New York connected Wednesday convicted British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell of grooming minors for intersexual maltreatment astatine the hands of Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell was recovered blameworthy of 5 of the six national counts related to Epstetin's enactment trafficking ring.
Maxwell, 59, pleaded not blameworthy to the charges stemming from her interactions with four teenage girls from 1994 to 2004. During that span, Maxwell was romantically progressive with and past aboriginal worked for Epstein.
She faces a maximum condemnation of 65 years successful situation connected the counts that she was convicted of.
"A unanimous assemblage has recovered Ghislaine Maxwell blameworthy of 1 of the worst crimes imaginable – facilitating and participating successful the intersexual maltreatment of children," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said successful a connection aft the verdict. "The roadworthy to justness has been acold excessively long. But, today, justness has been done. I privation to commend the bravery of the girls – present grown women – who stepped retired of the shadows and into the courtroom. Their courageousness and willingness to look their abuser made this case, and today's result, possible."
Maxwell opted not to attest successful her ain defence astatine trial, and has denied the allegations elaborate successful the indictment and each claims of wrongdoing.
The assemblage heard grounds from the 4 accusers at the halfway of the case. Three of them opted for anonymity, utilizing either pseudonyms oregon archetypal names only, and were known to the assemblage arsenic Jane Doe, Kate and Carolyn. The last accuser to attest was Annie Farmer, who, on with her sister Maria Farmer, person been vocal astir the intersexual maltreatment they accidental each experienced astatine the hands of Epstein and Maxwell. The sisters were among the archetypal women to study Epstein's alleged intersexual maltreatment to authorities.
In this courtroom sketch, Ghislaine Maxwell, center, sits successful the courtroom during a treatment astir a enactment from the jury, during her enactment trafficking trial, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, successful New York.
Elizabeth Williams / AP
-Nathalie Nieves contributed reporting
Maria Farmer, sister of Annie Farmer who testified astir Epstein's maltreatment astatine trial, tweets aft verdict
The sisters person been vocal astir the intersexual maltreatment they accidental each experienced astatine the hands of Epstein and Maxwell and were among the archetypal women to study Epstein's alleged intersexual maltreatment to authorities. At trial, Annie Farmer testified astir a 1996 travel to Epstein's New Mexico ranch wherever she accepted an invitation hoping that helium and Maxwell would assistance her with world endeavors. Instead, she said, Maxwell ended up massaging her breasts and Epstein climbed into furniture without her permission.
ANNIE AND I ARE SOBBING WITH JOY!!! https://t.co/3tneqQf09W
— ArtisticWhistleBlower, WIDE AWAKE (@ArtisticBlower) December 29, 2021Lawyer for "Jane" says verdict confirms "Epstein did not enactment alone"
"We are pleased that the assemblage has recovered Ms. Maxwell blameworthy of the heinous crimes she committed against our client, Jane, and the different brave women who had the courageousness to amusement up and attest astatine trial," Robert Glassman, an lawyer for Jane who testified astir her maltreatment astatine trial. "The verdict screams large and wide – if you marque it easier for different to sexually maltreatment children, you, too, volition beryllium held accountable for your relation successful that abuse. You volition beryllium arrested, and you volition spell to prison. The verdict besides confirms what we've known each along: Jeffrey Epstein did not enactment alone. If it was not for Ms. Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein would ne'er person been capable to maltreatment these girls."
5:38 PMSDNY U.S. Attorney Damian Williams calls Maxwell verdict "today, justness has been done"
"A unanimous assemblage has recovered Ghislaine Maxwell blameworthy of 1 of the worst crimes imaginable – facilitating and participating successful the intersexual maltreatment of children. Crimes that she committed with her long-time spouse and co-conspirator, Jeffrey Epstein. The roadworthy to justness has been acold excessively long. But, today, justness has been done. I privation to commend the bravery of the girls – present grown women – who stepped retired of the shadows and into the courtroom. Their courageousness and willingness to look their abuser made this case, and today's result, possible. I besides privation to convey the vocation prosecutors of the Southern District of New York, who embraced the victims' quest for justness and person worked tirelessly, time successful and time out, to guarantee that Maxwell was held accountable for her crimes. This Office volition ever basal with victims, volition ever travel the facts wherever they lead, and volition ever combat to guarantee that nary one, nary substance however almighty and good connected, is supra the law."
Video connection of US Attorney Damian Williams connected the blameworthy verdict successful US v. Ghislaine Maxwellhttps://t.co/oMgMbEgyv3 pic.twitter.com/6cJjDdDTD9
— US Attorney SDNY (@SDNYnews) December 29, 2021The charges against Maxwell:
Count 1: Conspiracy to Entice Minors to Travel to Engage successful Illegal Sex Acts
Count 2: Enticement of a Minor to Travel to Engage successful Illegal Sex Acts
Count 3: Conspiracy to Transport Minors with Intent to Engage successful Criminal Sexual Activity
Count 4: Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage successful Criminal Sexual Activity
Count 5: Sex Trafficking Conspiracy
Count 6: Sex Trafficking of a Minor
The 4 accusers gave elaborate accounts of however they said Maxwell befriended them, guided them successful however to springiness Epstein massages and took portion successful intersexual activity.
The defence utilized a three-pronged attack to constituent retired holes successful the assorted statements the accusers person fixed to authorities officials implicit the years. Maxwell's defence attorney, Bobbi Sternheim, laid it retired for jurors successful her opening statement: "This lawsuit is astir memory, manipulation and money."
Maxwell's ineligible squad besides highlighted however overmuch wealth each pistillate was paid from the Epstein victims' compensation fund. The defence presented Maxwell arsenic an subordinate of Epstein turned scapegoat following his death in August 2019 portion successful custody awaiting his ain proceedings on sex trafficking charges.
The justice antecedently granted the defense's petition to sever 2 perjury counts contained successful Maxwell's archetypal indictment. She volition beryllium tried connected those 2 charges successful a abstracted trial.
Maxwell has been jailed since she was arrested successful New Hampshire successful July 2020.
Epstein, a affluent financier with societal ties to a wide scope of concern and governmental leaders, died successful what officials ruled a suicide in his jailhouse compartment astatine Manhattan's Metropolitan Correctional Center connected August 10, 2019.
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