News / Politics

Maxwell, Epstein lured victims with promise of bright future: Prosecutors

Saturday, 18 December 2021 10:15 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 18 December 2021 10:15 PM ]

People gather to protest human trafficking at the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse where the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell is being held on November 29, 2021 in New York City. (AFP photo)

Ghislaine Maxwell, who is accused of acting as a pimp for disgraced pedophile Jeffery Epstein by procuring underage girls for his sexual gratification, has alleged that the case against her is “unproven.”

The daughter of the disgraced media mogul, Robert Maxwell, made the comments in a US court, where her lawyers called nine witnesses over two days.

"Your honor, the government has not proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt and so there is no need for me to testify," Maxwell told the judge.

Despite having pleaded not guilty to all charges, the British citizen could potentially face between 70 to 80 years behind bars.

Facing up to 80 years in jail, Maxwell complains about tough conditions

Ghislaine Maxwell has complained about tough conditions behind the bars in an upcoming interview.

Maxwell’s defense is mostly focused on the idea that the victims may have given into "false memories."

"We are flying people across the country, across the pond, our client's life is on the line, and we are given only a half a day to put on a witness," said her attorney, Laura Menninger.

But the complaint was dismissed by Judge Alison Nathan, who rebuked the lawyers for not having their witnesses ready.

"I have a rule, you have your next witness or you rest," Nathan said.

Facing up to 80 years in jail, Maxwell complains about tough conditions

Ghislaine Maxwell has complained about tough conditions behind the bars in an upcoming interview.

The British socialite faces six charges in connection to facilitating a sex trafficking scheme with Epstein, who suspiciously died in prison in 2019.

The prosecutors, however, argued that Epstein and Maxwell acted as “partners in crime. Assistant US Attorney Lara Pomerantz noted that “the defendant and Epstein lured their victims with a promise of a bright future, only to sexually exploit them.”

Maxwell, who was arrested at her secluded mansion in New Hampshire in July 2020.

Epstein, whose suspicious death in a Manhattan prison in 2019 was reported as suicide, was known for partying with high profile figures such former US Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, British Prince Andrew, and celebrity lawyer Alan Dershowitz in his homes as well as his private Caribbean island of Little Saint James.

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