Ghislaine Maxwell trial LIVE – Jeffrey Epstein’s ‘Madam’s’ photos may be discussed but her ‘black book’ remains SECRET

Maxwell holds multiple citizenships

Ghislaine Maxwell is a US citizen, and she also holds British and French citizenships.

This increased the concern of her being a possible “flight risk,” if granted bail.

How long could Maxwell face in prison?

If convicted on all counts, Maxwell could face up to 80 years in prison.

Depending on how the trial goes and whether she is convicted, she could spend the rest of her life behind bars.

Defense will call 35 witnesses

In a court filing on Sunday, lawyers for the British socialite confirmed their intention to call the large number of witnesses — 11 more than the prosecution.

Her lawyers have scrambled to put together a line-up after the prosecution in the New York case rested two weeks earlier than anticipated.

Maxwell’s response to allegations

The British socialite has repeatedly denied any involvement in Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes.

Her spokesperson said “the allegations made against Ghislaine Maxwell are untrue” and she “strongly denies allegations of an unsavory nature, which have appeared in the British press and elsewhere, and reserves her right to seek redress at the repetition of such old defamatory claims”.

When was Maxwell arrested?

Ghislaine was arrested suddenly in July 2020 – and has been held in prison ever since as she was deemed a flight risk.

She has pleaded not guilty to eight counts of sex trafficking and other charges for her alleged role in recruiting and grooming four teenagers for Epstein to abuse between 1994 and 2004.

Her attorneys say she is being scapegoated because Epstein is no longer alive.

Celebrities connected to Epstein and Maxwell

Notable politicians, billionaires, and celebrities have been connected to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwelll.

Some of them include Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, Bill Gates, and Woody Allen.

Prince Andrew has been accused of sexual assault by Virginia Giuffre. A judge dismissed criminal charges in 2015, but Giufffre is pursuing a sexual assault lawsuit.

The case is scheduled to go on well into the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year in 2022.

‘Little black book’ to remain secret

Just a small portion of Maxwell’s “little black book” — with the contact details for thousands of people including Prince Andrew — will be released publicly.

Only a few pages are at issue in the case and the prosecution agreed that the book can be used “for a limited purpose”.

Court sketch

Ghislaine Maxwell is seen speaking with her attorney Bobbi Sternheim on Thursday, December 16, during the trial of Maxwell, the Jeffrey Epstein associate accused of sex trafficking.

‘A dangerous predator’

The prosecution have called the Brit heiress a “dangerous predator” alleging she and Epstein – who she dated in the 1990s – were “partners in crime”.

Maxwell, daughter of disgraced newspaper mogul Robert Maxwell, is alleged to have snared girls as young as 14 into a “nightmare” after promising them “the world”.

She is accused of walking girls into Epstein’s lair where she watched as he molested them – and sometimes even joined in. She denies the allegations.

The defense strategy

Maxwell’s legal team is focusing on pulling apart the testimony of the four accusers who claim she served them up for multi-millionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

It has lined up 35 witnesses, including a false memory expert, to support her case at her trial in New York.

They are said to be preparing to produce evidence that Maxwell could not have been present during some of the accusations of wrongdoing.

A source said: “The defense case will be shocking. There will be some very surprising revelations.”

Will Maxwell testify?

Maxwell is unlikely to testify in her sex trafficking trial.

The British socialite, 59, is said to be “too fragile” to take the witness stand as her defense began today.

Her spokesman said: “Ghislaine Maxwell is unlikely to testify over serious worries she is too fragile and will not be able to acquit herself properly.”

Her family has complained she is not being fed correctly and shackled to and from court. A friend said: “There are significant concerns about her health.”

Charges against Maxwell

Prosecutors allege that between 1994 and 1997 she helped Epstein to groom girls as young as 14.

Maxwell has been charged with six counts of perjury and sex trafficking offenses:

• Count one: Conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts
• Count two: Enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts
• Count three: Conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity
• Count four: Transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity
• Counts five and six: Perjury – the offence of wilfully telling an untruth or making a misrepresentation under oath.

The 17-page indictment against Maxwell accused her of grooming and befriending victims, normalizing inappropriate behavior, being present during abuse to put victims at ease, encouraging victims to accept Epstein’s help, and encouraging victims to engage in sexual activity and taking part herself.

Who is Scott Borgerson?

Scott Borgerson is the CEO of CargoMetrics.

He lives in a £2.3million ocean-front mansion in Massachusetts, and his company was valued at $100million in 2020.

He has been linked to Ghislaine Maxwell, and it is alleged that he is the British socialite’s “secret” husband.

However, Borgerson has repeatedly denied the allegations, claiming that he and Maxwell are just old friends.

Does Ghislaine Maxwell have kids?

Ghislaine Maxwell does not have any children of her own, but is reportedly the stepmother to her husband’s children from his first marriage.

According to reports, Maxwell secretly wed tech millionaire Scott Borgerson in 2016.

Maxwell’s own family didn’t know about the wedding until her bail hearing, according to her brother, Ian.

Court on recess

The Ghislaine Maxwell trial is reportedly paused for an afternoon recess as of 4pm ET.

Expert witness being paid

Defense witness Dr Elizabeth Loftus admitted she is being paid $600 per hour for her testimony in the Ghislaine Maxwell trial, The Independent reported.

“You’re being compensated for your time?” a prosecutor asked her.

“I am. I hope so,” Dr Loftus replied.

It is not uncommon for an expert witness to be compensated for their time.

What was Jeffrey Epstein accused of?

Jeffrey Epstein was accused of abusing women and underage girls for decades, assembling a network of enablers to help carry out and cover up his crimes.

The serial sex abuser reportedly made a secret plea deal with the government in 2008 to avoid a potential life sentence and continued to abuse women.

Expert discusses media contamination of memories

Elizabeth Loftus, a psychologist who has “studied the fallibility of human memory,” according to The Independent, took the stand on Thursday.

“The media is a source of post-event suggestion,” Ms Loftus told the court.

She suggested that the news media can corrupt memories, the outlet noted.

What has Ghislaine Maxwell been accused of?

Maxwell is accused of acting as a “madam” for Jeffrey Epstein, US court documents previously revealed.

Prosecutors allege she had a history of giving powerful men access to women.

A defamation case involving Virginia Giuffre claims Prince Andrew slept with her three times, and that she was recruited by Maxwell in 1999 where she was introduced to Epstein.

Defense has accused alleged victim of lying for cash

Maxwell has previously claimed that one alleged victim, Annie Farmer, fabricated her accusations because she wanted money.

One of Maxwell’s lawyers wrote: “The fact that plaintiff seeks money from the estate and from Ms Maxwell in the millions of dollars at the same time she is a government witness in an upcoming criminal trial on the same topic is reason enough to suspect that her newly asserted memories of abuse without corroboration are not based on the truth or a desire for ‘justice,’ so much as her desire for cash.”

Expert may be used to undermine accusers

The expert “false memory” witness may be used to undermine the credibility of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s alleged victims, The Independent noted.

‘False memory’ expert called

On Thursday, Elizabeth Loftus, a psychologist who has “studied the fallibility of human memory,” according to The Independent, was called in the trial.

In the past, she’s been called as a witness for Harvey Weinstein, Robert Durst, and OJ Simpson.

Anonymity denied

In a ruling made last night, Judge Alison Nathan denied the defense’s request for anonymity for some of the 35 witnesses they’re likely to call on, according to The Independent.

Judge Nathan said that “none of the Defense’s witnesses intend to testify to sensitive personal topics or sexual conduct. Rather, they all are anticipated to deny misconduct by Epstein and Ms Maxwell.”

35 witnesses may be called

The defense in the Ghislaine Maxwell case may call on as many as 35 witnesses, The Independent reported.

However, a spokesperson for the Maxwell family told The Daily Telegraph that “Ghislaine Maxwell is unlikely to testify at her own trial over serious worries she is too fragile and will not be able to acquit herself properly”.

Pilot claims Bill Clinton was on Epstein’s plane

Lawrence Paul Visoski Jr, who was Jeffrey Epstein’s pilot from 1991 to 2019, previously testified in the Ghislaine Maxwell trial.

He was asked whether former President Bill Clinton flew on Epstein’s plane and replied yes, adding that he was asked to clean up, according to The Independent.