Court hears four women met Ghislaine Maxwell as teens, accusing her as adults
The jury in British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex trafficking was sent out to deliberate on Monday evening after hearing closing arguments which featured intimate photos of the defendant and Jeffrey Epstein, including images of them swimming naked in a pool.
In a powerful closing for the prosecution, Assistant US Attorney Alison Moe described Ms Maxwell as a “sophisticated” and “dangerous” predator who targeted vulnerable young girls.
“Maxwell ran the same playbook again and again. She groomed them. She caused deep and lasting harm to young girls. It is time to hold her accountable,” Ms Moe said.
In closing for the defence, Ms Maxwell’s attorney Laura Menninger sought to distance her from Epstein, saying: “The US presented evidence like a sensational tabloid. These were things that Epstein did, perhaps, his crimes. But Ghislaine Maxwell is not Epstein.”
Ms Maxwell, who has pleaded not guilty to six charges, refused to take the stand in her own defence last week, telling US District Judge Alison Nathan: “Your honour, the government has not proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt, and so there’s no reason for me to testify.”
The jury was sent out to deliberate just before 5pm on Monday.
