Ghislaine Maxwell bragged about being friends with Prince Andrew & Trump in front of Epstein victim, trial told

GHISLAINE Maxwell would regularly name drop Prince Andrew and Donald Trump, her trial was told.

The claim was made by a British woman, who alleges she was groomed by the 59-year-old socialite for abuse by Jeffrey Epstein.

Richard Gillard

Getty

The witness – known as Kate to protect her identity – told the court in New York that she first met Maxwell when she was 17.

Kate was asked by prosecutor Laura Pomerantz about Maxwell’s social circle to which she replied she “seemed to know everybody”.

“She was friends with Prince Andrew, friends with Donald Trump,” she said.

“Sometimes their names would just come up or she would be talking on the phone about them with me present.”

Neither are accused of wrongdoing in relation to the case.

The reference to Prince Andrew and Donald Trump is the second time they have been mentioned in in court.

The first week of the trial was told the pair, as well as Bill Clinton, all flew on Jeffrey Epstein’s private jet.

His personal pilot Lawrence Visoski, who is testifying for the prosecution, was quizzed during cross examination about passengers aboard Epstein’s private planes.

Visoski confirmed Trump, Andrew and Clinton all flew on the jet – along with other big names such as Hollywood stars Kevin Spacey & Chris Tucker, violinist Itzhak Perlman, and US Senators John Glenn & George Mitchell.

Clinton, Trump and Andrew have all previously have been reported to have once had friendships with Epstein.

But only Andrew has been accused of sexual misconduct relating to the millionaire – and it is an allegation he vehemently denies.

Kate – who said she is a musician and singer – said she was 17 when she met Maxwell for tea at her London townhouse in 1994.

Now in her mid-40s, she recounted how she was an aspiring musician at the time, and that Maxwell said her boyfriend could help with her career.

Kate said initially she looked up to Maxwell telling the court: “She seemed to be everything that I wanted to be.

“I left there feeling exhilarated and like somebody wanted to be my friend.”

As few weeks later, Kate again went to the house and she was introduced to Epstein by Maxwell, who described him as a “philanthropist” who liked to help people.

The jury heard Maxwell told her his massage therapist had cancelled and asked if she could step in.

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What we’ve heard so far:

• Donald Trump, Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton all flew on Jeffrey Epstein’s private jet, the paedo millionaire’s former pilot said
• Epstein introduced a 14-year-old sex abuse victim to Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort, the court was tol
• Maxwell handed Epstein’s housekeeper a “degrading” 58-page booklet which shows staff were told to “see nothing and say nothing”.
• She is alleged to have “served up” young girls to her former lover and also allegedly participated in some of the attacks.
• One of Epstein’s victims ‘Jane’ alleged the socialitewhen she was sexually abused as a 14-year-old

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Maxwell told Epstein “this is the girl that I told you about'” and “that I was strangely strong for my size”, Kate told the court.

“She said, ‘Why don’t you give his feet a little squeeze to show him how strong you are?”

She said Maxwell gave her massage oil and led her to a room where Epstein was wearing just a dressing gown and closed the door.

Kate was asked by prosecutor Lara Pomerantz if Epstein initiated sexual contact to which she said: “Yes”.

After the sexual contact with Epstein Kate said Maxwell bought her a Prada handbag for her 18th birthday.

Because Kate was over the age of consent in Britain, Judge Alison Nathan instructed the jury that any sexual encounters she described were not “illegal sex acts.”

It comes as photos showing what appears to be framed nude picture of Ghislaine Maxwell were shown to the jury.

Prosecutors released more than 60 images from a police raid at Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous Palm Beach mansion as part of the case.

But prosecutors are able to use Kate’s testimony to corroborate patterns in Epstein’s and Maxwell’s behaviour that other witnesses describe.

These include that Maxwell’s doting on teenage girls was a means of grooming them for Epstein’s abuse.

Prosecutors argue Maxwell “served up” young girls to Epstein as part of a pyramid scheme of abuse as she appeared in court in New York.

However her lawyers deny all charges against her, argue she is being made a proxy for Epstein, and have painted the alleged victims as in it for the cash.

She is facing charges relating to four alleged victims, three of whom are appearing anonymously – with the one named complainant being Annie Farmer.

Convicted sex offender Epstein killed himself while awaiting trial for further sex trafficking charges in August 2019.

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

Reuters

Nicholas Razzell