Ghislaine Maxwell trial verdict LIVE – Massage table could lead to Jeffrey Epstein ‘Madam’s’ conviction as jury breaks
GHISLAINE Maxwell could face conviction in her trial as a result of a massage table used as evidence, and she is now set to spend Christmas Day and her birthday behind bars.
Jeffrey Epstein’s green massage table was used as evidence in Maxwell’s trial as part of the sex-trafficking charge against her that involves interstate commerce.
Maxwell accuser Carolyn said she was groped by Maxwell at age 14 while preparing to massage Epstein. The massage table was made in California and shipped to Florida, which impacts interstate commerce.
The sex-trafficking count carries a maximum sentence of 40 years.
Plus, the socialite turns 60 on Saturday and will spend the day in New York’s notorious Metropolitan Detention Center after jurors were sent home for the holiday. They are slated to reconvene on Monday, December 27.
Adam Klasfeld of Law&Crime that Maxwell's attorneys, "could be seen giving each other a high-five in court—before the brief conference to discuss plans for Thursday."
If convicted on all counts, Maxwell could face up to 80 years in prison. She denies all accusations.
Read our Ghislaine Maxwell live blog for the very latest news and updates...
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.
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.
Ghislaine Maxwell’s romantic history, continued
According to a 2009 deposition, several of Epstein’s household employees testified that Epstein referred to Maxwell as his “main girlfriend.”
It is unclear exactly when or if their relationship went from romantic to platonic before he was jailed for soliciting a minor for prostitution in 2008.
Following his initial release, the two were no longer seen in public together.
Maxwell was then linked to the founder of Gateway Computers, Ted Waitt. The two attended Chelsea Clinton‘s wedding together in 2010, and Maxwell reportedly helped Waitt to renovate a luxury yacht, Plan B, before they eventually split.
While the exact time and date of the wedding is unknown, Maxwell and Borgerson have been married since 2016.
Ghislaine Maxwell’s romantic history
While Maxwell has not been married prior to her nuptials with Scott Borgerson, she has been linked to a series of high-profile men over the years.
In the 1990s, Maxwell dated Count Gianfranco Cicogna, an Italian aristocrat and millionaire. According to reports, the two ended on bad terms.
Following her relationship with Cicogna, Maxwell began dating Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who killed himself while behind bars in 2019.
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.
Who is Ghislaine Maxwell?
Maxwell is the former girlfriend of notorious pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
She was arrested by the FBI in July 2020 in Bedford, New Hampshire.
Maxwell is accused of having a role in Epstein’s sex trafficking ring of underage girls.
Maxwell will spend 60th birthday in jail
Maxwell is to spend her Christmas Day birthday behind bars in a hellhole prison as a jury decides her fate.
The socialite turns 60 on Saturday, which she will spend in New York’s notorious Metropolitan Detention Center after jurors were sent home for the holiday.
Charges against Maxwell
Prosecutors alleged 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.
What did the victims say during their testimony?
One woman, identified only as ‘Jane’ detailed how Maxwell recruited her at summer camp and made her feel "special."
She said sexual encounters with Epstein became routine, with Maxwell sometimes present.
Another, going by ‘Carolyn’ said she was usually paid $300 after sexual encounters with Epstein, often by Maxwell herself.
A third alleged victim was Annie Farmer, now 42, who said Maxwell fondled her breasts when she was a teenager at the New Mexico ranch owned by Epstein.
What emerged during the trial?
- Jury shown creepy pictures of Ghislaine Maxwell giving Jeffrey Epstein a foot massage.
- Maxwell and Epstein pictured lounging in the Queen's log cabin at Balmoral
- Ghislaine Maxwell laid out a schoolgirl outfit for her to wear while serving tea to paedo Jeffrey Epstein.
- Trump, Andrew and Bill Clinton all flew on Jeffrey Epstein's private jet, the paedo millionaire's former pilot said
- Maxwell handed Epstein's housekeeper a "degrading" 58-page booklet which shows staff were told to "see nothing and say nothing".
- A framed photo of Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein kissing shown
Judge: 'take care of yourselves'
As the Omicron variant advances in New York, the judge in Maxwell's trial pleaded with the jury to take care of themselves.
"Obviously, we've got the variant and I need all of you here and healthy on Monday. So please take good care and cautions," said judge Alison Nathan before dismissing the jury on Wednesday.
Jurors declined to deliberate Thursday
Jury deliberations on Ghislaine Maxwell's sex-trafficking trial are on pause until Monday.
Before sending the jury home on Wednesday, judge Alison Nathan asked them if they would consider deliberating on Thursday.
"No, thank you. Jurors have made plans for tomorrow," responded the jury, as reported by .
What does the 17-page indictment against Maxwell accuse her of?
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.
One accuser Jennifer Araoz said Maxwell was at the “center of his sex trafficking ring.”
If convicted on all counts, Maxwell could face up to 80 years in prison.
Maxwell denies all accusations.
Prosecutors released more than 60 photos
As part of the case, prosecutors have released more than 60 photos from a police raid at Jeffrey Epstein’s Palm Beach mansion.
Some of the pictures shown to the jury include Ghislaine Maxwell and Epstein kissing, and one that appears to be a nude photo of Maxwell.
Why isn’t the trial televised, continued
A federal court has some rules that allow some cameras in civil cases, but have barred broadcasting criminal cases since 1946 under the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 53.
However, some to most state and criminal courts have allowed trial broadcasts on a case by case basis, sometimes earning plenty of ire from others.
Many complained that broadcasting trials, in turn, extended cases longer than they had to – saying it encouraged grandstanding from lawyers, judges and witnesses knowing they had a national audience.
Why isn’t the Ghislaine Maxwell trial televised?
This mostly has to do with different jurisdictions having different rules regarding the publicity – and broadcasting – in courtrooms.
Recent trials like the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse in Wisconsin or the conviction of three men for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia have been televised.
The two previous cases were conducted in county courts, meanwhile, Maxwell’s trial is in federal court, which has different jurisdictional rules.
In her own words, continued
In her first interview from behind bars, Maxwell told the Mail on Sunday that she is being kept in “inhumane” solitary confinement the entire time.
Maxwell, who is accused of helping to find teenage girls for billionaire financier Epstein to abuse, denies sex trafficking charges.
She added: “I used to take a shower every day but I've stopped because of the creepy guards who stand close and stare at me the whole time.”
In her own words
Maxwell spoke out from her jail cell ahead of her trial – claiming “creepy” guards watch her as she uses the bathroom.
Speaking to the she said: “I used to go to the loo with an open sewer drain and a friendly rat would regularly visit.
“I told the guards, but nothing was done until the rat popped out and charged a guard who screamed in terror.
“Finally, the sewer drain was covered.”
Prosecutor calls Maxwell ‘dangerous’ in closing argument
In her closing argument to the jury, Assistant US Attorney Alison Moe, who is prosecuting the heiress, said: “Ghislaine Maxwell was dangerous.
“She was a grown woman who preyed on vulnerable young kids. Young girls from struggling families.
“She targeted a young girl whose father had just died.“She targeted a girl whose mother was an alcoholic.
“She targeted a girl with a single mum who was struggling to raise her daughter.
“Maxwell was a sophisticated predator who knew exactly what she was doing.
“She ran the same playbook again and again and again. She manipulated her victims and groomed them for sexual abuse.
“She caused deep and lasting harm to young girls. It is time to hold her accountable.”
Jury has asked three questions
The jury in Maxwell’s trial so far has asked three questions as they deliberate on the fate of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged madam.
First, they asked for transcripts of the testimonies of Maxwell’s accusers Annie Farmer, Carolyn and “Jane.”
The jury also asked for the FBI notes from a 2007 interview with Carolyn, which Maxwell’s defense team has claim is inconsistent with her testimony in the trial.
Lastly, jurors asked if they could consider Farmer’s testimony for two of the conspiracy counts, which the judge allowed.
Maxwell’s jail complaints
Maxwell has repeatedly complained about her treatment and recently said her toilet was a rat infested open sewer drain.
She has claimed that she is being watched by guards and her only company is the rats near to the open sewer drain in her cell.
Her lawyers argue her jail conditions are fit only for fictional serial killer Lecter, and say her continued imprisonment is “untenable and unreasonable”.
A motion filed in April this year alleges Maxwell has been subject to “invasive searches”.
She is served “inedible” food and her water is often cloudy, they say.
It’s also claimed she was forced to crawl on her hands and knees to get into a prison van.
When will the jury deliberate again?
The jury requested not to deliberate on Thursday, December 23.
Instead, they will reconvene on Monday.
Judge Nathan told the jurors in the Ghislaine Maxwell case they will resume at 9am on December 27.
Maxwell will spend 60th birthday in jail
Maxwell is to spend her Christmas Day birthday behind bars in a hellhole prison as a jury decides her fate.
The socialite turns 60 on Saturday, which she will spend in New York’s notorious Metropolitan Detention Center after jurors were sent home for the holiday.
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 unsavoury 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.”
‘It was the biggest mistake of her life’
Defense attorney Laura Menninger ended her closing argument on Monday by telling the jury: “Ghislaine is being tried here for being with Jeffrey Epstein.”
“Maybe it was the biggest mistake of her life. But it is not a crime,” she added, according to the Independent.
“Acquit her.”