Ghislaine Maxwell Trial: Day 7
The trial of Ghislaine Maxwell has resumed a day after being adjourned due to an attorney falling ill.
Ms Maxwell is accused of grooming teenage girls for her convicted sex offender partner Jeffrey Epstein from the 1990s onwards. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Her defence team said that she is being made the “scapegoat” for Epstein’s deeds.
However, her accusers have testified that she was instrumental in the late financier’s crimes and even participated.
Annie Farmer, the fourth accuser from the indictment against Ms Maxwell, is now testifying. She is the only victim using her real name and has described in detail being groped by Epstein, instructed to rub his feet by Ms Maxwell, and being massaged naked by the disgraced socialite.
Meanwhile, Ghislaine Maxwell’s brother Kevin Maxwell has alleged that his sister is being abused in prison and was only fed a packet of crisps during one day in court.
The prosecution reiterated on Wednesday that they intend to rest their case this week, wrapping up arguments from their side in a trial that was expected to last five to six weeks.
As promised, and despite losing a day, the government has rested its prosecution case against Ghislaine Maxwell.
More than 20 witnesses took the stand over a 10-day period including four accusers.
Other witnesses included two pilots, current and former law enforcement personnel, those close to the accusers, and a longtime housekeeper, among other former Epstein employees.
Oliver O’Connell10 December 2021 21:16
In a brief cross-examination, Ms Maxwell’s defence lawyer asks Ms Swain if she knew whether the defendant was aware if Maria would also travel to New Mexico, and whether she was in Germany when Annie was in Thailand.
Ms Swain responds yes to both.
Oliver O’Connell10 December 2021 21:13
When Annie returned from her trip to New Mexico she had a pair of black cowboy boots that she said Epstein had bought for her.
Ms Swain recalled that she was very tired.
Later when she asked what had happened, Annie told her mother that she did not want to talk about it.
Oliver O’Connell10 December 2021 21:07
Janice Swain, the mother of Annie and Maria Farmer, is now testifying.
She recalls speaking with Jeffrey Epstein when he wanted to take Maria, the older sister, on his plane to Florida on a work trip.
She said that Epstein had also told her about a meeting of students at his ranch in New Mexico to discuss college plans — Annie testified earlier that is how the trip was sold to her, but she was the only guest.
Ms Swain asked who would be chaperoning the group and Epstein said that Ms Maxwell would be.
Oliver O’Connell10 December 2021 21:01
On redirect, the prosecution asks why he remembers what Ms Farmer told him about New Mexico.
He says that these were big moments that were discussed at a time when they were being physically affectionate with each other.
Oliver O’Connell10 December 2021 20:52
Cross-examined by Maxwell defence attorney Bobbi Sternheim, Mr Mulligan is asked if he has seen things in the media about Epstein and Ms Maxwell.
He replies that he is not much of a news watcher.
Mr Mulligan also said he was unaware that Ms Farmer had received $1.5m from the Epstein Victims’ Fund .
He confirmed that she had recently attended his wedding.
Oliver O’Connell10 December 2021 20:51
Following the afternoon recess, a new witness is called — Annie Farmer’s high school boyfriend, David Mulligan, now a baker.
He is asked if Annie told him how her trip to Thailand and Vietnam was paid for and he confirms that she told him it was paid for by Epstein.
Asked what she had told him about her New York trip, he said she had told him that Epstein touched her leg in the theatre, but she didn’t want to say anything about it because he was helping her sister Maria’s art career.
Questioned about the New Mexico trip, he said that Annie has told him that Ms Maxwell had touched her breasts during the massage and she had not spoken up for the same reason.
Maria was introduced to both Epstein and Ms Maxwell in 1995 and he had bought one of her paintings. Later she was hired by him to oversee the acquisition of his art collection and then worked at the front desk of his Manhattan home.
Oliver O’Connell10 December 2021 20:44
Judge Nathan calls the mid-afternoon break in proceedings.
Oliver O’Connell10 December 2021 20:19
Referring to the lack of a journal entry about the abuse she said she suffered in New Mexico, the prosecutor asks if she needed a piece of paper to remember the defendant touching her breasts.
“I do not. It was distressing. Those are things that we remember.”
Speaking to the actions of Epstein and Ms Maxwell, she said she believes they were trying to confuse her as to what was right and wong in order to sexually abuse her.
Oliver O’Connell10 December 2021 20:18
Assistant US Attorney Pomerantz begins the redirect of Ms Farmer’s testimony asking her about statements she gave to the FBI in 2006.
In the statement, it appears that a trip to New Mexico by Annie’s sister Maria was cancelled at the last minute meaning that Annie would be alone with Epstein and Ms Maxwell.
The prosecutor also notes the plot of the movie Primal Fear that Epstein, Ms Maxwell, and Ms Farmer went to see at the movies in New Mexico.
It is a legal thriller in which a Chicago attorney played by Richard Gere works to exonerate a client who he believes is not guilty of the murder of a Catholic archbishop. Sexual abuse is one of the plot themes.
Oliver O’Connell10 December 2021 20:08
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