Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime confidante of Jeffrey Epstein, was denied bail on Tuesday after pleading not guilty to charges of child sex trafficking and sexual abuse, with the judge ordering the criminal trial against her to begin next July.
Maxwell appeared via video link from the Brooklyn prison where she is currently being held. The arguments between Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Moe and Maxwell’s defense lawyer Mark Cohen, which were presided over by Judge Alison Nathan of the Southern District of New York, were all made remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In explaining the denial of bail, the judge noted that Maxwell could face 35 years in prison, which could incentivize her to flee. The judge also said the evidence against Maxwell “appears strong” and noted Maxwell’s wealth and her extensive foreign ties. The judge also expressed doubt that Maxwell has been forthcoming with the court about her finances.
The judge said that those factors “all create both the motive and the opportunity to flee.” The judge added: “The defendant is hereby ordered to be detained pending trial.”
When asked at the start of the hearing how she pleaded to the charges, Maxwell replied in a posh British accent: “Not guilty, your honor.”
The judge asked the DOJ whether they expected to file further charges against Maxwell. Moe said: “Your honor, our investigation remains ongoing, but at this point we do not expect to file a superseding indictment.”
Maxwell, 58, was arrested in early July and been charged with conspiring with Epstein to recruit, groom, and sexually abuse underage girls, as well as perjury in depositions regarding Epstein. She filed a request for bail of $5 million Friday in a court filing that said she “vigorously denies the charges.”
Epstein, 66, a registered sex offender and wealthy financier, was arrested last July on federal sex trafficking and conspiracy charges for allegedly abusing girls as young as 14. He was found dead in his Manhattan prison cell in August, which the New York City medical examiner determined to be a suicide.
[Read more: Federal officials take precautions over fear Ghislaine Maxwell might take her own life: Report]
In making the argument that Maxwell is a flight risk, prosecutors told the court on Monday that Maxwell refused to open the door when law enforcement officers raided her home, had wrapped her cell phone in tin foil, and had hired British ex-military security guards to help her hide out in New Hampshire.
Moe argued that “this defendant presents an extreme risk of flight” and there were “serious red flags here,” including significant and concealed finances, strong international ties, citizenship in the United Kingdom and France, and a “strong incentive to flee to avoid being held accountable for her crimes” and to “become a fugitive.” Moe said Epstein was “a man who she knew was a predator with a preference for underage girls,” and Maxwell sometimes participated in the crimes herself.
The DOJ also revealed that the FBI was told that Maxwell presented herself under an alias, as a journalist named “Jen Marshall,” when purchasing the New Hampshire property. The realtor who showed her the property only later recognized her as Maxwell from TV. Moe said that this proved that “she was willing to hide herself and hide her identity.”
Cohen said Maxwell “ought to be released on a bail package with strict conditions.” The lawyer said, “Our client is not Jeffrey Epstein,” and “she has been the subject of endless media spin.”
Cohen said that Maxwell “is not the monster that has been portrayed by the media, and now the government.” Cohen accused the DOJ of trying to “dance around” a prior nonprosecution agreement that the DOJ had reached with Epstein. He also lamented that his client was being kept in a cell with the lights on 24/7 and said it was difficult to reach her due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Moe responded: “These are the facts. It is not dirt. It is not spin. It is the evidence that we have preferred to the court.”
An alleged victim of Maxwell, who asked to be named only as Jane Doe, submitted a written statement that was read aloud for the court. The victim alleged she had known Maxwell for over 10 years and that Maxwell “delivered me into the hands” of Epstein, whom she called a “monster.” The alleged victim said that “without Ghislaine, Jeffrey could not have done what he did.”
Another alleged Maxwell victim, Annie Farmer, delivered a statement herself, telling the court that she met Maxwell when she was 15 years old. She also alleged that Maxwell “is a sexual predator who groomed and abused me.” Farmer argued that “the danger Maxwell poses must be taken seriously” and lamented that “we may never know how many people were abused by Ghislaine Maxwell.” Farmer said Maxwell has “never shown any remorse” and that “she lied under oath” and “tormented survivors.”
The judge said the trial would begin July 21.
Maxwell’s whereabouts had been mostly a mystery in the time since Epstein’s arrest and subsequent death.
The indictment against Maxwell said that “as a part and in furtherance of their scheme to abuse minor victims,” Maxwell and Epstein “enticed and caused minor victims to travel to Epstein’s residences in different states,” including Epstein’s New York City mansion, his Palm Beach estate, his New Mexico ranch, and Maxwell’s London apartment.
Maxwell proposed that she be released on a $5 million bond “co-signed by six financially responsible people” and “secured by real property in the United Kingdom” worth more than $3.75 million. She also proposed that she be limited to home confinement, perhaps at a luxury Manhattan hotel.
The Justice Department disagreed, saying, “The charges against Ghislaine Maxwell arise from her essential role in sexual exploitation that caused deep and lasting harm to vulnerable victims. At the heart of this case are brave women who are victims of serious crimes that demand justice.”
Both Epstein and Prince Andrew were longtime friends of Maxwell, and the DOJ is seeking an interview with the British royal.
