NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A judge on Tuesday denied Ghislaine Maxwell request to be released on bail, hours after she pleaded not guilty to charges that she recruited girls for late billionaire and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to abuse.
Maxwell, 58, entered the not-guilty plea during a virtual arraignment and bail hearing Tuesday afternoon. She was arrested earlier this month on charges that she helped lure and groom at least three girls whom Epstein sexually abused. The six-count indictment against her also claims she participated in some of the abuse.
#LIVE #GhislaineMaxwell Judge - how do you wish to plead?Maxwell - "Not guilty, your honor." @1010WINS
— Juliet Papa (@winsjuliet) July 14, 2020
“She’s being held in the equivalent of solitary confinement, alone in her room, lights on all the time,” her attorney said, adding that she wasn’t allowed to shower for 72 hours. Prosecutors, however, have said she “poses an extreme risk of flight," given her wealth and her French citizenship.
Judge addresses #GhislaineMaxwell - she responds, "good afternoon, Judge, " and says " yes, thank you," when asked if she could hear her. She speaks with a distinct, refined British accent. She is plugged into the hearing remotely. @1010WINS @SDNYnews
— Juliet Papa (@winsjuliet) July 14, 2020
“She thought it was funny. She drew her victims in with perceived caring,” the alleged victim wrote, adding that Maxwell “would do anything to get what she wanted to satisfy Epstein.”
“I have great fear she will seek to silence those in support of her prosecution,” the alleged victim added, claiming she received a phone call threatening her 2-year-old child’s life if she testified. “If she is out, I need to be protected.”
Prosecutors during the hearing claimed Maxwell and a purported husband used the aliases “Scott and Jen Marshall” to buy the New Hampshire property at which Maxwell was staying when the FBI arrested her.
"This was not a single incident, a single victim, or anything isolated," they said during the hearing. "This was an ongoing scheme to abuse victims for a pattern of years."
Pre-trial motions and other court proceedings are expected last through at least February 2021. A judge on Tuesday set a start date for Maxwell's trial: July 12, 2021.
Govt anticipates proposes setting aside 3 weeks for trial. Judge sets trial date for July 12, 2021 @1010WINS
— Juliet Papa (@winsjuliet) July 14, 2020
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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