Ghislaine Maxwell, former collaborator of Jeffrey Epstein – the pedophile billionaire who committed suicide in prison in August 2019 -, denied having helped him to sexually exploit minors, in a 2016 deposition made public Thursday, October 22. She assures that she has only recruited “Adults of appropriate age” to work in its properties.
Imprisoned in New York after being charged with “ trafficking in minors ”, “Incitement to prostitution” and “False testimony”, especially for this deposition, Ghislaine Maxwell has not made any statement since her arrest in July, except to plead not guilty.
This jet-set figure, daughter of former British media mogul Robert Maxwell, fought against the publication of this 465-page deposition, taken in April 2016 as part of a civil action brought by Virginia Giuffre. But a judge validated its publication this week. This complaint resulted in an amicable settlement in 2017. Most of the names cited in the testimony were rendered illegible.
We learn more from the questions of Virginia Giuffre’s lawyer than from Ghislaine Maxwell’s answers: when asked about Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged sex trafficking activities in minors in the early 2000s, Ghislaine Maxwell is evasive, said not to be aware of the financier’s sex life or “Not to remember”.
A trial in July 2021
Ghislaine Maxwell says that she only recruited “Adults of appropriate age” to help maintain its luxurious properties, not having “Never observed Jeffrey [Epstein] have sex with a minor ”, and not have “Never brought girls under 18” at home for sexual purposes. “The people I brought were all adults of the appropriate age”, with the exception of “Members of his own family ”.
She admits, however, that he loved massages to the point of asking for them daily, at times. “Unpredictable”, which she said would explain why her address book contained long lists of “Masseuses”.
Asked about emails exchanged with the billionaire, where they seem to consult on their statements to the media, Ghislaine Maxwell, 58, assures that her only concern was to ensure “Accuracy” of his words.
Since the death in prison of Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell has been the main figure in a scandal that has splashed Prince Andrew and other personalities. Her trial is due to begin in July 2021. She faces up to thirty-five years in prison if convicted.
