THE sex trafficking trial of Jeffrey's Epstein's alleged "madam" Ghislaine Maxwell started on Monday, and Lawrence Visoski, Epstein's former pilot who is testified for the prosecution, claimed former President Donald Trump flew on Epstein's aircraft.
Visoski was asked during cross-examination about passengers on Epstein's Gulf Stream plane and confirmed Trump, Prince Andrew, and former President Bill Clinton had all flown on it.
"I certainly remember President Trump, but not many people associated with him," the pilot told the trial.
Prosecutors allege that an address book containing the contact information of the alleged victims belonged to Maxwell, and that she and Epstein used it.
The case could see bombshell revelations from the murky world of Epstein emerge as Maxwell answers six charges relating to the trafficking and abuse of four victims.
Maxwell faces allegations that she procured girls for Epstein while also participating in the abuse herself on a number of occasions. Prosecutors allege she and Epstein exploited girls as young as 14.
Maxwell’s lawyers deny all charges against her and will attempt to argue her relationship with Epstein has been overstated.
Read our Ghislaine Maxwell live blog for the latest news and updates…
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G. P. Rodriguez
‘VICTIM 3’
One of three accusers, known as ‘Victim 3’, is understood to be a British woman who claims she was groomed by Maxwell in London in 1994.
Prosecutors claim Maxwell encouraged the 17-year-old girl to massage Epstein “knowing that (he) would engage in sex acts” with her.
The British woman is alleged to have later been abused by Epstein at his ‘Zorro’ ranch in New Mexico, although she was above the age of consent in the state.
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G. P. Rodriguez
COURT SKETCH: THE JUDGE
US District Judge Alison Nathan listens as defense lawyer Laura Menninger questions witness "Jane" during the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell on Wednesday.
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G. P. Rodriguez
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.
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G. P. Rodriguez
‘THEY WERE KIDS BEING SEXUALLY EXPLOITED AND ABUSED’
“But was happening in those massage rooms was not massage. Those girls were not professional masseuses. They were kids being sexually exploited and abused,” Pomerantz continued.
Not only did Maxwell groom the girls to be abused by Epstein, she even watched and took part, the court was told as the prosecutor opened the case.
“The defendant walked the girls into a room where she knew that man would molest them, and there were times she was in the room when it happened, making it all feel normal and casual. That is why we are here today.”
“Sometimes, she was even in the room for the massages herself, and sometimes she touched the girls’ bodies.”
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G. P. Rodriguez
GHISLAINE MAXWELL ‘PREYED ON VULNERABLE YOUNG GIRLS’
While opening the case against Ghislaine Maxwell, prosecutor Lara Pomerantz said: “The defendant helped Epstein find those girls, she helped him recruit those girls for so-called massages.”
“She preyed on vulnerable young girls, manipulated them and served them up to be sexually abused.”
“Make no mistake – she knew exactly what Epstein was going to do to those children when she sent them inside those massage rooms.”
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G. P. Rodriguez
GHISLAINE MAXWELL SIBLINGS PICTURED ARRIVING AT COURT
Kevin Maxwell and Isabel Maxwell, brother and sister of Ghislaine Maxwell, are pictured arriving at court for the third day of the Ghislaine Maxwell trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City on Wednesday.
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G. P. Rodriguez
PROCEEDINGS WILL RUN THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS
With a trial expected to last about six weeks, it’s not likely we will see a conviction before the end of the holidays this year.
It is expected that Ghislaine Maxwell will turn 60 behind bars.
Her birthday falls on Christmas Day.
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G. P. Rodriguez
WHAT WAS JEFFREY EPSTEIN'S 'LITTLE BLACK BOOK'?
Jeffery Epstein maintained a “little black book” with the names and contact information of prominent people, including President Donald Trump, Elizabeth Hurley and Michael Bloomberg.
The individuals listed in Epstein’s book have not been accused of or associated with any of Epstein’s crimes.
In 2020, the Miami Herald tried calling many listed in the book and said they received a “lot of throat clearing, vague answers”.
Some people apparently claimed they were in Epstein’s book because of their connection with Ghislaine Maxwell.
Unredacted versions of the 92-page book have appeared online after it was reportedly leaked in 2015 by Gawker, which claimed it was found in court documents.
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G. P. Rodriguez
ALLEGED VICTIM SAYS SHE WAS ON FLIGHT WITH PRINCE ANDREW
The victim – who is testifying anonymously as Jane – was asked if she had been on a flight with Andrew, too which she responded "yes".
It is the second time in as many days that the Duke of York has been dragged into the sex abuse trial of his old friend Ghislaine.
But there are no allegations of improper behavior by Andrew as part of this case.
Maxwell defence lawyer Laura Menninger asked: "Do you remember Prince Andrew being on a flight with you?"
Jane responded: "Yes".
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G. P. Rodriguez
COURT SKETCH: JANE CRIES DURING TESTIMONY
Witness "Jane" cries as she testifies under redirect examination during the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, the Jeffrey Epstein associate accused of sex trafficking, in a courtroom sketch in New York City on December 1, 2021.
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Jocelyn Cook
WILL THERE BE ANOTHER TRIAL?
The trial currently underway is addressing the six counts in connection to an alleged sex trafficking scheme with Jeffrey Epstein.
Ghislaine Maxwell was also charged with two counts of perjury in connection to a sworn deposition.
There will be a separate trial for those charges, which has yet to be scheduled.
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Jocelyn Cook
VICTIM MET TRUMP AT MAR-A-LAGO
Jeffrey Epstein introduced a 14-year-old sex abuse victim to Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort, Ghislaine Maxwell's trial heard this week.
The court was also told she once participated in beauty pageant which was sponsored by the millionaire property mogul.
Maxwell's first accuser – who is appearing under the pseudonym "Jane" – took the stand again this afternoon on day three of the trial in New York.
During cross examination, she was asked by Maxwell's lawyers if Epstein had ever introduced her to Trump.
She agreed she had and claims she was driven to Mar-a-Lago by Epstein in a dark green car when she was 14.
And later on, she also mentioned she took part in a Trump sponsored beauty pageant.
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Jocelyn Cook
MONEY WILL NEVER PAY BACK VICTIM'S SUFFERING
Reporter Molly Crane-Newman shared on Twitter that "Jane" said the $2.9 million she got from the Epstein victims' compensation fund could never pay back the pain she went through.
The fund "would never pay back what she lost through the 'pain, abuse, and suffering' caused by him and Maxwell," Crane-Newman reported "Jane" testified.
"And all the out of pocket money I paid to try to make this go away, and to try to fix myself," "Jane" was quoted as saying.
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Jocelyn Cook
HOW LONG COULD MAXWELL FACE IN PRISON?
If convicted on all counts, Maxwell could face up to 80 years in prison.
Depending on how the trial goes and whether she is convicted, she could spend the rest of her life behind bars.
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Jocelyn Cook
'JUST TELL THE TRUTH'
After cross-examination ended today, the redirect by the prosecution began and Assistant US Attorney Alison Moe asked "Jane" whether she or any other prosecutor had told her what to say while she testified on the stand, according to The Independent.
“No," she responded.
When asked what she was told to say, she replied, “Just tell the truth.”
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Jocelyn Cook
GHISLAINE MAXWELL COMPLAINED ABOUT COURTROOM TEMPERATURE
Ghislaine Maxwell rubbed her arms in the courtroom on Wednesday to indicate she was cold, according to The Independent.
She complained about the temperature in the room on Tuesday, and Judge Nathan said they would try to turn up the heat in the courtroom, the outlet noted.
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Jocelyn Cook
IS GHISLAINE MAXWELL MARRIED, CONTINUED
Maxwell later told the court she had tried to file for a divorce before her arrest so her husband wouldn’t suffer from "being associated with her."
Borgerson has always denied his relationship with Maxwell, claiming the two are just old friends.
Borgerson proposed to put forth most of Maxwell's bail money, which was denied by a judge, who ruled that the multi-million package was enough evidence to prove she could flee the country.
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Jocelyn Cook
IS GHISLAINE MAXWELL MARRIED?
Yes. However, prosecutors allege that she is continuing to conceal who she is married to.
Evidence points to her husband being millionaire tech company CEO Scott Borgerson.
Manhattan prosecutors have accused the British socialite of trying to hide her wealth.
Assistant US Attorney Alison Moe told Manhattan federal Judge Alison Nathan:
“The defendant also makes no mention whatsoever about the financial circumstances or assets of her spouse, whose identity she declined to provide to Pretrial Services."
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Jocelyn Cook
WHO HAS BEEN CONNECTED TO EPSTEIN AND MAXWELL?
Notable politicians, billionaires, and celebrities have been connected to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Some of them include Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, Bill Gates, and Woody Allen.
Prince Andrew has been accused of sexual assault by Virginia Giuffre. A judge dismissed criminal charges in 2015, but Giuffre is pursuing a sexual assault lawsuit.
The case is scheduled to go on well into the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year in 2022.
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Jocelyn Cook
'THAT IS NOT CORRECT'
“Jane” testified that Jeffrey Epstein first abused her at a Palm Beach property when he masturbated on her in the pool house, according to The Independent.
Defense lawyer Laura Menninger questioned that testimony and said that she told authorities in 2019 that that incident occurred in New York.
“That is not correct," Jane replied.
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Jocelyn Cook
DEFENSE QUESTIONS 'JANE'
During the trial on Wednesday, the defense questioned some of the details "Jane" provided.
For instance, defense lawyer Laura Menninger brought up “Jane’s” application to the Interlochen music school in Michigan where she claimed to have first met Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein when she was 14, according to The Independent.
In her testimony on Tuesday, “Jane” said that she had a hard family life, but Menninger noted that her application stated that she came from a “loving family."
“Jane” said she did not recognize the specific document in question.
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Jocelyn Cook
EPSTEIN 'LIKED TO BE MASSAGED HARD'
Epstein would like to be massaged "hard" – including acts like "twisting his nipples," Jane added.
Epstein would pay for things for Jane, such as clothes and singing lessons, the court heard.
Jane claimed she traveled with the couple and visited properties in New York and New Mexico with flights on his private jet.
And the couple would allegedly talk about their high profile social circle, mentioning names such as Donald Trump and Bill Clinton.
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Jocelyn Cook
MAXWELL WAS 'VERY CASUAL,' SAYS ALLEGED VICTIM
On one occasion, alleged witness "Jane" said she watched as Epstein fondled himself as Ghislaine "rubbed" and "kissed" him, the court heard.
"She was very casual, like this was entirely normal. I was confused. When you are 14 you have no idea what is going on," she said.
She also claimed on one occasion she saw Maxwell and four other women topless by a pool.
And in another instance, she was brought up to Epstein's bedroom at his mansion in Palm Beach.
"They moved me over to the bed and took their clothes off. And they started to sort’ve like fondle each other," she said.
"They asked me to take my top off. Then there were hands everywhere."
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Jocelyn Cook
MAXWELL AND EPSTEIN SAID THEY WERE 'BENEFACTORS'
The alleged victim explained how she was first approached by the couple at an arts summer camp in Michigan.
Jane was a singer, but she said her family was struggling financially after her dad's death.
Epstein and Maxwell allegedly said they were benefactors supporting the camp – and they struck up what appeared to be a friendship with her and her mum.
But she claimed this relationship escalated and she was then subjected to regular sexual abuse by Epstein.
Jane told the court she was subjected to abuse "every time" she visited his house.
Sometimes she would be made to participate in an "orgy", she said.
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Jocelyn Cook
'FROZEN IN FEAR'
Jane claimed that she was just 14 when Epstein first sexually abused her – and said Maxwell was in the room at the time.
The alleged victim said she was "frozen in fear" having never seen a penis before.
She claimed that Maxwell would also instruct her how to give Epstein sexual massages and sometimes physically participated in the encounters.
And at one point during her testimony, Jane started to sob.
Maxwell denies all charges – and her lawyers claim she is being made a "scapegoat" after Epstein's death.
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