Ghislaine Maxwell could start ‘naming names’ if she is found guilty of sex trafficking charges this week.
Closing arguments in Maxwell’s trial begin tomorrow, with the jury likely to retire that evening.
A legal source connected with the case told The Mail on Sunday that with the Manhattan court breaking for Christmas at the end of Wednesday, a verdict this week is ‘highly likely’, adding: ‘The jury won’t want this hanging over them over Christmas, so lawyers on both sides expect a verdict this week.’
Ghislaine Maxwell could start ‘naming names’ if she is found guilty of sex trafficking charges this week
Maxwell (59) denies the six charges of grooming girls underage for abuse by Jeffrey Epstein. However, the source said if she is convicted – and facing up to 70 years in prison – she might co-operate with the US Government in exchange for a reduced sentence or better jail conditions.
‘This could be bad news for Prince Andrew and other high-profile men who hung out with Ghislaine and Jeffrey Epstein,’ the source said.
‘It is possible she will begin to co-operate and tell what she knows in an attempt to lessen her jail term. We know that prosecutors are looking at other co-conspirators in connection with Jeffrey Epstein’s child sex ring. Ghislaine is certain to have information that could be helpful in other cases. Her testimony, if she agrees to cooperate could prove devastating. She was Epstein’s right-hand woman for years, imagine what she knows?’
Prince Andrew’s name has been mentioned three times during the trial, including by one of Epstein’s pilots who confirmed he flew the Prince on the disgraced financier’s private jet dubbed ‘the Lolita Express’ because of the young girls it ferried around the world.
One of them, Virginia Roberts, claims she was forced to have sex with the Prince three times, including at Maxwell’s home in London. He vigorously denied all allegations, insisting he had never met Ms Roberts.
These photos were shown to Maxwell’s jury. They show the intimate relationship that the two of them have, which the prosecutors call ‘partners-in crime’.
In court, former US presidents Bill Clinton (and Donald Trump) were named as associates with Epstein. Kevin Spacey, actor, and several Wall Street financiers, politicians, and businessmen were also included.
The death of Epstein, who was being held in prison on child sex allegations in 2019, led the then-US Attorney General William Barr to vow that he would prosecute anyone who helped him.
‘There will be accountability,’ he said. ‘This case will continue against anyone who was complicit with Epstein. The victims deserve justice and they will get it.’
Maxwell’s lawyers claim she is being punished by proxy for Epstein’s crimes.
On Friday she declined to give evidence in her defence, telling the judge: ‘The government has not proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt so there is no reason for me to testify.’
Maxwell, along with her lawyers, appeared in court to argue about the instructions that Judge Alison Nathan should give to jurors. Tomorrow she will be reading 80 pages of instructions.
Defence lawyers fought successfully for the judge to refer to the British socialite as ‘Maxwell’ instead of ‘the defendant’ and jurors were told they can weigh up whether she ‘consciously avoided’ knowledge of Epstein’s abuse of underage girls.