Jeffrey Epstein’s former housekeeper revealed the ‘imperious’ nature of Ghislaine Maxwell whereas he was employed underneath the couple.
Juan Alessi, 72, had revealed Maxwell’s demanding high-handed habits in addition to he remedy of workers when he had labored for Epstein at his Palm Seaside Mansion between 1990 and 2002.
Alessi, a upkeep employee and home supervisor, mentioned that Maxwell had carried out herself because the ‘girl of the home’ and even handed out a 58-page handbook with guidelines for employees on every part from easy methods to deal with her and Epstein in addition to easy methods to attend to them and their visitors.
‘Checklists will help you in ensuring each activity has been accomplished and never even the smallest element has been neglected,’ the guide learn.
Staffers additionally needed to run the home ‘like a five-star resort’ which included washing Epstein’s automotive, stuffing it with $100 payments, and avoiding eye contact with him as Maxwell claimed he detested it.
Maxwell additionally forbade the workers from fraternizing with their visitors and informed them to ‘see nothing, hear nothing say nothing’ until that they had been spoken to first.
‘I used to be speculated to be blind, deaf and dumb and say nothing of their lives,’ Alessi mentioned when taking the stand on the fourth day of Maxwell’s trial.
Epstein’s former housekeeper Juan Alessi, 72, is seen leaving the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse in Manhattan on December 2
Alessi had labored for Epstein and Maxwell at their Palm Seaside mansion between 1990 and 2002
Alessi recounted his experiences working underneath Maxwell who he claimed to be ‘imperious’ and handed workers a 58-page handbook on easy methods to cater to her and Epstein
One of many guidelines of the house was ‘see nothing, hear nothing say nothing’ as Maxwell didn’t need them intermixing of their enterprise as effectively their visitors’
Alessi additionally mentioned that a part of his job was to scrub up after Epstein’s massages – which he mentioned Maxwell scheduled 3 times per day and which often passed off in his lavatory.
Requested by the prosecutor if he ever discovered something ‘sudden’ after the massages, Alessi mentioned that he discovered a ‘giant dildo,’ describing it as ‘an enormous man’s penis with two heads.’
Alessi didn’t make clear whether or not it was the intercourse toy known as a ‘Twin Torpedo’ referred to by prosecutors in pretrial filings.
Alessi mentioned that he put gloves on and ‘ran it underneath the water and put the dildo in Ms. Maxwell’s closet in (her) lavatory’ within a wicker basket.
Alessi mentioned that he noticed ‘pornographic tapes and a black leather-based costume’ in the identical basket.
He mentioned that three or 4 different instances he discovered two different intercourse toys: one which seemed ‘like a pillow’ and one other that seemed like an ‘arm’ which had a rubber vibrating half on the finish.
He put these gadgets in Epstein’s dresser, Alessi mentioned.
Alessi took the stand Thursday in Day 4 of Ghislaine Maxwell’s intercourse trafficking trial
Alessi additionally mentioned that he discovered intercourse toys when he cleaned up for Epstein after his massages
Questioned by Prosecutor Maurene Comey, Alessi mentioned that he labored as a upkeep employee and home supervisor for Epstein at his Palm Seaside mansion between 1990 and December 2002. Pictured is Epstein’s Palm Seaside mansion submitted by the prosecution as proof
Alessi mentioned that he first met Maxwell in 1991 and after that his relationship with Epstein grew to become much less ‘cordial’ and extra ‘skilled’.
Alessi mentioned: ‘From the day she got here to the home she instantly took over. She talked about to me she was going to be the girl of the home. She additionally informed me she was answerable for (Epstein’s) different properties’
Based on Alessi, Maxwell was with Epstein on his visits to the property ’95 p.c of the time.’
In an interview with Palm Seaside police in 2005, Alessi admitted he would wash off vibrators and a protracted rubber penis after a younger woman visited Epstein for a therapeutic massage.
The mattress must be made up after every therapeutic massage as effectively, strongly suggesting some type of sexual exercise.
Alessi mentioned that he remembered two women throughout his employment with Epstein who gave the impression to be underage.
He was proven a photograph of the primary accuser within the trial, often known as Jane, and confirmed it was her.
The second was Virginia Roberts, the girl who claims that Epstein loaned her out to Prince Andrew for intercourse when she was 17, allegations he denies.
Alessi mentioned that Jane was ‘launched to me by Ms. Maxwell’ on the Palm Seaside home and he estimated she was round 14 or 15 on the time.
Alessi mentioned that on Jane’s visits to Epstein’s home he would decide her up and that he recalled Maxwell ‘instructed’ him to chauffeur her.
Requested by prosecutor Maurene Comey why she did not drive herself, Alessi mentioned she did not have a license.
When she arrived on the residence she would go to Maxwell’s desk: Alessi mentioned it was ‘not my job to ask the place they have been going’.
Alessi mentioned he recalled driving Maxwell, Epstein and Jane to Epstein’s aircraft and seeing them board collectively.
This courtroom sketch exhibits Ghislaine Maxwell coming into courtroom adopted by two US Marshalls, for Day 4 of her trial
Alessi mentioned that he noticed ‘pornographic tapes and a black leather-based costume’ in a basket in Maxwell’s lavatory
Alessi mentioned that he recalled assembly Roberts on a visit to Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago membership with Maxwell.
That day that they had visited all the posh spas within the space when Maxwell instantly informed Alessi, who was driving: ‘Cease!’
Alessi mentioned: ‘I finished the automotive and he or she opened the door and went in direction of this woman who was coming down the ramp. She seemed younger. She had blonde hair and was carrying a white uniform like a nurse’ – Roberts has mentioned she was working within the locker room at Mar-a-Lago on the time.
The following time Alessi noticed Roberts was later that day on the Palm Seaside residence, he mentioned.
The jury have been proven two images of Roberts, certainly one of which exhibits her with blonde hair and smiling – she seems to be to be aged round 16.
Alessi mentioned that after that he noticed Roberts ‘fairly often’ at Epstein’s home and estimated she was ‘most likely 14 or 15’ years previous.
Generally Roberts got here along with her boyfriend however Maxwell informed him to attend within the automotive.
Alessi mentioned that ‘proper on the finish’ of his time with Epstein he noticed Roberts with ‘two different women’ and noticed them going to Maxwell’s desk.
Alessi mentioned he recalled driving Maxwell, Epstein and Roberts to Epstein’s aircraft and seeing them board collectively, identical to with Jane.
Requested about Epstein’s massages, Alessi mentioned: ‘Firstly he acquired round one (a day). On the finish (of my employment) he acquired three massages a day.
Maxwell would schedule the massages, as would Epstein and generally Epstein’s workplace in New York, Alessi mentioned.
Alessi mentioned: ‘It was always. Massages within the morning, massages within the afternoon, some massages after dinner, after the films. They have been 10, 11 o’clock at evening.
Prosecutors offered Alessi with a replica of Epstein’s black guide that he used to maintain contacts for his well-known mates and Alessi confirmed it seemed like a later model of the one he used.
He mentioned that there was a ‘web page with therapeutic massage therapists’ and that the contact info for the accuser often known as Jane was amongst them.
Turning to the black guide, which he held in his hand after being given a replica by the prosecution, Alessi mentioned that Maxwell and Epstein have been those who used it.
Copies needed to be saved within the kitchen desk, Maxwell’s desk, Epstein’s three desks and within the tables subsequent to Epstein and Maxwell’s beds.
Alessi spoke out in a podcast interview with Epstein survivor Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who claims she was pressured to have intercourse with Prince Andrew
One in all Maxwell’s accusers often known as ‘Jane’ broke down in courtroom as she was quizzed in regards to the ‘orgies’ and ‘sexualized massages’ she claims she was pressured into whereas underneath age by Maxwell
Requested if he noticed ladies by the pool on the Palm Seaside residence, he replied ‘tons of of instances,’ including that the ladies have been topless 75%-80% of the time.
Alessi mentioned Thursday that Maxwell gave him ‘many, many directions’ about easy methods to run the home about each side of the property.
Prosecutor Comey requested Alessi about his understanding of the connection between Maxwell and Epstein.
He replied that Maxwell was the ‘girlfriend’ of Epstein.
Comey requested if Maxwell ever gave him directions on easy methods to communicate to Epstein.
He mentioned she informed him that ‘I used to be solely supposed to talk to Mr. Epstein when he requested a query’.
Comey requested if there have been directions from Maxwell about eye contact with Epstein.
Alessi mentioned: ‘She mentioned Jeffrey would not prefer to be checked out within the eyes. It is best to by no means take a look at his eyes. Have a look at one other a part of the room and reply him’.
Final 12 months Alessi appeared as a visitor for a podcast interview with Virginia Roberts Giuffre, the Epstein survivor who claims she was pressured to have intercourse with Prince Andrew, allegations he denies.
Alessi revealed that the Duke of York visited Epstein’s mansion in Palm Seaside, Florida two or 3 times whereas he was there.
Andrew was memorable as a result of he was so well mannered – and was the one certainly one of Epstein’s visitors to go away him a tip,’ he claimed.
Ghislaine Maxwell’s sister Isabel and brother Kevin are seeing outdoors of the courthouse the place their sister’s trial is being held
Kevin Maxwell, Ghislaine’s brother, is seen leaving the courthouse after the fourth day of the trial
The interview with Alessi occurred at his residence in Florida final 12 months when Giuffre turned up unannounced at his door.
They final noticed one another in 2002 when Giuffre left for Thailand to coach as a masseuse and by no means returned to Epstein, who had requested her to hold a child for him and Maxwell earlier than she left.
Their dialog turned to Maxwell and as former Epstein staff they used to bond over tales of mistreatment by their boss – Maxwell.
Within the podcast Alessi mentioned: ‘That relationship between Epstein and her I by no means understood.’
Giuffre mentioned: ‘Me neither, I requested Maxwell, so…’
Alessi lower in and mentioned ‘I informed her many instances. I mentioned: ”Ghislaine, why are you doing this? Why are you staying with this man?” (She mentioned) ”I hate him, I hate him however I am unable to go away”. I mentioned: ”Why? You could have cash, why are you not leaving?”’
Giuffre says: ‘That relationship was complicated’.
He mentioned that Epstein ‘appreciated massages from the day I met him’ and talks of a regime of secrecy inside the home.
He mentioned: ‘I used to be not supposed to speak to the visitors, I used to be not supposed to speak to Virginia. Nothing, no speaking. I used to be not allowed to interrupt conversations’.
Alessi claimed that he noticed the lawyer Alan Dershowitz at Epstein’s home ‘many instances’ however by no means with underage women – Dershowitz denies any wrongdoing.
Alessi mentioned: ‘Prince Andrew was on the home two or 3 times after I was there.
‘He was at all times well mannered and a really good man. He was the one man who left us a tip’.
Within the episode Alessi mentioned it’s ‘sickening’ to consider Giuffre being abused and claims he by no means noticed something suspicious.
However as Damaged host Tara Palmeri factors out, Alessi’s story is extremely problematic as a result of he has modified his story so usually.
Even within the podcast Alessi mentioned that Epstein would ‘come to me and say name this woman, it was tons of of women that I’ve a listing, name Joanne, name Judy, name Nicole, so many ladies’.
Alessi’s testimony got here after Dr. Lisa Rocchio, a scientific and forensic psychologist, took the stand because the prosecution’s knowledgeable witness.
Dr. Rocchio testified that giving massages and items may very well be key elements of the grooming course of and mentioned such ‘manipulative ways’ have been a part of the 5 levels of grooming a toddler sufferer for abuse.
Maxwell’s first accuser ‘Jane’ testified this week that Epstein paid for her education and condo, promising to ‘give her the world’, earlier than he sexually abused her.
Dr. Lisa Rocchio, a scientific and forensic psychologist, took the stand because the prosecution’s knowledgeable witness Thurday
Dr. Rocchio mentioned she had been specializing within the discipline of traumatic stress and interpersonal violence for 30 years and was an assistant professor at Brown College in addition to working her personal follow.
She outlined grooming as: ‘A sequence of misleading ways, methods or MO which can be utilized by perpetrators for the aim of partaking a toddler in sexual abuse’.
The primary stage was figuring out a sufferer and predators seemed for ‘weak’ folks comparable to these from deprived houses, Rocchio mentioned.
Stage two was ‘acquiring entry’ to the victims and placing themselves in conditions the place their entry to youngsters ‘will not be prone to be questioned.’
Prosecutors have claimed that Epstein and Maxwell first met Jane, the primary accuser, at a youngsters’s arts camp in Michigan the place he donated $200,000 to have a lodge named after him.
Stage three was about ‘partaking in lies and deception’ to construct a relationship with the victims together with giving items comparable to ‘fancy garments and jewellery’.
Such presents are supposed to make the sufferer really feel ‘particular’, Rocchio mentioned.
Prosecutors declare that Maxwell purchased certainly one of her accusers lingerie and a pair of shoes for one more.
The ultimate two levels are a strategy of desensitization to bodily and sexual contact, Dr. Rocchio mentioned.
This could contain issues like giving hugs, touching and ‘giving a therapeutic massage.’
In her proof, Maxwell’s first accuser, Jane, claimed Maxwell instructed her easy methods to give Epstein a therapeutic massage that might please him and that the abuse usually occurred within the therapeutic massage room.
The ultimate stage was a strategy of coercion to make sure the abuse continued and the sufferer didn’t inform anybody.
Dr. Rocchio mentioned that it was ‘quite common’ for victims to delay disclosing the abuse, particularly in the event that they have been younger and so they have been extra prone to disclose it to a buddy than regulation enforcement.
Earlier the courtroom heard from Paul Kane, the director of finance at Skilled Youngsters’s College, a performing arts faculty in Manhattan which Jane attended.
He was requested to learn the title of the one who had ‘monetary duty’ for Jane on her software to affix the college in twelfth grade, or 17 years previous.
He mentioned: ‘Mr. Jeffrey Epstein.’