Ghislaine Maxwell, a jet-setting socialite who once hung out with royalty, presidents, and billionaires, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Tuesday. She assisted financier Jeffrey Epstein in sexually abusing underage girls.
The harsh sentence was a victory for a group of women who fought for justice for years. As after an earlier generation of prosecutors failed to pursue the predatory power couple.
Jeffery Epstein, committed suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial. He sexually abused children hundreds of times over a decade, taking advantage of vulnerable girls as young as 14. Prosecutors claimed he couldn’t have done it without the assistance of his longtime companion, Maxwell.
Maxwell, who was dressed in a blue prison uniform and a white mask to comply with coronavirus rules, looked to one side as the sentence was read aloud but did not react. When she walked into the courtroom, she was wearing leg shackles that rattled.
Survivors’ expressed relief
Despite the fact that the sentence was less severe than the prosecutors had requested, Epstein’s accusers expressed relief. “It’s been a long road to justice for myself and many other survivors,” stated Sarah Ransome, one of Epstein’s accusers. She also mentioned that “this is for the girls who didn’t get a chance to speak up, the ones who weren’t present.”
In December, a jury found Maxwell, 60, guilty of sex trafficking. Also, he was transporting a minor to engage in illegal sex acts, and two conspiracy charges.
Maxwell expressed no remorse
Maxwell never expressed remorse for her crimes, according to Judge Alison J. Nathan, who imposed the prison term and a $750,000 fine. The judge stated that she wished for the sentence to send an “unmistakable message” that no one was above the law.
Maxwell had previously addressed the court from a lectern. She said that she sympathized with the survivors and hoped her punishment would bring them peace. But she refused to accept responsibility and blamed Epstein for the abuse. She mentioned that meeting him was the “greatest regret of my life.”
She described him as “a manipulative, cunning, and controlling man who led a deeply compartmentalized life.” The judge stated that Maxwell was punished for her heinous and predatory crimes, not those of Epstein. Maxwell’s “pattern of deflection and blame” was criticized by her. At the sentencing, four survivors described their sexual abuse. It includes Annie Farmer, who overwhelmed with emotions as she addressed the judge.
She claimed that she and her sister attempted to go public with their stories of being abused by Epstein and Maxwell two decades ago. But they were stopped by the powerful couple through threats and influence with authorities. “We will live with the damage she caused us,” Farmer stated.
Maxwell and her family will not give up their legal fight
Three of Maxwell’s siblings sat in a row behind her in a courtroom packed with reporters. Kevin Maxwell said outside the courthouse that his sister will not give up her legal fight. They also stated that “we as a family will be solidly behind her.” Bobbi Sternheim, the defense attorney, has promised to appeal. She claimed Epstein abandoned Maxwell “holding the entire bag.”
“We all know that the person who should have been sentenced today avoided accountability. He avoided his victims, avoided bearing their pain, and avoided receiving the punishment he truly deserved,” she said.
Allegation of juror misconduct
Maxwell’s attorneys fought to have her conviction overturned due to jury misconduct. Days after the verdict, one juror revealed in media interviews that he had been sexually abused as a child. This was something he had not disclosed to the court during jury selection. Maxwell’s attorneys claimed she deserved a new trial. But the judge was not convinced.
The juror sat quietly among other witnesses during Maxwell’s sentencing hearing on Tuesday. At least eight women wrote letters to the judge, detailing the alleged sexual abuse.
