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Jeffrey Epstein victims just took a stand against Ghislaine Maxwell in court

Photo credit: Laura Cavanaugh - Getty Images
Photo credit: Laura Cavanaugh - Getty Images

From Cosmopolitan

Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend and associate of Jeffrey Epstein, who was recently arrested by the FBI after a lengthy search, has had her first appearance in court via a video link. The socialite, who went into hiding after numerous women came forward and publicly accused her of helping Epstein to carry out sexual abuse on minors, has pleaded not guilty to the six offences she's been charged with and strongly denies any wrong doing. Her trial date has been scheduled for next summer.

It's reported that Maxwell appeared in court yesterday from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, wearing a brown T-shirt, and had her attorney Mark Cohen with her. She was there to speak with District Judge, Hon. Alison J. Nathan, who rightly said that the case had garnered "considerable public interest".

Maxwell's lawyers denied that she would flee the country if released on bail and argued she was at risk of contracting coronavirus if she remained in jail until her trial next July. If Maxwell, 58, is convicted of the crimes she has been charged with, two of which including lying in court, she could face up to 35 years in prison.

However, Nathan denied Maxwell's request for bail, saying, "No combination of conditions could reasonably ensure her presence at court. The risks are simply too great." Prosecutor Alison Roe argued that Maxwell has proven herself to be untrustworthy and capable of hiding her wealth on numerous occasions, recently purchasing a home in New Hampshire under the name of "Janet Marshall", according a report from The Independent.

Photo credit: Patrick McMullan - Getty Images
Photo credit: Patrick McMullan - Getty Images

During the hearing, federal prosecutors also described her arrest in more detail, saying that when FBI agents attended the property where Maxwell was found on 2 July, she refused to answer the door.

"Through a window, the agents saw the defendant ignore the direction to open the door and, instead, try to flee to another room in the house, quickly shutting a door behind her," they said. "Agents were ultimately forced to breach the door in order to enter the house to arrest the defendant."

The two and a half hourlong hearing was also the first time the court has heard from the alleged victims. Annie Farmer, who said she met Maxwell and Epstein at the age of 16 said, "She is a sexual predator who groomed and abused me and countless other young women. She has lied under oath and tormented her survivors... [she] has never shown any remorse for her heinous crimes."

Photo credit: Patrick McMullan - Getty Images
Photo credit: Patrick McMullan - Getty Images

Another statement from an anonymous victim said to the court, "Without Ghislaine, Jeffrey could not have done what he did. She was in charge."

Cohen, there representing Maxwell, said she was innocent and that her reputation has been distorted by the media. "Our client is not Jeffrey Epstein. She is not the monster made out by the media."

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