Politics

Ghislaine Maxwell jury ends second day of deliberations without a verdict in the Jeffrey Epstein-linked sex crime case

Key Points
  • Jurors at Ghislaine Maxwell's trial ended their second day of deliberations without reaching a verdict on charges accusing her of grooming several underage girls to be sexually abused by Jeffrey Epstein.
  • Jurors asked to see transcripts of the testimony of three women who have accused Maxwell of facilitating their abuse and the FBI notes on an interview with one of the accusers in 2007.
  • Dozens of women have said they were sexually abused by Epstein at his luxurious properties in Manhattan, Florida, New Mexico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  • Maxwell and Epstein for years socialized with well-known, wealthy people, including former Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, as well as Prince Andrew of Britain.
This courtroom sketch shows Ghislaine Maxwell (C) entering court followed by 2 US Marshalls, for her trial on charges of sex trafficking, in New York City, on December 2, 2021.
Jane Rosenberg | AFP | Getty Images

Jurors at Ghislaine Maxwell's trial ended their second day of deliberations Tuesday without reaching a verdict on charges accusing her of grooming several underage girls to be sexually abused by the late Jeffrey Epstein.

But the jury did send out several notes during what was their first full day of mulling the charges in Manhattan federal court.

Jurors asked to see transcripts of the testimony of three women who have accused Maxwell of facilitating their abuse, which they were allowed, and the FBI notes on an interview with one of the accusers in 2007, which they were denied.

The jury also asked whether they could consider the testimony of a second accuser as evidence that might support two counts of conspiracy that Maxwell faces.

Judge Alison Nathan informed jurors they could consider that testimony for that purpose.

Jurors will resume their deliberations Wednesday morning. Nathan told them it is possible they might deliberate on Thursday, two days before Christmas, if they cannot reach a verdict Wednesday.

Defense rests in the sex trafficking trial of Ghislaine Maxwell
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Defense rests in the sex trafficking trial of Ghislaine Maxwell

The jury, comprised of six men and six women, began deliberating late Monday afternoon after hearing closing arguments and instructions from Nathan on the law, but went home for the day soon afterward.

Maxwell, 59, is charged with crimes related to her alleged recruiting years ago of the three girls for abuse by Epstein, the disgraced money manager who killed himself in a Manhattan federal jail in August 2019 while awaiting his own trial on child sex trafficking charges.

"Ghislaine Maxwell was dangerous," Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Moe said in closing arguments.

Moe called Maxwell a "sophisticated predator who knew exactly what she was doing."

Maxwell did not take the witness stand at her trial, which began Nov. 29, telling Nathan that there was no need to do so because prosecutors had failed to prove their case against her after several weeks of evidence and testimony.

"Ghislaine Maxwell is an innocent woman, wrongfully accused of crimes she did not commit," her attorney, Laura Menninger, told jurors Monday.

Maxwell has been held without bail since her arrest in July 2020.

Second woman testifies in Ghislaine Maxwell sex trafficking trial
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Second woman testifies in Ghislaine Maxwell sex trafficking trial

Dozens of women have said they were sexually abused by Epstein at his luxurious properties in Manhattan, Florida, New Mexico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

A former employee at Epstein's Palm Beach, Florida, home testified at Maxwell's trial that she was the "lady of the house."

Maxwell and Epstein for years had socialized with well-known, wealthy people, including former Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, as well as Prince Andrew of Britain.

Andrew is being sued in Manhattan federal court by one of Epstein's accusers, who claims she was ordered to have sex with the royal by Maxwell when she was underage.

Andrew denies the allegation.

NBC archive footage shows Trump partying with Jeffrey Epstein in 1992
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NBC archive footage shows Trump partying with Jeffrey Epstein in 1992