Trial of Ghislaine Maxwell to begin this week over charges related to Jeffrey Epstein

The trial of Ghislaine Maxwell is set to begin on Monday, November 29. Maxwell will be tried on several charges related to her involvement with the late Jeffrey Epstein.

Maxwell was arrested on July 2, 2020, in Bradford, New Hampshire in connection with her association with Epstein and his alleged sexual crimes. She was charged with enticing a minor to travel to engage in criminal sexual activity, transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, conspiracy to commit both of those offenses, and perjury in connection with a sworn deposition.

Some in Maxwell’s camp, including her brother, Ian Maxwell, have been vocal in the press about their concerns that Maxwell will not receive a fair trial, and that US prosecutors are trying to “break” Maxwell. Ian Maxwell told the Associated Press this trial is “the most over-hyped trial of the century without a doubt.”

He continued, “This is designed to break her; I can’t see any other way to read it. … And she will not be broken because she believes completely in her innocence and she is going to give the best account she can.” Maxwell’s supporters believe the government is simply looking for someone to blame for the crimes after Jeffrey Epstein died in prison in 2019 before he could stand trial.

The FBI held a press briefing at the time they announced the charges against Maxwell. “Ms. Maxwell chose to blatantly disregard the law and her responsibility as an adult, using whatever means she had at her disposal to lure vulnerable youth into behavior they should never have been exposed to, creating the potential for lasting harm,” FBI Assistant Director William Sweeney told reporters at the time.

 If convicted, Maxwell faces up to 80 years in prison. She has continuously claimed her innocence on all charges. The trial will not be televised, as federal trials are typically not broadcasted.