More court documents unsealed in Ghislaine Maxwell case

Newly released court documents provide a fresh glimpse into the case against the British socialite’s dealings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein 

Amongst other things, she said she never witnessed “inappropriate underage activities” by him, according to transcripts of a 2016 deposition.

This document, an April 2016 deposition, is among about a dozen long-awaited Maxwell files that have been unsealed.

The newest unsealed documents followed another set of unsealed documents made public, the first of the which were part of now-settled civil litigation against the British socialite and include claims about her alleged involvement in the sex-trafficking scheme of Epstein, her longtime confidant and a convicted sex offender.

Giuffre brought civil action against Maxwell and claimed she lured her into Epstein’s orbit as a teenager under the guise of offering work as a masseuse, before training her to be a sex slave. She also accuses Prince Andrew of knowing and participating in the abuse.

Sigrid McCawley, partner at Boies Schiller Flexner who represents Giuffre, praised the unsealing.

“This is a long time coming and a welcome step towards revealing the evidence of the scope and scale of the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell sex trafficking ring. The public should know today’s unsealing is only a small part of the total evidence,” McCawley said in a statement.

Related: ‘A story of being trafficked’: Prince Andrew’s accuser Virginia Giuffre speaks out

No remorse

Maxwell was denied bail after she was charged with six counts, including enticing minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in sexual activity. Survivors said in court she is a “sexual predator who has never shown any remorse” and poses a danger to others.

The federal indictment filed in Manhattan federal court charged Maxell with six counts, including enticing minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in sexual activity. “In some instances, Maxwell was present for and participated in the sexual abuse of minor victims,” reads the indictment.

A survivor of Epstein and Maxwell’s alleged abuse, Annie Farmer, chose to be named in proceedings and called for her to be detained until her trial date, saying she met Maxwell when she was 16. She called her a sexual predator who has “never shown any remorse for her heinous crimes.”

“She is a sexual predator who groomed and abused me and countless other children and young women,” she said.

Prosecutors have said Maxwell faces up to 35 years in prison if convicted.

Court documents allege that Maxwell helped groom girls as young as 14 between 1994 and 1997, saying these encounters took place at Epstein’s townhouse in Manhattan, his estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and his ranch in Sante Fe, as well as Maxwell’s own residence in London.

“Maxwell would try to normalise sexual abuse for a minor victim by, among other things, discussing sexual topics, undressing in front of the victim, being present when a minor victim was undressed, and/or being present for sex acts involving the minor victim and Epstein.”

Sixty-six-year-old Epstein faced up to 45 years in prison on US federal sex trafficking and conspiracy charges when he died by suicide in August 2019.

Related: Jeffrey Epstein’s death means his victims are left without justice

Related: ‘I refuse to let this man win’: The women who will not be silenced by Jeffrey Epstein

Related: Why the Jeffrey Epstein conspiracy theories risk overshadowing what really went on