Ghislaine Maxwell’s former govt assistant testified on the British socialite’s intercourse abuse trial on Thursday that she “by no means” noticed Maxwell or Jeffrey Epstein have interaction in inappropriate conduct with underage ladies
Cimberly Espinosa, 55, was the primary witness known as by Maxwell’s protection following two weeks of testimony from 4 ladies who stated Maxwell groomed them between 1994 and 2004 for abuse by the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
“I extremely revered Ghislaine,” stated Espinosa, including that she and Maxwell had been collectively “nearly daily” between 1996 and 2002, when Espinosa labored for the daughter of late British media baron Robert Maxwell. “I appeared as much as her very a lot.”
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Accusers place Ghislaine Maxwell at heart of Epstein’s abuse, consultants say
Maxwell, 59, has pleaded not responsible to eight counts of intercourse trafficking and different crimes. Her attorneys argue that she is being scapegoated for the late financier’s alleged conduct as a result of he’s lifeless. Epstein killed himself in 2019 in a Manhattan jail cell whereas awaiting trial on intercourse abuse fees.
In its case, which is anticipated to final two to 4 days, Maxwell’s attorneys are prone to proceed trying to undermine her accusers’ credibility by asserting that the ladies’s reminiscences have pale through the years and that they’re motivated by cash to implicate Maxwell.
The prosecution rested its case on Friday.
Below questioning by Maxwell lawyer Christian Everdell, Espinosa testified that she recalled seeing a girl often known as Jane a number of instances in Epstein’s New York workplace.
Jane testified final week that she was first abused by Epstein in 1994 when she was 14, and that Maxwell participated in some encounters. Jane was then an aspiring actress and testified that Epstein had promised to make use of his connections to assist her profession however ended up sexually abusing her repeatedly for a number of years.
Espinosa stated Jane seemed to be 18 years outdated when she visited Epstein’s workplace together with her mom and brother.
She testified that she was conscious of the crimes Maxwell had been accused of. When requested by Everdell whether or not she ever noticed Maxwell or Epstein have interaction in inappropriate conduct with underage ladies, Espinosa replied, “By no means.”
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Accuser testifies Maxwell, Epstein violated her at age 16
Below temporary cross-examination by prosecutor Lara Pomerantz, Espinosa acknowledged that she by no means traveled to Epstein’s Palm Seaside, Florida, property, the place Jane stated most of her abuse passed off.
Undermining the credibility of Jane and the opposite accusers is a key a part of Maxwell’s protection. Her attorneys have argued that the ladies’s reminiscences have pale through the years, and that the ladies have a monetary incentive to implicate Maxwell since they acquired awards from a compensation fund for Epstein’s victims.
Earlier on Thursday, U.S. District Choose Alison Nathan dominated that the protection could ask Robert Glassman, Jane’s lawyer, about whether or not Glassman instructed the federal government he had instructed Jane that cooperating with prosecutors might assist her declare.
Jane testified that she didn’t suppose cooperating would help her declare. Nathan stated Glassman’s testimony was related as a result of it might contradict Jane’s testimony.
However in a victory for the prosecution, Nathan additionally dominated that attorneys for 2 of the opposite accusers who testified — often known as Kate and Carolyn — will not be known as to the stand. The choose stated their testimony would both not be related or could be “duplicative” of what the ladies already instructed the jury.
