Earlier today, after six days and forty hours of deliberation, a jury of six women in New York federal court found Ghislaine Maxwell guilty on five of six counts related to her role in Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse of minor girls between 1994 and 2004. According to CNN, the 60-year-old was found guilty of five federal charges, including; sex trafficking of a minor, transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and three related counts of conspiracy. Ghislaine was acquitted of enticing a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts.
Prosecutors argued that Ghislaine and Jeffrey conspired to set up a scheme to lure young girls into sexual relationships with him from 1994 to 2004 in several states, including New York, Florida, New Mexico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Four women testified that Jeffrey abused them during the trial and that Ghislaine facilitated the abuse. In addition, she participated in the abuse from time to time. Ghislaine’s defense team denied the claims and said she was a “scapegoat” for Jeffrey’s actions. The defense also attacked the recollections and motivations of the women who say they were sexually abused.
Reports state that Ghislaine had no reaction when the verdicts were read in court. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams spoke out about Ghislaine’s rulings in a statement. “The road to justice has been far too long. But, today, justice has been done,” he stated. He continued, “I want to commend the bravery of the girls — now grown women — who stepped out of the shadows and into the courtroom. Their courage and willingness to face their abuser made this case, and today’s result, possible.” Currently, Judge Alison Nathan did not set a sentencing date for Ghislaine, and she faces two pending perjury charges related to a 2016 civil deposition. Roommates, we’ll keep you updated as more details become available.
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