The accuser’s credibility under attack in Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial

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The defense at Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial tries to cast doubt on a key accuser’s claim that the British socialite has helped financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually the woman for years, starting at the age of 14.

By TOM HAYS Associated Press

1 December 2021, 18:53

• 3 minutes to read

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NEW YORK – Defense attorneys for Ghislaine Maxwell on Wednesday sought to deny a claim by a key accuser that the British socialite helped financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually assault the woman for years, starting with age 14 years old.

The trial witness, who said she was using the pseudonym “Jane” to protect her 22-year-old acting career, testified in detail Tuesday about the alleged encounters in the 1990s, describing Maxwell as an active participant.

In methodical cross-examination, defense attorney Laura Menninger confronted the woman with FBI documents from 2019 and 2020, claiming that she told the government her memory was fuzzy as to whether Maxwell was present when Epstein assaulted her and if she ever touched her.

Other documents claimed she said no abuse took place during a visit to Epstein’s ranch in New Mexico. This contradicts her testimony about alleged encounters with him there which she says made “my heart sink in my stomach.”

The witness denied having changed his story. She disputed the accuracy of the documents, claiming that her statements were never recorded.

“It was just someone taking notes. … A lot of them are not correct, ”she said.

At another point, she replied, “I don’t remember saying what is written here. “

She did not dispute other documents saying she named several “types of models” and other women who she said witnessed participating in group massages with Epstein. She also confirmed to have told the FBI that she had previously flown in a private jet with British Prince Andrew.

Maxwell, 59, has pleaded not guilty to charges which prosecutors say show she and Epstein were “partners in crime.” The defense responded by claiming that she had become the scapegoat for Epstein, 66, who committed suicide in his Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting his own sex trafficking trial.

On Tuesday, the accuser described numerous sexual encounters with Maxwell and Epstein that began in 1994 and continued until 1997. Recounting the first time she was assaulted by Epstein, she said she was “Frost of fear”.

Another time, she said she was taken to a massage room where he and Maxwell both took advantage of her. Other encounters involved sex toys or turned into oral sex “orgies” with other young women and Maxwell, she added.

On cross-examination, the defense also attacked the witness’s credibility by asking why she waited more than 20 years to report Maxwell’s alleged abuse to law enforcement. She said she mostly avoided the subject for years because it was too painful.

The woman is the first of four alleged victims who are expected to testify against Maxwell in a trial which is expected to last around six weeks.

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