Day 2 of the Ghislaine Maxwell Trial

Damning victim testimony against Maxwell

Day 2 has wrapped-up in the Ghislaine Maxwell trial.

To provide a short background, Day 1 (November 29) involved the final jury selection, opening statements, and the start of the examination of Jeffrey Epstein pilot Larry Visoski.

The opening by the prosecution started with the story of a 14 year-old girl who was groomed and abused by Epstein and Maxwell. The grooming and abuse – the (alleged) modus operandi of the lovers turned abuser and accomplice – is a key part of the prosecution’s case, as it describes what they did to each of the four victims who will be heard from at trial.

Maxwell’s attorney opened by pointing to the real criminal – Epstein – and suggesting Maxwell was the “villainized” scapegoat. It was Maxwell’s “Me Too” moment, her cry of victimhood not only against Epstein but the U.S. Government (and, by extension, her victims). As we predicted, Maxwell’s counsel emphasized that some victims hadn’t mentioned Maxwell in past interviews and were supposedly in this for financial gain:

Epstein’s former pilot, Larry Visoski, provided some notable testimony, identifying Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, Senator John Glenn, Donald Trump, and Kevin Spacey as passengers on Epstein’s plane. Visoski described flights around the country to Epstein’s properties in New Mexico and Florida and New York, and taking Epstein, Maxwell, and one of his assistants, Sarah Kellen, (and the notable politicians/celebrities) on these flights.

Sarah Kellen’s name is significant because she (allegedly) had the same type of role Ghislaine Maxwell had in abusing minor girls – yet she, for some reason, remains free. Kellen was one of the co-conspirators listed in Epstein’s sweetheart non-prosecution agreement with the DOJ and was alleged to have been involved in the alleged sexual abuse on Epstein’s airplane by at least one victim and was likely one of the conspirators referenced in Epstein’s indictment:

Techno Fog @Techno_Fog

Recall that the Epstein indictment references three female employees who helped him recruit and abuse minors. We suspect this refers to Ghislaine Maxwell, Sarah Kellen, and Nada Marcinkova.

Will Kellen testify? That would be interesting. I don’t think the prosecution would call her as a witness, but would the defense? Imagine the fireworks.

The First Victim Testifies

Today also saw the testimony of the first victim referenced in the Government’s opening statement (who was 14 years-old at the time of the abuse). Wasting no time, the Government (Comey’s daughter, in fact) went to the heart of the criminal case against Maxwell:

Inner City Press @innercitypress

AUSA Comey: How old were you when you first had sexual contact with Jeffrey Epstein? Jane: 14. AUSA: Who was in the room? Jane: Ghislaine Maxwell. AUSA: Do you see her here? Jane: Yes. There. In sort of a beige turtleneck. AUSA: She has identified the defendant.

The victim described coming from a rough background, having a broken home as a teenager, and being groomed by Epstein and Maxwell. Epstein would pay for the victim’s clothes, etc. and Maxwell would encourage and participate in the abuse. According to the New York Times:

One day when she was still 14, Jane testified, Mr. Epstein told her he could introduce her to talent agents. Then he “abruptly” ended a conversation about her interests and her future and guided her into a pool house, taking her hand and saying “follow me.”

Inside the pool house, Jane said Mr. Epstein led her to a couch or futon and took off his pants. He then pulled her on top of him and “proceeded to masturbate,” she said, speaking in a slow halting voice. After he was done, she added, he went into a bathroom to clean up, then “acted like nothing had happened.”

Getting ahead of the defense line of questioning, the Government asked the victim about her payment from the Epstein Victims’ Compensation Fund. The victim admitted she received about $2.9 million.

On cross-examination, Maxwell’s attorney obtained an admission from the victim that the she didn’t report the abuse for approximately 20 years. The questions from Maxwell’s lawyers continued from there, trying to poke holes in issues ancillary to the abuse, such as the victim’s application to a camp. The victim’s testimony stopped at the court’s daily deadline of 5:00 p.m. Cross-examination of the victim will continue tomorrow morning, to be followed by re-direct. It might take all day.

If you’re looking for someone to follow for live updates during the day, Inner City Press is at the courthouse and providing updates on Twitter. Follow them here. And if you’re so inclined, you can support his work on Patreon here.