A New York jury convicted Ghislaine Maxwell of federal sex trafficking charges for helping Jeffrey Epstein recruit and sexually assault teenage girls. The British socialite was found guilty of five out of six counts and faces up to 65 years in prison. During the three-week trial, four survivors recounted being abused at the hands of Maxwell and Epstein, who killed himself in a Manhattan jail in 2019. In a statement, survivor and witness Annie Farmer said, “I hope that this verdict brings solace to all who need it and demonstrates that no one is above the law. Even those with great power and privilege will be held accountable when they sexually abuse and exploit the young.”
British royal Prince Andrew is now under intensified scrutiny. Following the verdict, another Epstein survivor, Virginia Giuffre, tweeted, “Maxwell did not act alone. Others must be held accountable.” Giuffre has accused Maxwell of trafficking her to Prince Andrew when she was 17. A federal judge on Friday rejected a bid from Andrew’s lawyer to dismiss Giuffre’s lawsuit on the grounds that she no longer resides in the U.S. A New York court is set to unseal a confidential 2009 settlement between Epstein and Giuffre today, and Prince Andrew’s lawyers are expected to argue again for a dismissal of her case against him on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the BBC was forced to apologize after inviting Epstein lawyer Alan Dershowitz on air to comment on the Maxwell verdict. Dershowitz has also been accused of sexual assault by Virginia Giuffre.