The Ghislaine Maxwell trial has just wrapped up. Wednesday evening, she was found guilty on five of six counts relating to grooming teen girls for sex trafficking. Church Militant’s Nadia Hazimeh explains what is next for Maxwell.
Bobbi Sternhheim, defense attorney for Ghislaine Maxwell: “We firmly believe in Ghislaine’s innocence. Obviously, we are very disappointed with the verdict. We have already started working on the appeal, and we are confident that she will be vindicated.”
Upon hearing the verdict, Maxwell was reportedly stoic, while her siblings in attendance seemed to stare into space. Yet they are still standing by her side.
Her family released a statement saying, “We believe firmly in our sister’s innocence. We are very disappointed with the verdict.” They believe she will be vindicated through the appeal. Many people following the case feel justice has been rightly served.
Damian Williams, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York:
The road to justice has been far too long. But today, justice has been done. 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 today’s result in this case possible.
For most people, questions are still looming. It is known that Maxwell and partner, late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, were involved with many people of high status. And people want her to name names, and for those abusers to also be put on trial.
A sentence still needs to be handed down by the judge, but Maxwell, at age 60, is facing up to 65 years in prison.
Some are speculating whether Maxwell will snitch for a reduced sentence, although the prosecutor and defense agreed before the trial she wouldn’t be revealing names from her little black book.
Additionally, Maxwell will face trial for two counts of perjury. Civil rights lawyer Aamer Anwar told Mail Online, “Any appeal process, whilst lengthy, is highly unlikely to be successful, and will not be allowed to delay sentencing.”