Days after Ghislaine Maxwell requested a federal judge to release her from a 20-year prison sentence, the public release of grand jury transcripts relating to her sex trafficking case brought renewed attention to the victims who helped convict her.
The transcripts, part of the Justice Department's ongoing release of investigative files on Maxwell and the late Jeffrey Epstein, outlined how an FBI agent described Maxwell’s significant role in Epstein’s long-term sexual abuse of minors.
Maxwell, a British socialite and publishing heiress, was convicted of sex trafficking in December 2021 after four women testified in New York about her complicity in their abuse during the 1990s and early 2000s. Epstein, however, was never brought to trial and died by suicide in August 2019 while in custody.
In conjunction with the release of the grand jury records, Maxwell filed a habeas petition claiming that “substantial new evidence” indicates violations in her trial process.
Judge Paul Engelmayer admonished Maxwell for including names of victims in the petition, ordering that future filings be protected until securely redacted.
Survivors Demand Justice
One of Epstein’s accusers, Danielle Bensky, said recent records have heightened the focus on Maxwell's actions among survivors, discussing with a network of victims about the severity of her involvement. “Maxwell is a criminal who was 1,000% engaged in sexual acts,” she asserted.
Bensky, who faced sexual abuse by Epstein, noted she didn’t suffer at the hands of Maxwell directly but acknowledged several others who encountered her manipulative tactics.
Transcripts Reveal Disturbing Testimonies
Released documents include grand jury testimonies where an FBI agent noted how Maxwell groomed a teenage girl at an arts camp in Michigan. The girl, initially impressed by Epstein’s promises, became embroiled in escalating abuse, facilitated by Maxwell, described by the agent as acting like a “cool, older sister” to the victim, normalizing the abuse. The transcripts echo earlier accounts shared during Maxwell's trial.
The Justice Department has faced challenges in meeting deadlines for the release of further Epstein-related documents, citing logistical issues in protecting the identities of victims. An update stated that an additional “few more weeks” are required to complete the release, including a surprising discovery of over a million documents pertinent to the case.
