Maxwell Trial Jury Deliberations Begin — December 2021
Following three weeks of testimony and closing arguments in the federal sex trafficking trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, jury deliberations begin in Manhattan. The jury will deliberate for six days considering charges related to five counts of sex trafficking and related offenses covering conduct from the early 1990s through 2004.
People Involved
On December 16, 2021, the jury in the federal criminal trial of Ghislaine Maxwell began deliberations in Manhattan’s Southern District of New York.
The Trial
Maxwell’s trial had run for approximately three weeks, with opening statements beginning November 29, 2021. Federal prosecutors presented testimony from four women who described being recruited and abused as minors, supported by documentary evidence, expert witnesses on grooming behavior, and other corroborating testimony.
The Charges
Maxwell faced six charges:
- Conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts
- Enticement of a minor to travel
- Conspiracy to transport minors for illegal sex acts
- Transportation of a minor
- Sex trafficking of a minor
- Conspiracy to commit sex trafficking
Witness Testimony
Four survivors — identified in court as Jane, Kate, Carolyn, and Annie Farmer — testified about being recruited as teens and abused by Maxwell and Epstein in various locations including New York, Palm Beach, New Mexico, and London. Testimony described Maxwell’s active participation, her role in recruiting minors, and her involvement in the abuse itself.
Defense Strategy
Maxwell’s defense argued she was a convenient scapegoat for Epstein’s crimes after his death, that survivor memories were unreliable given the passage of time, and that she could not be guilty of conspiracy with someone now unable to defend himself. The defense presented no witnesses.
Six Days of Deliberation
After six days of deliberations — during which the jury requested a re-reading of testimony and definitions of specific charges — the jury reached a verdict on December 29, 2021.
Significance
The closing of deliberations and anticipation of the verdict marked the climax of the most significant prosecution directly related to the Epstein network.