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| Ghislaine Maxwell Is Denied Bail by Judge Who Calls Her a Flight Risk | Ghislaine Maxwell Is Denied Bail by Judge Who Calls Her a Flight Risk |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein who has been charged with helping him recruit, groom and ultimately sexually abuse girls as young as 14, was denied bail on Tuesday by a judge who said she posed a high risk of fleeing before her trial. | Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein who has been charged with helping him recruit, groom and ultimately sexually abuse girls as young as 14, was denied bail on Tuesday by a judge who said she posed a high risk of fleeing before her trial. |
| The judge, Alison J. Nathan of Federal District Court in Manhattan, said Ms. Maxwell had demonstrated a sophisticated ability to hide herself and obscure her financial resources. | The judge, Alison J. Nathan of Federal District Court in Manhattan, said Ms. Maxwell had demonstrated a sophisticated ability to hide herself and obscure her financial resources. |
| Prosecutors argued at the hearing that Ms. Maxwell had provided “implausible” statements about her finances, including that she had no income. | Prosecutors argued at the hearing that Ms. Maxwell had provided “implausible” statements about her finances, including that she had no income. |
| “Ms. Maxwell poses a substantial actual risk of flight,” Judge Nathan said. | “Ms. Maxwell poses a substantial actual risk of flight,” Judge Nathan said. |
| The hearing was unusual in that it was virtual. Ms. Maxwell, who is being held in a federal detention center in Brooklyn; her lawyer; the prosecutors; and the judge each appeared remotely from their locations on separate video screens streamed into a large room at the courthouse, all part of special precautions being taken by the court because of the coronavirus pandemic. | The hearing was unusual in that it was virtual. Ms. Maxwell, who is being held in a federal detention center in Brooklyn; her lawyer; the prosecutors; and the judge each appeared remotely from their locations on separate video screens streamed into a large room at the courthouse, all part of special precautions being taken by the court because of the coronavirus pandemic. |
| Ms. Maxwell, 58, showed up on video from the Brooklyn jail where she was being held, wearing a dark-colored shirt with her hair pulled back. Throughout the hearing, she responded politely to the judge’s questions, speaking in a British accent, and did not react visibly as the judge read her ruling. | Ms. Maxwell, 58, showed up on video from the Brooklyn jail where she was being held, wearing a dark-colored shirt with her hair pulled back. Throughout the hearing, she responded politely to the judge’s questions, speaking in a British accent, and did not react visibly as the judge read her ruling. |
| She wiped her eyes at some points, but it was not clear if she was crying. Near the end of the hearing, she dropped her head repeatedly as it became apparent that she would not be granted bail. | She wiped her eyes at some points, but it was not clear if she was crying. Near the end of the hearing, she dropped her head repeatedly as it became apparent that she would not be granted bail. |
| During the hearing, Judge Nathan, wearing white headphones, listened to the statements of two women who said they were victims of Ms. Maxwell and urged the judge not to release her before trial. | During the hearing, Judge Nathan, wearing white headphones, listened to the statements of two women who said they were victims of Ms. Maxwell and urged the judge not to release her before trial. |
| One of the women, Annie Farmer, called Ms. Maxwell “a sexual predator who groomed and abused me and countless other children and young women.” Ms. Farmer could be heard reading her statement, but was not shown on video. | One of the women, Annie Farmer, called Ms. Maxwell “a sexual predator who groomed and abused me and countless other children and young women.” Ms. Farmer could be heard reading her statement, but was not shown on video. |
| A prosecutor, Alison Moe, read aloud the statement from the other woman, who chose to be referred to only as Jane Doe. In her statement, she said, “Without Ghislaine, Jeffrey could not have done what he did.” | A prosecutor, Alison Moe, read aloud the statement from the other woman, who chose to be referred to only as Jane Doe. In her statement, she said, “Without Ghislaine, Jeffrey could not have done what he did.” |
| A six-count federal indictment has charged that from 1994 to 1997 Ms. Maxwell helped Mr. Epstein entice girls to engage in sexual abuse, and that, in some instances, she participated in the abuse. It also accuses her of lying under oath in 2016 during depositions for a lawsuit about her knowledge of Mr. Epstein’s sexual activities. | A six-count federal indictment has charged that from 1994 to 1997 Ms. Maxwell helped Mr. Epstein entice girls to engage in sexual abuse, and that, in some instances, she participated in the abuse. It also accuses her of lying under oath in 2016 during depositions for a lawsuit about her knowledge of Mr. Epstein’s sexual activities. |
| At Tuesday’s hearing, Ms. Maxwell pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, conspiracy and perjury. | At Tuesday’s hearing, Ms. Maxwell pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, conspiracy and perjury. |
| She has been in federal custody since her arrest on July 2. | She has been in federal custody since her arrest on July 2. |
| Ms. Maxwell’s lawyer, Mark S. Cohen, sought to distance his client from Mr. Epstein, telling the judge, “She is not the monster that has been portrayed by the media and now the government.” | |
| Mr. Cohen said Ms. Maxwell had experienced death threats, which made her large network of close friends and family leery of coming forward publicly to support her. He attacked what he called the “spin” prosecutors were placing on the facts in the case to make “everything look sinister” and their efforts to throw “dirt” on his client. | Mr. Cohen said Ms. Maxwell had experienced death threats, which made her large network of close friends and family leery of coming forward publicly to support her. He attacked what he called the “spin” prosecutors were placing on the facts in the case to make “everything look sinister” and their efforts to throw “dirt” on his client. |
| Prosecutors said that though the investigation was continuing, new charges against Ms. Maxwell or against other defendants in the case were not expected. | Prosecutors said that though the investigation was continuing, new charges against Ms. Maxwell or against other defendants in the case were not expected. |
| The judge scheduled Ms. Maxwell’s trial, which is expected to last two to three weeks, for July 2021. | The judge scheduled Ms. Maxwell’s trial, which is expected to last two to three weeks, for July 2021. |
| Ms. Maxwell’s lawyers had asked the judge to release their client into home confinement on a $5 million bond, but prosecutors objected, arguing that she posed an “extreme risk of flight” because of her international ties and significant financial resources. | Ms. Maxwell’s lawyers had asked the judge to release their client into home confinement on a $5 million bond, but prosecutors objected, arguing that she posed an “extreme risk of flight” because of her international ties and significant financial resources. |
| In her ruling, Judge Nathan cited Ms. Maxwell’s citizenship in France, which prosecutors said does not extradite its citizens to the United States. Ms. Maxwell is also a citizen of the United States and the United Kingdom. | In her ruling, Judge Nathan cited Ms. Maxwell’s citizenship in France, which prosecutors said does not extradite its citizens to the United States. Ms. Maxwell is also a citizen of the United States and the United Kingdom. |
| The judge did note that Ms. Maxwell did not try to flee the country even after prosecutors publicly revealed that they were investigating Mr. Epstein’s associates. Her lawyers said they had been in regular contact with the government over the past year to try to persuade prosecutors not to charge Ms. Maxwell. | The judge did note that Ms. Maxwell did not try to flee the country even after prosecutors publicly revealed that they were investigating Mr. Epstein’s associates. Her lawyers said they had been in regular contact with the government over the past year to try to persuade prosecutors not to charge Ms. Maxwell. |
| Prosecutors said Ms. Maxwell was seeking to evade law enforcement by hiding out in various locations in New England, most recently on a 156-acre property in Bradford, N.H., where she was arrested on July 2. | Prosecutors said Ms. Maxwell was seeking to evade law enforcement by hiding out in various locations in New England, most recently on a 156-acre property in Bradford, N.H., where she was arrested on July 2. |
| The government offered new details on Tuesday about the property. The real estate agent who sold it told the F.B.I. that the property had been purchased and viewed by a couple, including a woman who identified herself as Jen Marshall and said she was a journalist in need of privacy. | The government offered new details on Tuesday about the property. The real estate agent who sold it told the F.B.I. that the property had been purchased and viewed by a couple, including a woman who identified herself as Jen Marshall and said she was a journalist in need of privacy. |
| After Ms. Maxwell’s arrest, the agent saw her photo in the news media and recognized Ms. Maxwell as the woman who had visited the property, according to Ms. Moe, the prosecutor. | After Ms. Maxwell’s arrest, the agent saw her photo in the news media and recognized Ms. Maxwell as the woman who had visited the property, according to Ms. Moe, the prosecutor. |
| That contradicted information provided by Ms. Maxwell to court officials after her arrest that she did not know who bought the property and only knew that it was owned by a corporation, Ms. Moe said. | That contradicted information provided by Ms. Maxwell to court officials after her arrest that she did not know who bought the property and only knew that it was owned by a corporation, Ms. Moe said. |
| Ms. Moe said Ms. Maxwell also told court officials that she had no income. She questioned that assertion, saying it was unlikely that Ms. Maxwell could live her lifestyle without any money coming in from a possible inheritance or trust accounts. | Ms. Moe said Ms. Maxwell also told court officials that she had no income. She questioned that assertion, saying it was unlikely that Ms. Maxwell could live her lifestyle without any money coming in from a possible inheritance or trust accounts. |
| “It just doesn’t make sense,” Ms. Moe said. | “It just doesn’t make sense,” Ms. Moe said. |
| In 2019, when she opened a Swiss bank account, Ms. Maxwell indicated that her annual income was at least $200,000, with a net worth more than $10 million, Ms. Moe said. | In 2019, when she opened a Swiss bank account, Ms. Maxwell indicated that her annual income was at least $200,000, with a net worth more than $10 million, Ms. Moe said. |
| Ms. Maxwell’s lawyer, Mr. Cohen, said that she had not had time to review her finances and give the government a more complete picture. Ms. Maxwell was being held in solitary confinement, Mr. Cohen added, and had been unable to shower for 72 hours. | Ms. Maxwell’s lawyer, Mr. Cohen, said that she had not had time to review her finances and give the government a more complete picture. Ms. Maxwell was being held in solitary confinement, Mr. Cohen added, and had been unable to shower for 72 hours. |
| In arguing that Ms. Maxwell, who had once been a fixture on New York’s social scene, was trying to evade law enforcement, the government has said that she had switched her email address and registered a new phone number under the name “G Max.” | In arguing that Ms. Maxwell, who had once been a fixture on New York’s social scene, was trying to evade law enforcement, the government has said that she had switched her email address and registered a new phone number under the name “G Max.” |
| Mr. Cohen told the judge on Tuesday that Ms. Maxwell took these steps because her phone number and email address had been inadvertently revealed in court documents that were unsealed during a lawsuit, leading her phone to be hacked. | Mr. Cohen told the judge on Tuesday that Ms. Maxwell took these steps because her phone number and email address had been inadvertently revealed in court documents that were unsealed during a lawsuit, leading her phone to be hacked. |
| Ms. Maxwell’s lawyers have argued that their client was not hiding from the authorities but from “unrelenting and intrusive media coverage.” She has seen reporters hiding in her bushes, and some of her close friends had lost their jobs because of their association with her, the lawyers have said. | Ms. Maxwell’s lawyers have argued that their client was not hiding from the authorities but from “unrelenting and intrusive media coverage.” She has seen reporters hiding in her bushes, and some of her close friends had lost their jobs because of their association with her, the lawyers have said. |
| Last November, The Sun, a British tabloid, offered a bounty of 10,000 British pounds for information about her location, they said. | Last November, The Sun, a British tabloid, offered a bounty of 10,000 British pounds for information about her location, they said. |
| At Tuesday’s hearing, Mr. Cohen also responded to new details prosecutors offered this week about the day Ms. Maxwell was arrested in New Hampshire. The government had said when federal agents breached her locked gate and showed up at her front door, Ms. Maxwell ignored their orders to open the door and fled to a different room. | At Tuesday’s hearing, Mr. Cohen also responded to new details prosecutors offered this week about the day Ms. Maxwell was arrested in New Hampshire. The government had said when federal agents breached her locked gate and showed up at her front door, Ms. Maxwell ignored their orders to open the door and fled to a different room. |
| Mr. Cohen told the judge that Ms. Maxwell, who had hired security guards because of the threats against her, was only following protocol that she was to retreat to an inner room. She was not looking for “some secret tunnel,” he said. | Mr. Cohen told the judge that Ms. Maxwell, who had hired security guards because of the threats against her, was only following protocol that she was to retreat to an inner room. She was not looking for “some secret tunnel,” he said. |
| Mr. Cohen said that his law firm had also received threatening emails since its representation of Ms. Maxwell became public. | Mr. Cohen said that his law firm had also received threatening emails since its representation of Ms. Maxwell became public. |
| Ms. Maxwell’s arrest came almost exactly a year after Mr. Epstein was charged with sexually exploiting and abusing dozens of girls and women at his mansion in Manhattan, his estate in Palm Beach, Fla., and other sites. | Ms. Maxwell’s arrest came almost exactly a year after Mr. Epstein was charged with sexually exploiting and abusing dozens of girls and women at his mansion in Manhattan, his estate in Palm Beach, Fla., and other sites. |
| That case was before a different federal judge in Manhattan, who denied bail to Mr. Epstein. Last August, Mr. Epstein, 66, hanged himself in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Lower Manhattan, where he was being held pending trial. | That case was before a different federal judge in Manhattan, who denied bail to Mr. Epstein. Last August, Mr. Epstein, 66, hanged himself in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Lower Manhattan, where he was being held pending trial. |
| Mr. Epstein dated Ms. Maxwell and paid her to manage his properties, according to prosecutors. In 2003, he described her in a Vanity Fair article as his best friend. | Mr. Epstein dated Ms. Maxwell and paid her to manage his properties, according to prosecutors. In 2003, he described her in a Vanity Fair article as his best friend. |
| At the time of his death, Ms. Maxwell and Mr. Epstein had not had any contact for more than a decade, according to her lawyers. | At the time of his death, Ms. Maxwell and Mr. Epstein had not had any contact for more than a decade, according to her lawyers. |