The public release of long-sealed investigative records has thrust Ghislaine Maxwell back into the spotlight, casting fresh scrutiny on her crimes just days after she petitioned for immediate release from her 20-year prison sentence.
Maxwell's Bid for Freedom Amidst File Disclosure
This week, the US Justice Department began publicly releasing grand jury transcripts that led to the December 2021 sex trafficking conviction of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell. The disclosure comes a mere three days after Maxwell, acting without a lawyer, filed a habeas corpus petition. She argued that "substantial new evidence" of constitutional violations should overturn her trial, claiming exonerating information was withheld and witnesses lied.
However, Judge Paul A. Engelmayer recently reprimanded Maxwell for failing to redact victims' names from her court filings. He has now ordered that future submissions must be sealed and reviewed to protect victims' identities before becoming public.
Victims' Fears and the Staggering Scale of Evidence
For the victims, the file release has intensified focus on Maxwell's culpability. Epstein accuser Danielle Bensky revealed she is in daily contact with about two dozen other survivors, stating the records confirm Maxwell "is a criminal who was 1,000% engaged in sexual acts." Bensky expressed a widespread fear among victims that Maxwell could be pardoned.
The records are being released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, enacted last month. The process has been delayed, with the Justice Department missing its initial congressional deadline. Officials blamed the extensive redactions required to protect victims. In a stunning admission this week, the department said it may need "a few more weeks" after discovering an additional one million potentially relevant documents.
Grand Jury Testimony Reveals Chilling Grooming Tactics
The newly public transcripts include an FBI agent's testimony, which foreshadowed the trial accounts of four women. It detailed how Maxwell and Epstein groomed a 14-year-old girl from a Michigan summer arts camp in 1994.
The agent described how, after a chance meeting, Epstein and Maxwell invited the girl and her mother for tea at his Palm Beach estate. Epstein posed as a benefactor, offering scholarships and money for the family. Maxwell acted as a "cool, older sister," normalising increasingly inappropriate behaviour with comments like, "This is what grownups do."
The testimony alleges the abuse escalated after Epstein told the aspiring actress and model she must "learn to be comfortable in her underwear." The agent stated the financier then pulled her onto his lap and masturbated. Subsequently, sexual contact became routine, often in his massage room.
Maxwell's direct participation was also outlined. The agent relayed the victim's account that Maxwell would sometimes be present with other girls, grabbing their breasts and directing them on what to do during encounters with Epstein, all while maintaining a "very casual" attitude as if it were normal.
This testimony aligns with that of a woman known as "Jane" at Maxwell's 2021 trial, who described similar group sessions at the Palm Beach residence. Epstein himself never stood trial, having died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019, a month after his arrest.
