Judge Allison Nathan announced the sentence Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan. Prosecutors had demanded a minimum sentence of 30 years for Maxwell, 60, describing her behavior as “shockingly robbery” in a recent case and accusing her of treating vulnerable girls as “disposable items”. Maxwell’s lawyers, on the other hand, had called for a term “far below” the 20 years recommended by sentencing officials, reiterating an argument from her trial that they had made her a scapegoat for Epstein’s actions. Shortly before the sentence was announced, Maxwell, with her ankles tied, took the podium and read a statement to the courtroom that included many of her victims. Some of the women had testified against Maxwell, while others had not heard of it before. A woman, Elizabeth Stein, told the court she had been “trafficked countless times” after Maxwell approached her at the Henri Bendel department store, where he worked in New York. He said he was later forced to drop out of school and suffered two dozen hospitalizations for mental disasters. Another, identified as Kate, called for full justice for her and other victims. Maxwell told the court “he does not think what he did is wrong. He does not regret it. He would do it again. “ Speaking before her sentence was announced, Maxwell expressed regret, but did not appear to be taking responsibility. “I am sorry for the pain you experienced. “I hope that my conviction along with my harsh and unusual imprisonment will close you,” he said, adding: “I know that my relationship with Epstein and this case will soil me forever and permanently.” At sentencing, Judge Nathan described Maxwell as “playing a key role in the abuse of many underage girls.” The judge noted that Maxwell had acknowledged the suffering of the victims in her testimony. However, he added: “What was not expressed was the acceptance of responsibility.” Maxwell ‘s conduct of legal proceedings, the judge said, “was in line with a pattern of diversion.” Maxwell, a social friend who dated US presidents and British kings, was found guilty by a New York juror in late December of five of the six criminal charges against her, including sex trafficking. During a three-week trial, prosecutors described her for years working “hand in hand” with Epstein to find teenage girls and treat them for sexual abuse, often at his Palm Beach mansion or private Caribbean island. She did it, prosecutors said, to afford a luxurious life after the death of her father, British publishing baron and abuser Robert Maxwell. The trial included testimony from four women who described being dragged by Maxwell into Epstein orbit when they were teenagers and experiencing difficult family situations. It was a turning point in the #MeToo era, showing in often awful detail how the rich and powerful could abuse seemingly unpunished girls. Federal agents began gathering evidence against Epstein, a financier, in 2005, following reports by several girls of sexual “massages” being paid to provide at his Palm Beach mansion. However, he reached a lenient agreement on state charges in 2008, allowing him to serve much of his 13-month prison sentence from his private office. A bomb report in the Miami Herald prompted federal prosecutors to reconsider the Epstein case. He was arrested in 2019 after disembarking his private jet at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey and was charged in federal court in Manhattan for sexually abusing minors. Weeks later, he was found hanged in his prison cell. In addition to the condemnation of Maxwell, a longtime figure on the Manhattan social scene, the case has also embarrassed many others who worked with Epstein, including Prince Andrew of Britain and Jess Steely, the former chief executive. On the eve of Tuesday’s sentencing, her lawyers threatened to push for a postponement, complaining that their client could not adequately prepare because she was on suicide alert – against her will – and was forced into solitary confinement. “Today’s sentence makes Ghislaine Maxwell responsible for the heinous crimes against children,” said Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney general for New York Southern District. “This proposal sends a strong message that no one is above the law and that it is never too late for justice.”
