Ghislaine Maxwell was ordered held without bail Tuesday — with a federal judge ruling that she “poses a substantial actual risk of flight” after she purposely hid from authorities.
“The nature and circumstances of the offence here weigh in favour of detention,” said Judge Alison Nathan during a video conference in Manhattan federal court.
“The government evidence at this early juncture appears strong.”, New York Post reports
The 58-year-old heir of disgraced newspaper baron Robert Maxwell will be hauled back to the Metropolitan Detention Center to await trial on charges she conspired with Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse young women.
In siding with prosecutors, Nathan said there was no conditions of bail that could ensure Maxwell’s return to court, noting her “significant financial resources,” foreign connections and efforts to secretly move around the country following Epstein’s arrest last year.
The jurist said without a clear picture of Maxwell’s finances — which prosecutors argued were purposely obscured — “it is practically impossible to set financial bail conditions that would reasonably assure her appearance in court.”
Earlier in the more than two-hour procedure, Maxwell pleaded not guilty to a six-count indictment that could land her up to 35 years behind bars.
Long accused of serving as Epstein’s madam, Maxwell was arrested July 2 on six counts — conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Two counts include perjury for allegedly lying during a 2016 deposition in an Epstein-related case.
Prosecutors contend she was hiding at mansion occupying a 156-acre lot in a remote part of New Hampshire in order to avoid being detected by authorities. Noting her three passports and net wealth of $10 million, they said she had every incentive to flee the US.
Two of Maxwell and Epstein’s alleged victims also implored the judge to remand Maxwell, including a Jane Doe who said she received a call in the middle of the night threatening the life of her 2-year-old.
“She was in charge. She egged him on,” Doe said, in a statement read out loud by prosecutors.
Annie Farmer, another Epstein accuser, was on the line to tell the judge she was recruited by Maxwell when she was 16 and sexually abused by her and Epstein at his New Mexico ranch.
“She is a sexual predator who groomed and abused me,” Farmer said. “She has never shown any remorse for her heinous crimes.”
Farmer’s lawsuit against Maxwell and Epstein’s estate is pending.
Maxwell’s lawyers called for her release on $5 million bond and home confinement.
“It’s just not realistic,” said defence lawyer Mark Cohen, about keeping Maxwell incarcerated amid the coronavirus pandemic until her trial, which was scheduled for next July.
