Ghislaine Maxwell, the former collaborator of Jeffrey Epstein, pleaded not guilty at the hearing on Tuesday, which took place in the form of a teleconference. She must face six charges for "helping, aiding and abetting the assaults on minors of Jeffrey Epstein", from 1994 to 1997.
The Manhattan federal prosecutor argued Monday that Ghislaine Maxwell posed a risk of "extreme" flight if released, before the crucial hearing on Tuesday. Friday, the lawyers of Ghislaine Maxwell had proposed a financial package which guaranteed a bond of 5 million dollars to allow his release pending trial.
Arrested in New Hampshire on July 2 after several months on the run, this famous figure of the Anglo-Saxon gotha was charged with participating in a pedophile network and inciting prostitution.
This image of the jet set would have recruited for Jeffrey Epstein several adolescent girls in several cities of the world. In early August 2019, a few weeks after his arrest, the financier hanged himself in his cell.
Risk of "extreme" leakage
The prosecution stresses that the daughter of former British press magnate Robert Maxwell has substantial financial resources and a network of acquaintances abroad. Accustomed to social evenings, she regularly travels to London, New York or even Mar-a-Lago, the residence of Donald Trump in Florida.
Born in France in the Yvelines (Maisons-Laffitte), the Briton enjoys French nationality, which would make her extradition impossible if she took refuge in France once released.
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The prosecutor also points out that Ghislaine Maxwell went into hiding for several months after the outbreak of the Epstein case, knowing that the American authorities were interested in his testimony.
Furthermore, the prosecution notes that the arrangement proposed for the deposit is based on a guarantee and not on an actual payment. "The court should take this proposal into account for what it is worth: nothing," says prosecutor Strauss.
The prosecution also dismisses the argument that Ghislaine Maxwell should be released given the risk of coronavirus contamination in Brooklyn Federal Prison, where she is currently detained. The prosecutor ensures that measures have been taken by the prison establishment to limit these risks.
