Days after Ghislaine Maxwell asked a judge to free her from a 20-year sentence, the public release of grand jury transcripts from her sex-trafficking case brought victims’ allegations back into the spotlight.
The Justice Department’s Disclosure
The Justice Department released the transcripts as part of its ongoing disclosure of investigative files on Maxwell and the late Jeffrey Epstein. The documents show an FBI agent telling grand jurors about Maxwell’s pivotal role in Epstein’s decades-long sexual abuse of girls and young women.
Maxwell’s Conviction and Epstein’s Fate
Maxwell, a British socialite and publishing heir, was convicted of sex trafficking in December 2021 after four women testified in a New York City federal jury about how she and Epstein abused them in the 1990s and early 2000s. Epstein was arrested in July 2019 on sex-trafficking charges and died by suicide a month later in a Manhattan federal jail.
Habeas-Petition Filed
Two weeks ago, as the Department began releasing the so-called Epstein files, Maxwell filed a habeas-petit. She asked a federal judge to release her on the grounds that “substantial new evidence” had emerged proving constitutional violations during her trial. Maxwell claimed exonerating information was withheld and that witnesses lied. She filed the petition on her own, without a lawyer.
Judge Engelmayer’s Response
Judge Paul A. Engelmayer responded by scolding Maxwell for failing to remove victim names and other identifying information from her court papers. He ordered that future filings be sealed and kept out of public view until they are reviewed and redacted to protect victims’ identities.
Department’s Release Schedule
The Department has been posting records after acknowledging it would miss last Friday’s congressionally mandated deadline to release all files. It blamed the delay on the time-consuming process of obscuring victims’ names and other identifying information. On Wednesday, it said it may need “a few more weeks” to release the full trove after discovering more than a million potentially relevant documents.
Heavy Redactions and Updates
Some of the Epstein and Maxwell grand jury records were initially released with heavy redactions. A 119-page document marked “Grand Jury-NY” was entirely blacked out. Updated versions were posted over the weekend.
FBI Agent’s Early Testimony
An FBI agent’s testimony in the grand jury proceedings foreshadowed the trial testimony a year later from four women who described Maxwell’s role in their sexual abuse from 1994 to 2004. The agent described a 14-year-old girl who met Maxwell and Epstein at a Michigan summer arts camp in 1994. Flight logs showed Epstein and Maxwell traveled to the camp because Epstein was a donor.
Encounter at the Camp
According to the agent, the girl had a chance encounter with Epstein and Maxwell one day. After learning the girl was from Palm Beach, Florida, Epstein mentioned that he sometimes gave scholarships to students and asked for her phone number. The girl later visited Epstein’s estate with her mother for tea, and the mother was impressed when Epstein said he provided scholarships, leading her to call him a “godfather.”
Grooming and Gifts
The agent said the girl began regularly going to the estate as Epstein and Maxwell “groomed” her with gifts and trips to the movies. Epstein began paying for voice lessons and giving her money that he said she should give to her struggling mother. The girl thought the relationship strange, but Maxwell normalized it for her, acting like a “cool, older sister” and saying, “This is what grownups do.”
Sexual Encounters
Eventually, the agent testified that the girl saw Maxwell topless at the pool. After the girl revealed she hoped to be an actor and a model, Epstein told her he was best friends with the owner of Victoria’s Secret and that she would have to learn to be comfortable in her underwear and not be a prude. The agent said Epstein pulled her into his lap and masturbated. After that, the agent added, the girl’s encounters with Epstein began to include sexual contact, particularly in his massage room.
Maxwell’s Presence with Other Girls
The agent also noted that Maxwell was sometimes present with other girls. One of the girls would begin massaging Epstein and Maxwell would tease the girls. “She’d grab the girl’s breasts, and she would direct the girls on what to do,” the agent said, relaying the girl’s account. Maxwell’s attitude during the encounters was “very casual; she acted like this was normal.”
Trial Testimony Mirrors Agent’s Account
The released testimony closely mirrored the testimony at Maxwell’s 2021 trial by a woman who testified under the pseudonym “Jane.” At trial, Jane said Maxwell also participated in group sessions between multiple females and Epstein that usually began with Epstein or Maxwell leading them all into a bedroom or a massage room at the Palm Beach residence.
Victim Voices Amplify
Victim voices remain loud. Epstein accuser Danielle Bensky said the release of records has only sharpened the focus on Maxwell’s crimes among their victims. Bensky said she’s been involved in daily discussions with about two dozen other victims that make clear Maxwell “is a criminal who was 1,000% engaged in sexual acts.”
Bensky’s Statements
Bensky added, “I’ve heard things that would make your blood curdle. I just had a conversation with a survivor last night who said she was the puppeteer.” She also said she was sexually abused by Epstein two decades ago and that she was never personally abused by Maxwell.
Calls for Accountability
The transcript release and Maxwell’s habeas-petition have reignited calls for accountability. While the Department continues to sift through millions of documents, the public now has a clearer view of the FBI’s early warnings and the victims’ testimonies that led to Maxwell’s conviction.
Key Takeaways
- The Justice Department’s release of grand jury transcripts exposes an FBI agent’s testimony that foreshadowed Maxwell’s role in Epstein’s abuse.
- Maxwell’s habeas-petition claims new evidence and witnesses’ false testimony, but the judge has ordered future filings to be sealed.
- Victims, including Danielle Bensky, continue to describe Maxwell as a central figure in their sexual exploitation, reinforcing the need for transparency.
Looking Ahead
As the Department moves forward with the full disclosure of the Epstein files, the public will likely see more details that could further illuminate the extent of Maxwell’s involvement and the systemic failures that allowed the abuse to persist.
