Friends praise Ghislaine Maxwell as ‘like Diana’, others see a psychopath
Court documents reveal that the socialite has had glowing references at her bail hearing, but alleged victims fear she will flee
In the words of her lawyers, she has been “ruthlessly vilified”, accused of a series of child sex-trafficking crimes.
Yet friends and relatives of Ghislaine Maxwell have stepped forward for the first time to vouch publicly for the British socialite as she seeks to be freed on bail from a New York prison in time for Christmas.
Character references from 17 people — including a former SAS soldier, a wealthy British businessman and an author — have been provided to Judge Alison Nathan, who could decide Maxwell’s fate as early as Monday.
Submitted as part of a $US28.5m ($37.3m) bail application, the references make for extraordinary reading. They variously describe her as “a woman of principle”, someone to be “held ... on a pedestal”, and an “inspiring” environmental campaigner.
One supporter even goes as far as equating Maxwell with Diana, Princess of Wales.
Several make it clear they would happily leave their young children in her care — even though she has been charged with grooming and recruiting teenage girls for her former boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein, the late American paedophile financier.
In a dramatic intervention this weekend, however, one alleged victim described Maxwell as “a psychopath” who will flee justice if granted bail.
Annie Farmer claims that when she was 16 she was ordered to strip naked and had her breasts groped by Maxwell at a remote US ranch owned by Epstein.
Farmer said: “She has lived a life of privilege, abusing her position of power to live beyond the rules ... She will not hesitate to leave the country irrespective of whether others will be on the hook financially for her actions because she lacks empathy and, therefore, simply does not care about hurting others.”
Maxwell, who will be 59 on Christmas Day, has been languishing in solitary confinement at Brooklyn’s metropolitan detention centre since she was arrested by the FBI in July.
An earlier attempt to have her released as part of a $US5m bail package was rejected by Nathan because of concerns that Maxwell — who holds British, French and US passports — presented a serious flight risk.
She is not due to go on trial until July and faces up to 35 years in jail if convicted of trafficking and two charges of perjury. She denies any wrongdoing.
Maxwell’s backers, many based in Britain, say that keeping her in prison is “punitive and unjust” and prevents her preparing a credible defence.
Her lawyers have lodged documents — including the character references — with the Southern District of New York court as part of a fresh attempt to have her freed from custody.
They say she is willing to be placed under virtual house arrest, surrender all her travel documents and wear an electronic tag if released.
Over the weekend Maxwell’s family were said to be “optimistic” about the chances of her leaving jail.
The names and personal details of her supporters have been redacted from the court filings after defence lawyers argued that they could face a backlash.
“They are legitimately afraid that if their identities become public, they will be subjected to the same relentless media scrutiny and threats that Ms Maxwell has experienced for more than a year,” one filing says.
A handful of the references, however, are understood to have been written by close family members, including Scott Borgerson, 44, a US tech entrepreneur whom Maxwell secretly married in 2016.
The bulk of the $US28.5m bail bond is based on assets that are said to be jointly owned by the couple, including three properties.
Maxwell’s twin sisters, Isabel and Christine, 70, who live in the US, are also thought to be among the guarantors.
Her older brothers, Kevin and Ian, are believed to have helped to co-ordinate support from friends in Britain.
Among these individuals is a former special forces soldier who has provided security for the Maxwell family for many years.
Pledging $US1m towards the bail package, the security consultant claims Maxwell deliberately kept a low profile after Epstein, 66, committed suicide in prison last year while awaiting trial for child sex offences because she had become the target of “aggressive behaviour” by elements of the media. “This kind of behaviour is not only harassing, but can be life threatening,” he writes.
“A good example is the case of Princess Diana, who unfortunately lost her life due to press intrusion into her personal space.”
Another British friend, described as “one of her closest confidants and advisers”, says: “I would not hesitate to leave any of my kids or grandkids in her care.”
One businessman and acquaintance says his young daughter “adores Ghislaine” and he would have no qualms about Maxwell looking after her “at any time”. He concludes his submission: “I am not being paid or retained to provide this letter.”
Another backer, who appears to be an author and longstanding friend of Maxwell’s father, Robert, the former owner of the British tabloid The Daily Mirror who died in mysterious circumstances in 1991, says there is little chance of her absconding. “She is no ‘chicken’,” he writes.
“The idea of not ‘facing the music’ is totally against the values of every single Maxwell.”
In a reference to Maxwell’s now-defunct Terramar charity, one friend states: “Her passion for saving the oceans was inspiring.”
The most gushing support comes from a former intern who claims her “parents entrusted Ghislaine with me when I was aged 12, 15 and 19”.
The woman writes: “Ghislaine was one of the original ‘it’ girls in London back in the day ... I held her on a pedestal when I was growing up.”
She says Maxwell was “always there for me” when her parents could not provide “emotional support”.
The woman adds: “It is an honour as much as a personal obligation for me to be able to provide this letter of support for her in her hour of need.” The depiction of Maxwell by family and friends jars strikingly with the experience of her alleged victims.
Farmer, 41, who has waived her right to anonymity, claims she was “lavished with gifts” before being abused by Maxwell and Epstein in New Mexico in 1996.
In a statement released on Saturday by US prosecutors arguing for Maxwell’s continued detention, Farmer said: “I believe that she is a psychopath.”
Farmer, a psychologist, said: “Her abuse of me and many other children and young women is evidence of her disregard for and violation of the rights of others.
“She was both charming and manipulative with me during the grooming process, consistent with what many of the women she abused have described.
“She has demonstrated a complete lack of remorse for her central role in procuring girls for Epstein to abuse.
“Fleeing the country in order to escape once more would fit with her long history of anti-social behaviour.”
The Sunday Times
More Coverage
Cissy Houston: soul singer who shepherded daughter Whitney’s career
Grammy-winning soul singer who backed everyone from Elvis to Aretha before shepherding her daughter Whitney’s career
End game? Appeasing Iran will only lead to a wider regional war
After pounding Hezbollah, Israel must attack the Iran’s nuclear sites. Appeasement doesn’t prevent war, it ensures a conflict that’s infinitely more terrible than it might otherwise have been.