THE sex trafficking trial of Jeffrey’s Epstein’s alleged “madam” Ghislaine Maxwell started on Monday, and a former employee who testified said Maxwell “took over” Epstein’s life.

While Juan Alessi — who looked after Epstein’s Palm Beach mansion for 12 years — was giving evidence in New York this week, he said the British socialite announced that she was the “lady of the house” in regards to the residence.

“She also told me she was in charge of (Epstein’s) other properties. I was only supposed to speak to Mr Epstein when he asked a question,” he said.

Plus, Lawrence Visoski, Epstein’s former pilot who is testified for the prosecution, was asked during cross-examination about passengers on Epstein’s Gulf Stream plane and confirmed Trump, Prince Andrew, and former President Bill Clinton had all flown on it.

“I certainly remember President Trump, but not many people associated with him,” the pilot told the trial.

Maxwell faces allegations that she procured girls for Epstein while also participating in the abuse herself on a number of occasions. Prosecutors allege she and Epstein exploited girls as young as 14.

Maxwell’s lawyers deny all charges against her and will attempt to argue her relationship with Epstein has been overstated.

Read our Ghislaine Maxwell live blog for the latest news and updates…

GHISLAINE MAXWELL ‘PREYED ON VULNERABLE YOUNG GIRLS’

While opening the case against Ghislaine Maxwell, prosecutor Lara Pomerantz said: “The defendant helped Epstein find those girls, she helped him recruit those girls for so-called massages.”

“She preyed on vulnerable young girls, manipulated them and served them up to be sexually abused.”

“Make no mistake – she knew exactly what Epstein was going to do to those children when she sent them inside those massage rooms.”
‘I AM SEEKING CLOSURE’

Maxwell’s lawyers also quizzed “Jane” on her career as an actress earlier this week, including asking if she even played a “prostitute” and if she can “cry on command.”

“This is real. I am seeking closure. I have been running from this my entire life. I want to help in whatever way I can. And maybe find some healing,” Jane said.

And she added that she clearly recalls the first time Epstein abused her as it was the moment her “life would change forever”.
DEFENSE GRILLED ‘JANE’ OVER PAYOUT

Alleged Maxwell victim Jane, now in her early 40s and an actress, was grilled about a multimillion-dollar payout she received from a compensation fund for Epstein’s victims.

Sobbing, she said: “I wish I never received that money in the first place because of what happened.”

‘JANE’S’ TESTIMONY, PART TWO

Jane previously told how the British socialite was “in the room” when much of the abuse occurred – including when she was just 14.

She repeatedly said she could either not recall or claimed there were errors in the initial transcription of her comments when speaking to prosecutors in 2019.

It appears a key part of Maxwell’s defense lawyers strategy is attempting to suggest the victim’s memories have changed over time.
‘JANE’S’ TESTIMONY

Maxwell’s first accuser “Jane” took the stand on Wednesday on day three of the trial.

She claimed Maxwell fondled her as Epstein pleasured himself before the twisted financier abused her with sex toys.

Jane also told the court that an “orgy” took place in the mansion’s massage room on multiple occasions and both Maxwell and Epstein allegedly took part.
‘SENSATIONAL AND IMPURE’

Sordid and salacious details about Maxwell’s sex life could emerge during the case as victims take the stand.

Documents relating to her private life have been unsealed in preparation for the case.

While others were deemed too “sensational and impure” to be released to the public by the judge.

“Those portions of the transcript, which were redacted in the civil matter, concern privacy interests and their disclosure would merely serve to cater to a ‘craving for that which is sensational and impure’,” said Judge Alison Nathan.

And with these mystery documents hanging over the trial, it raises the questions about what sleazy claims could be made in court about Maxwell.

Her lawyers have previously moaned about the focus on her sex life – claiming some parts such as details about sex toys and “three-way sexual activity” – are private.
ALLEGED VICTIM MET TRUMP AT MAR-A-LAGO

Jeffrey Epstein introduced a 14-year-old alleged sex abuse victim to Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort, Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial heard this week.

The court was also told she once participated in a beauty pageant sponsored by the former president.

Maxwell’s first accuser – who appeared under the pseudonym “Jane” – took the stand during the ongoing trial in New York.

During cross examination, she was asked by Maxwell’s lawyers if Epstein had ever introduced her to Trump.

She agreed she had and claims she was driven to Mar-a-Lago by Epstein in a dark green car when she was 14.
WHO HAS BEEN CONNECTED TO EPSTEIN AND MAXWELL?

Notable politicians, billionaires, and celebrities have been connected to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

Some of them include Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, Bill Gates, and Woody Allen.

Prince Andrew has been accused of sexual assault by Virginia Giuffre. A judge dismissed criminal charges in 2015, but Giuffre is pursuing a sexual assault lawsuit.

The case is scheduled to go on well into the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year in 2022.
THE CHARGES

The exact charges against Maxwell are:
- 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
- Sex trafficking conspiracy
- Sex trafficking of a minor
She also faces two other charges of perjury over allegations she lied in a deposition in a separate civil suit, but these will be tried separately.

She has pleaded not guilty to all charges against her.

WILL PRINCE ANDREW BE MENTIONED IN THE TRIAL?

It has been suggested that Andrew’s name could be mentioned in the case and one lawyer said the royal will be “dreading” the trial.

“It is inconceivable his name won’t be introduced by the women who will testify against Maxwell,” a lawyer told The Mail on Sunday.

Andrew and Ghislaine are understood to have been friends since university, and she is claimed to be the one who introduced him to Epstein.
WHO FLEW ON THE ‘LOLITA EXPRESS’? PART TWO

Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey flew to Africa on the Lolita Express in 2002 as part of a project to raise awareness on the Aids crisis and poverty.

Comedian Chris Tucker was also part of the group, including Clinton and Spacey, who flew to Africa on a five-day humanitarian trip in 2002.

Flight logs reveal that Naomi Campbell also travelled on Epstein’s plane in 2002.

Epstein’s lawyer Alan Dershowitz took trips on the jet in the late 1990s, flight records show.
WHO FLEW ON THE ‘LOLITA EXPRESS’?

Former Epstein pilot Lawrence Visoski testified that former President Donald Trump was aboard Epstein’s distinctive Gulf Stream plane.

The Sun reported in 2019 that Prince Andrew flew on a private jet with Epstein and his alleged 17-year-old sex slave Virginia Roberts.

Brit socialite Ghislaine Maxwell travelled on the Lolita Express on a number of occasions, flight logs show.

According to flight logs obtained by Fox News in 2016, former US president Bill Clinton was a passenger on the jet.
WHAT WAS THE ‘LOLITA EXPRESS’?

Jeffrey Epstein was alleged to have used the plane to court underage girls and fly them between his residences across the US.

The luxury Boeing 727 aircraft was owned by Epstein, though what exactly happened on the flights remains a close guarded secret.

Victims of Epstein say he organised orgies on board the three-engine commercial jet.

The luxury aircraft boasted deluxe furnishings, a spacious galley, expansive cabin lounge and a master bedroom.

The pilot of the plane reportedly undertook around 1,000 flights during his time flying Epstein and others.
WHAT WAS JEFFREY EPSTEIN’S ‘LITTLE BLACK BOOK’?

Jeffery Epstein maintained a “little black book” with the names and contact information of prominent people, including President Donald Trump, Elizabeth Hurley and Michael Bloomberg.

The individuals listed in Epstein’s book have not been accused of or associated with any of Epstein’s crimes.

In 2020, the Miami Herald tried calling many listed in the book and said they received a “lot of throat clearing, vague answers”.

Some people apparently claimed they were in Epstein’s book because of their connection with Ghislaine Maxwell.

Unredacted versions of the 92-page book have appeared online after it was reportedly leaked in 2015 by Gawker, which claimed it was found in court documents.
DOES GHISLAINE MAXWELL HAVE KIDS?

Ghislaine Maxwell does not have any children of her own, but is reportedly the stepmother to her husband’s children from his first marriage.

According to reports, Maxwell secretly wed tech millionaire Scott Borgerson in 2016.

Maxwell’s own family didn’t know about the wedding until her bail hearing, according to her brother, Ian.

WHAT IS GHISLAINE MAXWELL’S NET WORTH?

The British socialite is worth an estimated £7.4million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

The New York Post reported in 2000 that Maxwell lived off an £80,000 a year trust fund set up by her father.
HOW LONG COULD MAXWELL FACE IN PRISON?

If convicted on all counts, Maxwell could face up to 80 years in prison.

Depending on how the trial goes and whether she is convicted, she could spend the rest of her life behind bars.
PROCEEDINGS WILL RUN THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS

With a trial expected to last about six weeks, it’s not likely we will see a conviction before the end of the holidays this year.

It is expected that Ghislaine Maxwell will turn 60 behind bars.

Her birthday falls on Christmas Day.
‘VICTIM 3’

One of three accusers, known as ‘Victim 3’, is understood to be a British woman who claims she was groomed by Maxwell in London in 1994.

Prosecutors claim Maxwell encouraged the 17-year-old girl to massage Epstein “knowing that (he) would engage in sex acts” with her.

The British woman is alleged to have later been abused by Epstein at his ‘Zorro’ ranch in New Mexico, although she was above the age of consent in the state.
‘THEY WERE KIDS BEING SEXUALLY EXPLOITED AND ABUSED’

“But was happening in those massage rooms was not massage. Those girls were not professional masseuses. They were kids being sexually exploited and abused,” Pomerantz continued.

Not only did Maxwell groom the girls to be abused by Epstein, she even watched and took part, the court was told as the prosecutor opened the case.

“The defendant walked the girls into a room where she knew that man would molest them, and there were times she was in the room when it happened, making it all feel normal and casual. That is why we are here today.”

“Sometimes, she was even in the room for the massages herself, and sometimes she touched the girls’ bodies.”
GHISLAINE MAXWELL ‘PREYED ON VULNERABLE YOUNG GIRLS’

While opening the case against Ghislaine Maxwell, prosecutor Lara Pomerantz said: “The defendant helped Epstein find those girls, she helped him recruit those girls for so-called massages.”

“She preyed on vulnerable young girls, manipulated them and served them up to be sexually abused.”

“Make no mistake – she knew exactly what Epstein was going to do to those children when she sent them inside those massage rooms.”

‘I AM SEEKING CLOSURE’

Maxwell’s lawyers also quizzed “Jane” on her career as an actress, including asking if she even played a “prostitute” and if she can “cry on command.”

“This is real. I am seeking closure. I have been running from this my entire life. I want to help in whatever way I can. And maybe find some healing,” Jane said.

And she added that she clearly recalls the first time Epstein abused her as it was the moment her “life would change forever”.
DEFENSE GRILLED ‘JANE’ OVER PAYOUT

Alleged Maxwell victim Jane, now in her early 40s and an actress, was grilled about a multimillion-dollar payout she received from a compensation fund for Epstein’s victims.

Sobbing, she said: “I wish I never received that money in the first place because of what happened.”
‘JANE’S’ TESTIMONY, PART TWO

Jane previously told how the British socialite was “in the room” when much of the abuse occurred – including when she was just 14.

She repeatedly said she could either not recall or claimed there were errors in the initial transcription of her comments when speaking to prosecutors in 2019.

It appears a key part of Maxwell’s defence lawyers strategy is attempting to suggest the victim’s memories have changed over time.
‘JANE’S’ TESTIMONY

Maxwell’s first accuser “Jane” took the stand on Wednesday on day three of the trial.

She claimed Maxwell fondled her as Epstein pleasured himself before the twisted financier abused her with sex toys.

Jane also told the court that an “orgy” took place in the mansion’s massage room on multiple occasions and both Maxwell and Epstein allegedly took part.