Ghislaine Maxwell accuser says she met Trump at 14 and flew with Prince Andrew

 

Ghislaine Maxwell accuser says she met Trump at 14 and flew with Prince Andrew

 

‘Jane’, who did not accuse Trump or duke of misconduct, testifies in court she was introduced to former president by Jeffrey Epstein

 

This article contains depictions of sexual abuse

 

Victoria Bekiempis

Wed 1 Dec 2021 17.54 GMT

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/01/ghislaine-maxwell-accuser-cross-examination

 

The first accuser in Ghislaine Maxwell’s child sex trafficking trial testified on Wednesday that Jeffrey Epstein introduced her to Donald Trump when she was 14. This accuser also claimed that she was on a flight with Prince Andrew.

 

She did not accuse Trump or the Duke of York of any misconduct. The accuser, who used the pseudonym “Jane” in court, said this as she was was undergoing cross-examination from one of Maxwell’s attorneys.

 

“Mr Epstein introduced you to Donald Trump, correct?” defense lawyer Laura Menninger asked.

 

“He took you to Mar-a-Lago when you were 14, you claim?” Menninger said, in reference to the former president’s home in Palm Beach, Florida.

 

“Yes,” Jane said.

 

“He took you in a dark green car and you met Donald Trump there, correct?”

 

“Correct.”

 

Menninger also asked: “You remember Prince Andrew being on a flight with you?”

 

“Yes,” Jane said.

 

Jane had alleged on Tuesday that Maxwell drew her into Epstein’s predatory orbit when she was 14 years old. At times, Jane alleged, Maxwell was present when Epstein sexually abused her, and claimed that she sometimes participated in this encounters.

 

Epstein, a financier and convicted sex offender who counted Prince Andrew among his associates, killed himself at a New York City jail in August 2019 while awaiting his own sex-trafficking trial.

 

Maxwell, 59, daughter of the late British press baron Robert Maxwell, was arrested at a luxurious New Hampshire estate in July 2020. She is on trial for six counts related to her alleged involvement in Epstein’s sexual abuse of teenage girls. She has pleaded not guilty to all counts.

 

Menninger challenged Jane about statements she made to law enforcement in the months following Epstein’s death. Menninger did so by pointing Jane to statements she had previously given to authorities.

 

“It is true that you do not recall Ghislaine ever touching you?” Menninger asked.

 

“That’s not true,” Jane said.

 

Menninger said: “When you spoke to the government in December of 2019, with your lawyers there, and you told the government at that time, you are not sure whether Maxwell ever touched you during these encounters, correct?”

 

“I don’t recall,” Jane said, referring to what she had told authorities.

 

“You told the government you had no memory of Ghislaine being present when you claim that Epstein engaged in any sexual contact with you?”

 

“I don’t recall.”

 

“You recall telling the government that Maxwell never touched you?”

 

“I don’t recall that,” Jane replied.

 

Menninger also asked: “Has your story changed about how many times you remember abuse over the course of your discussions with the government?”

 

Menninger’s questioning speaks to one aspect of Maxwell’s defense – attempting to undermine accusers’ recollection of events. The defense is expected to call psychologist Elizabeth Loftus as a witness, to discuss how people can form “false memories”.

 

Prosecutors have alleged that Maxwell was Epstein’s “best friend and right hand”.

 

“She was involved in every detail of Epstein’s life. The defendant and Epstein were partners in crime,” prosecutor Lara Pomerantz said on Monday during her opening statement.

 

A courtroom sketch on Tuesday. Maxwell is on trial for six counts related to her alleged involvement in Epstein’s sexual abuse of minor teenagers.

Ghislaine Maxwell was present when Jeffrey Epstein abused me, accuser testifies

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“Did there come a time in your life when you had sexual contact with Jeffrey Epstein?” prosecutor Alison Moe asked Jane when her testimony began Tuesday. She said yes. Moe asked her age when the abuse started.

 

“Fourteen years old.”

 

“Did that happen once or more than once when you were 14 years old?” Moe said.

 

“More than once.”

 

“Was there ever anyone else in the room?”

 

“Yes,” Jane replied.

 

“Who was most frequently in the room when you had sexual contact with Jeffrey Epstein when you were 14 years old?”

 

“Ghislaine Maxwell,” Jane responded.

 

The trial continues.