Major Controversies Surrounding Ghislaine Maxwell: A Detailed Timeline

Public opinion and media debates around Ghislaine Maxwell—discover key moments of controversy.

Ghislaine Maxwell is a British-French-American former socialite convicted of sex trafficking and other offenses related to Jeffrey Epstein. In 2021, she was found guilty of enabling Epstein's abuse of underage girls. In 2022, she was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for her role in the crimes.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

November 1990: Delivery of an envelope in New York City

On 5 November 1990, Ghislaine Maxwell flew to New York City to deliver an envelope on her father's behalf, which was part of a plot to steal $200m from Berlitz shareholders.

November 1991: Robert Maxwell's death and aftermath

In November 1991, Robert Maxwell's body was found near the Canary Islands and Lady Ghislaine. Ghislaine Maxwell then flew to Tenerife to attend to his business paperwork. She attended her father's funeral in Jerusalem.

June 1992: Arrest of Ian and Kevin Maxwell

On June 19, 1992, two of Ghislaine Maxwell's brothers, Ian and Kevin, were arrested and charged with fraud related to the Mirror Group pension scandal.

2008: Epstein's conviction

In 2008, Jeffrey Epstein was convicted of soliciting a minor for prostitution and served 13 months of an 18-month jail sentence.

2010: Maxwell Leaves Country Before Deposition

In 2010, according to court documents from a lawsuit filed by Epstein against Bradley Edwards, Maxwell agreed to provide a deposition but left the country a day before it was scheduled, claiming she needed to be with her ill mother. She returned within a month to attend Chelsea Clinton's wedding.

January 2015: Civil lawsuit details made public

In January 2015, details of a civil lawsuit were made public, containing a deposition from "Jane Doe 3" accusing Ghislaine Maxwell of recruiting her in 1999, when she was a minor, and grooming her to provide sexual services for Jeffrey Epstein.

2015: Maxwell faces perjury charges for 2015 civil suit

In 2015, Ghislaine Maxwell faced a second criminal trial for perjury on two charges that she lied under oath during a civil suit about Epstein's abuse of underage girls. Each count carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

2015: Maxwell's denial of involvement

In 2015, Ghislaine Maxwell rejected allegations that she had acted as a procurer for Jeffrey Epstein and denied facilitating Prince Andrew's alleged acts of sexual abuse.

2015: Giuffre sues Maxwell for defamation

In 2015, Virginia Giuffre sued Ghislaine Maxwell for defamation in federal court in the Southern District of New York.

May 2017: Settlement in Giuffre's favor

In May 2017, the defamation case between Virginia Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell was settled in Giuffre's favor, with Maxwell paying Giuffre "millions".

2017: Sarah Ransome files suit against Epstein and Maxwell

In 2017, Sarah Ransome filed a suit against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell alleging Maxwell hired her to give massages to Epstein and later threatened to harm her if she didn't comply with their sexual demands.

2017: Motion for Alternative Service Granted

In 2017, during a lawsuit filed by Ransome against Maxwell, District Judge John G. Koeltl granted a motion for "alternative service" due to persistent efforts to thwart reaching Maxwell, including hiring a private investigation firm and reaching out to her lawyers who refused to relay information.

2018: Exposé reveals identity of Jane Doe 3

In 2018, an exposé by Julie K. Brown in the Miami Herald revealed Jane Doe 3 to be Virginia Giuffre, who asserted that Ghislaine Maxwell had introduced her to Jeffrey Epstein.

2018: Settlement of Ransome's suit

In 2018, the suit filed by Sarah Ransome against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell was settled under undisclosed terms.

April 2019: Maria Farmer Goes Public With Allegations

In April 2019, Maria Farmer publicly accused Epstein and Maxwell of sexually assaulting her and her sister in 1996, filing a sworn affidavit in federal court in New York. The affidavit supported Virginia Giuffre's defamation suit against Alan Dershowitz.

July 2019: Sex trafficking allegations and TerraMar Project cessation

In July 2019, following sex trafficking allegations against Jeffrey Epstein, the TerraMar Project, a non-profit founded by Ghislaine Maxwell, announced it would cease operations.

July 2019: Court Orders Unsealing of Documents; Epstein Arrested

In July 2019, the US Court of Appeals ordered the unsealing of documents from the civil suit against Maxwell by Virginia Giuffre. On 6 July 2019, Jeffrey Epstein was arrested on sex trafficking charges. Maxwell requested a rehearing on 17 July 2019 to keep documents sealed.

July 2019: TerraMar Project Announces Closure

On 12 July 2019, the TerraMar Project announced its closure, less than a week after sex trafficking charges against Epstein became public.

August 2019: Documents Unsealed; Epstein Found Dead

In August 2019, the first batch of documents was unsealed from the Giuffre defamation suit against Maxwell. On 10 August 2019, Epstein was found dead, reportedly by suicide, in his Manhattan prison cell.

August 2019: Jennifer Araoz Files Lawsuit Against Epstein's Estate and Maxwell

On 14 August 2019, Jennifer Araoz filed a lawsuit in New York County Supreme Court against Epstein's estate, Maxwell, and unnamed staff members, leveraging New York's new Child Victims Act.

August 2019: Maxwell Named in Lawsuit by 'Priscilla Doe'

On 20 August 2019, Ghislaine Maxwell was named in a lawsuit filed in New York against the estate of Jeffrey Epstein. The plaintiff, identified as "Priscilla Doe", claimed that Maxwell recruited and trained her in 2006 to provide sexual services for Epstein.

September 2019: Application Made to Close Terramar (UK)

In September 2019, specifically on the 4th, an application was made for the United Kingdom organisation, Terramar (UK), to be closed, with the first notice in The London Gazette made on 17 September 2019. Maxwell was listed as a director of this company.

October 2019: Araoz Amended Her Complaint

In October 2019, Jennifer Araoz amended her complaint to include Lesley Groff, Cimberly Espinosa, and the late Rosalyn Fontanilla.

November 2019: Annie Farmer Sues Maxwell and Epstein's Estate

In November 2019, Annie Farmer, represented by David Boies, sued Maxwell and Epstein's estate in Federal District Court in Manhattan, accusing them of rape, battery, and false imprisonment and seeking unspecified damages.

November 2019: Maria Farmer Interview on CBS This Morning

In November 2019, Maria Farmer was interviewed on CBS This Morning where she detailed the 1996 assault and alleged that Maxwell had threatened her career and her life after the assault.

December 2019: Arguments Against Document Release; FBI Investigation Confirmed

In December 2019, Maxwell's lawyers argued against the further release of court documents. On 27 December 2019, Reuters confirmed that Maxwell was under FBI investigation for facilitating Epstein's criminal activities.

December 2019: Reuters Reports Maxwell Under FBI Investigation

On 27 December 2019, Reuters reported that Maxwell was under FBI investigation for facilitating Epstein. Maxwell was in hiding after his arrest.

December 2019: Terramar (UK) Officially Dissolved

On 3 December 2019, the company Terramar (UK) was listed as officially dissolved.

January 2020: Lawyers Refuse Lawsuit Service

As of 30 January 2020, Maxwell's lawyers refused to accept service of three lawsuits against her on her behalf.

January 2020: Lawsuit Filed Alleging Recruitment and Abuse of Music Student

In January 2020, a lawsuit was filed against Maxwell and Epstein alleging that they recruited a 13-year-old music student at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in the summer of 1994 and subjected her to sexual abuse. The suit claims Jane Doe was repeatedly sexually assaulted by Epstein over four years and Maxwell played a key role in recruitment and participation.

March 2020: Maxwell Sues Epstein's Estate for Legal Costs

On 12 March 2020, Maxwell filed a lawsuit in Superior Court in the US Virgin Islands seeking compensation from Epstein's estate for her legal costs, claiming she was a longtime employee from 1998 to 2006 who managed his property holdings while denying involvement in his criminal activities.

July 2020: Arrest and charges by the U.S. federal government

In July 2020, Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested and charged by the federal government of the United States with crimes including enticement of minors and sex trafficking of underage girls related to her association with Jeffrey Epstein.

July 2020: Maxwell Under Investigation in US Virgin Islands

In July 2020, a court filing from the USVI Department of Justice, released on 10 July 2020, stated that Maxwell was under investigation for her alleged participation in Epstein's sex trafficking operation in the US Virgin Islands. Authorities were unsuccessful in locating her to serve a subpoena.

July 2020: Maxwell Pleads Not Guilty and Denied Bail

On 14 July 2020, Maxwell appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to the charges. She was denied bail as a flight risk due to concerns about her finances, ability to hide, and France's extradition policy. Her trial was set for 12 July 2021.

July 2020: Additional Documents Released

On 30 July 2020, additional documents from the Giuffre v Maxwell defamation suit were released, including Giuffre's deposition and email exchanges between Maxwell and Epstein from as recent as 2015.

December 2020: Bail Request Reiterated and Rejected

In December 2020, Maxwell's attorney reiterated her request for bail on 18 December 2020, offering 24-hour surveillance and residence with a friend in New York City. Her husband offered US$22 million. On 28 December 2020, the bail request was again rejected. Annie Farmer opposed the request.

January 2021: Court Hearing Disrupted by QAnon Believers

On 19 January 2021, a court hearing was disrupted by believers in QAnon as the proceedings were illegally livestreamed to YouTube.

January 2021: Motion Challenges Grand Jury Indictment

On 26 January 2021, Maxwell's attorneys challenged her grand jury indictment, claiming it did not reflect the ethnic diversity of the jurisdiction.

March 2021: Maxwell Named in Civil Suit for Trafficking and Rape

In March 2021, Maxwell was named in a civil suit filed against Epstein's estate by a Broward County woman, accusing Epstein and Maxwell of trafficking her after repeated rapes in Florida in 2008.

March 2021: New Sex Trafficking Charges Added

On 29 March 2021, US prosecutors added new charges of sex trafficking a minor and sex trafficking conspiracy, alleging that Maxwell groomed a fourth girl between 2001 and 2004. She pleaded not guilty.

April 2021: Maxwell Held at Metropolitan Detention Center

As of 28 April 2021, Maxwell was held at the Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn, New York. Lawyers requested that Judge Nathan release her on $5 million bond.

April 2021: Judge Rules on Separate Trials; Trial Delayed

In April 2021, US District Judge Alison Nathan ruled that Maxwell would face two separate trials. Nathan delayed the first trial to 29 November 2021 after Maxwell's defence lawyers successfully argued that the new charges added in March 2021 did not give them enough time to prepare for trial.

July 2021: Trial Date Set

Maxwell's trial was set for 12 July 2021.

November 2021: Maxwell Appears in Court; Trial Commences

In November 2021, Maxwell appeared in court on 15 November 2021. The trial commenced on 29 November with opening statements.

December 2021: Conviction on five counts, including sex trafficking

In December 2021, Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted on five out of six counts, including one of sex trafficking of a minor.

December 2021: Twitter Account Monitoring Maxwell's Trial Suspended

In early December 2021, Twitter suspended the account "@TrackerTrial", an account monitoring Maxwell's trial. The account was two weeks old and had 525,000 followers before its suspension.

December 2021: Maxwell Convicted on Sex Trafficking-Related Counts

On 29 December 2021, Maxwell was convicted by a jury in US federal court on five sex trafficking-related counts carrying a potential custodial sentence of up to 65 years' imprisonment.

2021: Guilty verdict in child sex trafficking trial

In 2021, Ghislaine Maxwell was found guilty of child sex trafficking and other offences in connection with Jeffrey Epstein.

February 2022: Prosecutors Respond to Maxwell's Petition for a New Trial

On 4 February 2022, prosecutors told the judge that Ghislaine Maxwell's arguments for a retrial, submitted under seal, must be "publicly docketed," and the judge required the reasons for the sealed submission to be made public.

April 2022: Judge Dismisses Maxwell's Request for a New Trial

In April 2022, the judge dismissed Ghislaine Maxwell's request to set aside the verdict, finding that a juror's failure to disclose his childhood sexual abuse during jury selection did not warrant a new trial.

June 2022: Maxwell Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

On 28 June 2022, Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being placed on suicide watch a few days prior, although she claimed to not be suicidal. Her lawyers' request for a sentencing delay was denied.

July 2022: Maxwell Appeals Conviction and is Transferred to FCI Tallahassee

In July 2022, Ghislaine Maxwell appealed her conviction on July 7th. Then, on 25 July 2022, she was transferred from Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn to FCI Tallahassee, a low-security federal prison for female inmates.

August 2022: Lawyers Sue Maxwell for Unpaid Legal Fees

In August 2022, Ghislaine Maxwell's former lawyers sued her, alleging that she failed to pay $878,000 in legal fees.

2022: Sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment

In 2022, Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment in federal court in New York City.

January 2024: Release of Previously Sealed Documents

In January 2024, over 900 pages of previously sealed documents relating to Giuffre's civil case against Maxwell were made public following litigation by the Miami Herald; further documents were released on 4 January.

September 2024: Maxwell's Convictions Upheld; Appeal to Supreme Court Planned

On 17 September 2024, three judges at Manhattan's Second US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Ghislaine Maxwell's five convictions and sentence. Her lawyer indicated she would appeal to the US Supreme Court.