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 former socialite convicted in 2021 of child sex trafficking and other offenses related to Jeffrey Epstein. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison in the United States.

Sections (5)

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

June 1992: Arrest of Maxwell's Brothers

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.

1994: Jane Testifies About Abuse at Summer Arts Camp

In 1994, a victim presented as "Jane" testified that Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein preyed upon her while she attended summer arts camp, where they operated a pyramid scheme to exploit vulnerable girls.

1996: Arrest for Drink-Driving

In 1996, Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested for drink-driving, and her occupation was reported as "internet operative".

1999: Recruitment of Jane Doe 3

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 to provide sexual services for Jeffrey Epstein.

2008: Epstein's Conviction

In 2008, Jeffrey Epstein was convicted of soliciting a minor for prostitution.

January 2015: Civil Lawsuit Details Made Public

2015: Maxwell Lied Under Oath

During a civil suit in 2015, Ghislaine Maxwell lied under oath about Jeffrey Epstein's abuse of underage girls.

2015: Maxwell Denies Allegations

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, Ghislaine Maxwell settled a defamation lawsuit in Virginia Giuffre's favor, paying her "millions".

2018: Exposé by Julie K. Brown

A 2018 exposé by Julie K. Brown in the Miami Herald revealed Jane Doe 3 to be Virginia Giuffre, who accused Ghislaine Maxwell of introducing her to Jeffrey Epstein.

July 2019: TerraMar Project Ceases Operations

In July 2019, the TerraMar Project, a non-profit founded by Ghislaine Maxwell, ceased operations after sex trafficking allegations arose against Jeffrey Epstein.

July 2019: TerraMar Project Announced Closure

On July 12, 2019, The TerraMar Project, founded by Ghislaine Maxwell, announced its closure, shortly after the charges of sex trafficking against Jeffrey Epstein became public.

July 2020: Arrest and Charges by US Federal Government

In July 2020, Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and charged with enticement of minors and sex trafficking of underage girls related to her association with Jeffrey Epstein.

July 2020: Maxwell's Arrest

In July 2020, Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested.

March 2021: Delay of First Trial

In March 2021, new charges were added, and Maxwell's defense lawyers successfully argued that they did not have enough time to prepare for trial, leading to a delay of the first trial until November 29, 2021.

April 2021: Judge Nathan Ruled Maxwell Would Face Two Separate Trials

In April 2021, US District Judge Alison Nathan ruled that Ghislaine Maxwell would face two separate trials: one for sex trafficking charges and another for perjury.

November 2021: Maxwell Appears in Court and Trial Commences

In November 2021, Ghislaine Maxwell appeared in court. The trial commenced on November 29, 2021, with opening statements. Twelve jurors and six alternates were selected from a pool of forty to sixty people.

December 2021: Conviction on Multiple Counts

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

December 2021: Twitter Account Suspended and Jury Sitting Times Extended

In early December 2021, Twitter suspended the account "@TrackerTrial", an account monitoring Maxwell's trial. On December 28, 2021, due to rising COVID-19 infections, Judge Nathan extended the jury's sitting times to mitigate the risk of a mistrial.

December 2021: Maxwell Convicted on Sex Trafficking Charges

On December 29, 2021, Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted by a jury on five sex trafficking-related counts, facing a potential sentence of up to 65 years. She was acquitted on one charge, and her family initiated the appeal process.

2021: Conviction for Child Sex Trafficking

In 2021, Ghislaine Maxwell was found guilty of child sex trafficking and other offenses related to Jeffrey Epstein.

February 2022: Prosecutors Respond to Petition for New Trial

On February 4, 2022, following a petition for a new trial, prosecutors told the judge that Ghislaine Maxwell's arguments for a retrial must be "publicly docketed"; the judge said that the reasons for making the submission under seal must be made public.

April 2022: Judge Dismisses Maxwell's Request for Retrial

On April 1, 2022, the judge dismissed Ghislaine Maxwell's request for a retrial, which was based on a juror's failure to disclose their own history of sexual abuse during jury selection.

June 2022: Maxwell Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

On June 28, 2022, Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in the sex trafficking scheme with Jeffrey Epstein.

July 2022: Maxwell Appealed Conviction and Transferred to Federal Prison

In July 2022, Ghislaine Maxwell appealed her conviction on July 7. On July 25, 2022, Maxwell was transferred from Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn, to Federal Correction Institution, Tallahassee.

August 2022: Former 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.

September 2024: Maxwell's Convictions and Sentence Upheld

On September 17, 2024, three judges at the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld Ghislaine Maxwell's five convictions and sentence.

April 2025: Lawyer Asks Supreme Court to Hear Appeal

In April 2025, Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyer, David Oscar Markus, asked the Supreme Court to hear an appeal. He also made a new filing in the case the business day after her prison interview with deputy attorney general Todd Blanche.

July 2025: Maxwell Subpoenaed and Interviewed

In July 2025, James Comer of the US House Committee on Oversight and Accountability subpoenaed Ghislaine Maxwell to testify under oath. She answered on July 29 through her lawyer and demanded immunity from further prosecution. US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche interviewed Maxwell on July 24 and 25, 2025.

August 2025: Release of Transcripts and Recordings

On August 22, 2025, the US Department of Justice released transcripts and recordings of interviews with Ghislaine Maxwell.

September 2025: Controversy Over Maxwell's Prison Transfer

In September 2025, Joseph Schnitt was caught on video claiming that Ghislaine Maxwell was transferred to a lesser-security prison. The DOJ and Schnitt responded by stating that Schnitt had no connection to the Epstein case.