In an emotional victim statement to be read in court before Maxwell’s conviction, Ms. Giuffre described her pain and fear of being tried for Epstein’s abuse by the 60-year-old.
The British socialite, who was labeled “dangerous” by the prosecution during her three-week trial last year, helped vulnerable teenagers lure vulnerable teenagers to the various properties of the disgraced financier between 1994 and 2004 in order to sexually abuse him.
She is sentenced on Tuesday afternoon and faces up to 55 years behind bars for her crimes.
In the statement, released ahead of the trial, Ms. Giuffre opened up about the long-lasting impact the abuse has had on her, saying the “unthinkable things” still have a “corrosive impact on me to this day.” Today”.
Addressing Maxwell directly, she said: “I want to be clear about one thing: Jeffrey Epstein was without a doubt a terrible pedophile.
“But I would never have met Jeffrey Epstein if it weren’t for you. For me, and for so many others, you opened the door to hell.
“And then, Ghislaine, like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, you used your femininity to betray us and led us all through it.
“When you did, Ghislaine, you changed the course of our lives forever. You joked that you were like a new mother to us.
“As a woman, I think you understood the damage you were doing — the price you made us victims pay.”
The statement adds that despite the “almost indescribable” pain, “I will never give up.”
Maxwell was found guilty by a federal jury in New York on December 29 on five charges, including sex trafficking for recruiting and caring for four girls between 1994 and 2004 for Epstein.
Read Virginia Giuffre’s full victim statement:
Virginia Roberts Giuffrec
† NBCYour Honor, my name is Virginia Roberts Giuffre. For over two years, aged 16 to 19, I was abused by Ghislaine Maxwell.
Before I begin, I would like to acknowledge and express my gratitude to the police, FBI investigators, prosecutors and judges who have invested their time and integrity in this case for hopefully setting a precedent for the victims and the hunters who hunt them.
Now, if it pleases the court, I would like to address my victim statement directly to Ghislaine Maxwell.
Ghislaine, 22 years ago, in the summer of 2000, you saw me at the Mar-a-Lago Hotel in Florida, and you made a choice. You chose to follow me and purchase me for Jeffrey Epstein.
A few hours later, you and he abused me together for the first time. Together you have damaged me physically, mentally, sexually and emotionally.
Together you did unthinkable things that still have a corrosive effect on me to this day.
I want to be clear about one thing: Jeffrey Epstein was undoubtedly a terrible pedophile. But I would never have met Jeffrey Epstein if it weren’t for you.
For me, and for so many others, you opened the door to hell.
And then, Ghislaine, like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, you used your femininity to betray us, and you led us all through it.
When you did, Ghislaine, you changed the course of our lives forever. You joked that you were like a new mother to us.
As a woman, I think you understood the damage you were doing – the price you made us pay as victims.
You could have ended the rapes, the disturbances, the sickening manipulations that you have organized, seen and even experienced.
You could have called the authorities and reported that you were part of something terrible.
I was young and naive when we met, Ghislaine, but you knew that. In fact, you counted on it.
My life as a young person had only just begun. You robbed me of that by exploiting my hopes and ambitions.
Ghislaine, the pain you have caused me is almost indescribable. Because of your choices and the world you brought me into, I don’t sleep. Nightmares always wake me up.
In those dreams I relive the terrible things you and others did to me and the things you forced me to do.
Those memories never go away. I have a hard time meeting new people without wondering if they will hurt me in some way too.
I don’t allow my kids to stay with friends or walk down the street alone.
I don’t trust anyone around them without me or my husband around.
I am hyper-vigilant, because I know that evil exists. You taught me that.
Not a day goes by that I don’t ask “Why?” Why, Ghislaine, did you enjoy hurting us so much?
I worry every day and night that you will get away with it and not be punished.
I’ll worry about that until you’re brought to justice. And what should that justice look like?
Ghislaine, you deserve to spend the rest of your life in a cell. You deserve to be locked in a cage forever, just like you locked up your victims.
But, Ghislaine, I want you to know that while you tried to break me, you failed.
Despite you, I’ve grown into a woman who tries to do good in the world – a woman who, in her best days, feels like she’s making a difference.
My promise to you is this: As long as you and perpetrators like you continue to prey on the vulnerable, I will not stop standing up and speaking out.
Along with so many others you have abused, we will do everything we can to prevent predators from stealing children’s innocence.
I will never give up. I will never leave. If you ever get out of jail, I’ll be here to watch you and make sure you never hurt anyone else again.