Ghislaine Maxwell will be sentenced today for her role in providing abuse to girls for Jeffrey Epstein as part of one of the largest sex trafficking rings in US history.
The Oxford-educated daughter of the late British press baron Robert Maxwell was convicted late last year of five of six sexual abuse cases, the most serious for minors in the sex trade, and her sentence could amount to an effective life sentence behind bars.
US prosecutors say the 60-year-old deserves between 30 and 55 years in prison, while her lawyers are demanding no more than five years. The Department of Parole advised 20 years in its report prior to sentencing.
The court will hear victim statements from seven women, including a British woman who testified at the trial under the name “Kate”, and Sarah Ransome, who was not included in the charges.
Judge Alison Nathan will also hear from Virginia Giuffre, who settled a civil sexual abuse case with Prince Andrew earlier this year. Giuffre, who lives in Australia, isn’t expected to appear in person, but it’s the first time she’s been heard since she settled her case with the Duke of York for a reported $12 million. The Duke strongly denies the allegations against him.
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