Ghislaine Maxwell: Socialite is called ‘courageous’ and ‘tough’ by lawyers as she pleads not guilty

That is not a series of typos.

Ghislaine Maxwell demanded an in-person hearing after her last court livestream ended in a “debacle” choreographed by QAnon supporters.

The January stream was reportedly illegally streamed on YouTube with the live chat become a hive for the conspiracy supporters.

“As counsel has notified the government, Ms Maxwell is requesting an in-person arraignment. She will not waive that right, most especially in light of media coverage and the debacle that occurred during a remote proceeding in a related civil case before Judge Preska,” said her lawyers in a court filing, according to Newsweek.

Graeme Massie has the story.

Hello and welcome toThe Independent’s live coverage of Ghislaine Maxwell appearing in court - in person - for the fist time since her arrest on sex-trafficking charges.

Ghislaine Maxwell, daughter of British newspaper baron Robert Maxwell and his French wife Elisabeth, was born in affluent Maisons-Laffitte in northern France on Christmas Day 1961, the youngest of nine children, writes The Independent’s Joe Sommerlad.

“Just two days later, her teenage brother Michael was involved in a car accident that would keep him in a prolonged coma until his death in 1967, a tragedy that marked the family. Ghislaine and her siblings were raised in Oxford at the Maxwells’ Headington Hill Hall home, a sprawling mansion that also served as the headquarters for their father’s Pergamon Press publishing outfit, which, at 14, Ghislaine would help by learning to programme a new suite of Wang computers her father had introduced in 1973 as part of a modernising initiative.”

Catch up with the life and times of Maxwell before today’s court appearance.

Prosecutors told a federal judge that Maxwell’s request to delay the 12 July start date so her defence can review thousands of photos has placed an “enormous amount of stress” on the victims.

A whopping 1.2 million documents have been turned over to the defence team in discovery, including “highly confidential images”.

Maxwell’s lawyers asked to delay the start of the trial and break it up into two hearings for separate charges – the first being on sex-trafficking charges and the other on allegations of lying under oath.

In a new brief submitted Thursday to oppose the delay, Assistant US Attorney Maureen Comey wrote there’s no need to delay the first charges after separating from perjury, according to Law & Crime.

“The longer this case remains pending, the longer the victims suffer the anxiety of anticipating their trial testimony and the uncertainty of awaiting a resolution,” the brief states.

“In particular, Minor Victim-3 expressed feeling significant stress during the pendency of this case and a strong desire to have the case brought to a close through trial as soon as possible. Similarly, Minor Victim-2 also indicated that she has experienced an enormous amount of stress while this case has been pending, wishes to see the case brought to trial.”

The brothers and sisters of Ghislaine Maxwell have launched the website www.realghislaine.com to show the view of their family.

Ahead of her first in-person appearance in court today, they said on Twitter that Maxwell is “no flight risk, she won’t run”.

The judge in the case has so far refused to release Maxwell on bail, despite multiple attempts from her lawyers to remove her from poor prison conditions.

The family of Ghislaine Maxwell announced she has launched legal action in the Paris courts against the publisher of a new book on Jeffrey Epstein, L'île de tous les vices, or “Vice Island”.

Written by French author Jean-Gabriel Fredet and published on 3 March by Albin Michel, the suit alleges the book is a gross violation of the presumption of her innocence.

Maxwell’s lawyer, Olivier Laude said in a press release they would seek damages for the prejudice suffered to make “an example of” Albin Michel to deter other media around the world from believing they can “proceed thus with impunity against her”.

“The publication of this book by Albin Michel constitutes an unacceptable attack on the presumption of innocence of Ms Maxwell. Given the imminence of her criminal trial, to present her as already guilty - which this book does - is as repugnant as it is irresponsible,” Mr Laude said.

Follow live with The Independent.

Lawyers for Ghislaine Maxwell arrived at court to find protesters gathered outside the Southern District court.

Family members of Maxwell are also in the courtroom.

See the arrival below.

The British socialite has entered a not guilty plea to new indictments on sex-trafficking charges. She had previously pleaded not guilty, and has now formally entered the same not guilty plea for second superseding indictment.

The judge presiding said she is considering the defence’s request to move the trial to the fall or winter.

But she said unless hearing otherwise, counsel should assume jury selection will go forward as close as possible to the currently scheduled 12 July trial date.

After entering a not guilty plea on new indictments, the first in-person appearance of Ghislaine Maxwell ended within roughly 20 minutes.

“There’s a lot to do for everyone and we’ll get it done,” said judge Alison Nathan.

Media is set up outside the court hoping for comment from either the defence or prosecution.