Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Ghislaine Maxwell is secretly married to a mystery spouse but ‘refuses to reveal the identity’, prosecutors say

A federal judge denies Maxwell bail as she’s labelled a flight risk

Danielle Zoellner
Wednesday 15 July 2020 11:37 EDT
Comments
Ghislaine Maxwell pleads not guilty to recruiting girls for Jeffrey Epstein

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Ghislaine Maxwell has disclosed more details into her secret life, and it includes a mystery spouse whom she “refuses to reveal the identity” to prosecutors.

The detail was unveiled during Maxwell’s bail hearing in Manhattan on Tuesday.

“In addition to failing to describe in any way the absence of proposed cosigners of a bond, the defendant also makes no mention whatsoever about the financial circumstances or assets of her spouse whose identity she declined to provide to Pretrial Services,” Assistant US Attorney Alison Moe told federal court Judge Alison Nathan during the video hearing.

It was added that no information was provided by Maxwell or her lawyers as to who would be co-signing the bond, if she were granted one, or their assets.

“No details whatsoever,” Ms Moe said.

Prosecutors used the mystery spouse as one detail among many to argue the 58-year-old British socialite was an “extreme” flight risk for bail.

The risk heightened, prosecutors said, given the fact that Maxwell used a fake identity to purchase her New Hampshire property, has yet to disclose her overall wealth, and hid from authorities in the last year.

Maxwell’s lawyers asked for their client to be released on $5m bond.

After hearing both sides, the judge ruled Maxwell has access to “extraordinary financial resources which could provide her the means to flee the country”.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic impacting people’s ability to leave the United States easily, Judge Nathan added she thought “No combination of conditions could reasonably ensure her presence at court. The risks are simply too great”.

Maxwell was arrested on 2 July in New Hampshire on a six-count indictment. Charges include Maxwell allegedly recruiting and grooming young girls to be sexually assaulted by Jeffrey Epstein and other powerful people.

She pleaded not guilty to all counts.

After denying bail, the judge ordered for Maxwell to remain in the Metropolitan Detention Center pending her trial, which was set for July 2021.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in