Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite and Jeffrey Epstein's ex-girlfriend, has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges related to her alleged dealings with Epstein, a court hearing has learned.
Maxwell, 58, appeared at Manhattan Federal Court via video link for her bail hearing earlier on Tuesday, which later concluded with the judge denying bail.
The Epstein associate is expected to remain behind bars until trial, which is due to start 12 July 2021. Prosecutors have stated that the trial could last for three weeks.
Maxwell was arrested on 2 July at her New Hampshire home on a charge of helping American financier Epstein “recruit, groom and ultimately abuse” underage girls. She has been held at a detention centre in Brooklyn ever since and has repeatedly denied the charges against her.
She is currently facing charges for helping groom underage girls for sex trafficking between 1994 and 1997 and for perjury allegations in 2016. If found guilty, she may face up to 35 years in federal prison.
Epstein committed suicide in prison in New York last year, while waiting for his trial on sex trafficking charges.