{"id":1135325,"date":"2021-12-20T19:35:20","date_gmt":"2021-12-21T00:35:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1135325"},"modified":"2021-12-20T19:35:24","modified_gmt":"2021-12-21T00:35:24","slug":"maxwells-epstein-friendship-may-have-been-a-mistake-but-it-was-not-a-crime-her-defense-says-in-closing-arguments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/maxwells-epstein-friendship-may-have-been-a-mistake-but-it-was-not-a-crime-her-defense-says-in-closing-arguments\/","title":{"rendered":"Maxwell\u2019s Epstein Friendship May Have Been A \u2018Mistake\u2019 But \u2018It Was Not A Crime,\u2019 Her Defense Says In Closing Arguments"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">40<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmaxwells-epstein-friendship-may-have-been-a-mistake-but-it-was-not-a-crime-her-defense-says-in-closing-arguments%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1135325&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Ghislaine Maxwell may have made a \u201cmistake\u201d in associating herself with deceased financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, but their relationship was \u201cnot a crime,\u201d her defense lawyer declared in closing arguments for Maxwell\u2019s sex trafficking trial on Monday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaybe that was the biggest mistake of her life, but it was not a crime,\u201d defense attorney Laura Menninger told jurors Monday afternoon in Manhattan federal court.<\/p>\n<p>Menninger claimed Maxwell was on trial for her relationship with Epstein during her closing argument, which lasted over two hours.<\/p>\n<p>Maxwell, 59, is charged with eight counts related to the sex trafficking of minors over a decade-long period between 1994 and 2004, including sex trafficking of a minor, enticing a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, and transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. A separate, later trial will consider two perjury charges against her.<\/p>\n<p>She has pled not guilty to all counts. If convicted she faces up to 70 years in prison.<\/p>\n<p>Her defense team attempted to paint a picture of Epstein as a \u201cmaster manipulator\u201d who did not let Maxwell know about everything he was doing, such as sexually abusing young girls.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEveryone knew Jeffrey was keeping secrets from Ghislaine, except Ghislaine,\u201d Menninger said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe government wants you to speculate, over and over,\u201d Menninger said. \u201cMs. Maxwell does not have to prove her innocence to you. You already know it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The defense attempted to cast doubt on the credibility of the women who accuse Maxwell of grooming and even personally sexually abusing them, saying they have \u201ccontaminated\u201d memories of their abuse. The defense also attempted to assign selfish motives to nearly all the government\u2019s witnesses, saying the women are motivated by money in going after Maxwell decades after the alleged abuse occurred.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll of these witnesses have changed their stories many times,\u201d Menninger said. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMemory weakens over time and memory can be impacted and corrupted by post-event contamination,\u201d she said, adding that, \u201chow vivid a memory seems does not make it more accurate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The defense also attacked Juan Alessi, who managed Epstein\u2019s Palm Beach home and offered key testimony in the trial, as \u201ca two-time burglar, obviously with an ax to grind.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors had noted that bank records show that&nbsp;Epstein sent $30.7 million to Maxwell between 1999 and 2007, which was around the same time she is accused of grooming minor girls for him to sexually abuse.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe government makes a big show of these big dollar transfers,\u201d Menninger said. \u201cThat is some thin testimony.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Earlier on Monday, the prosecution gave its closing arguments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Moe summed up the state\u2019s case that Maxwell was an adult woman who became a \u201cdangerous\u201d sex predator who preyed on vulnerable minor girls and worked with Epstein to commit \u201chorrifying crimes\u201d against them.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe caused deep and lasting harm to young girls,\u201d the prosecutor said.<\/p>\n<p>Maxwell\u2019s defense team rested its case on Friday after Maxwell opted not to testify in her own defense.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/prosecution-focuses-on-8-key-points-in-closing-arguments-of-ghislaine-maxwell-trial\">Prosecution Focuses On 8 Key Points In Closing Arguments Of Ghislaine Maxwell Trial<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Daily Wire is one of America\u2019s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/subscribe\">member<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ghislaine Maxwell may have made a \u201cmistake\u201d in associating herself with deceased financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, but their relationship was \u201cnot a crime,\u201d her defense lawyer declared in closing arguments for Maxwell\u2019s sex trafficking trial on Monday.\u201cMaybe that was the biggest mistake of her life, but it was not a crime,\u201d defense attorney Laura Menninger told jurors Monday afternoon in Manhattan federal court.Menninger claimed Maxwell was on trial for her relationship with Epstein during her closing argument, which lasted over two hours.Maxwell, 59, is charged with eight counts related to the sex trafficking of minors over a decade-long period between 1994 and 2004, including sex trafficking of a minor, enticing a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, and transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. A separate, later trial will consider two perjury charges against her.She has pled not guilty to all counts. If convicted she faces up to 70 years in prison.Her defense team attempted to paint a picture of Epstein as a \u201cmaster manipulator\u201d who did not let Maxwell know about everything he was doing, such as sexually abusing young girls.\u201cEveryone knew Jeffrey was keeping secrets from Ghislaine, except Ghislaine,\u201d Menninger said.\u201cThe government wants you to speculate, over and over,\u201d Menninger said. \u201cMs. Maxwell does not have to prove her innocence to you. You already know it.\u201dThe defense attempted to cast doubt on the credibility of the women who accuse Maxwell of grooming and even personally sexually abusing them, saying they have \u201ccontaminated\u201d memories of their abuse. The defense also attempted to assign selfish motives to nearly all the government\u2019s witnesses, saying the women are motivated by money in going after Maxwell decades after the alleged abuse occurred.\u201cAll of these witnesses have changed their stories many times,\u201d Menninger said. \u201cWhy?\u201d\u201cMemory weakens over time and memory can be impacted and corrupted by post-event contamination,\u201d she said, adding that, \u201chow vivid a memory seems does not make it more accurate.\u201dThe defense also attacked Juan Alessi, who managed Epstein\u2019s Palm Beach home and offered key testimony in the trial, as \u201ca two-time burglar, obviously with an ax to grind.\u201dProsecutors had noted that bank records show that\u00a0Epstein sent $30.7 million to Maxwell between 1999 and 2007, which was around the same time she is accused of grooming minor girls for him to sexually abuse.\u201cThe government makes a big show of these big dollar transfers,\u201d Menninger said. \u201cThat is some thin testimony.\u201dEarlier on Monday, the prosecution gave its closing arguments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Moe summed up the state\u2019s case that Maxwell was an adult woman who became a \u201cdangerous\u201d sex predator who preyed on vulnerable minor girls and worked with Epstein to commit \u201chorrifying crimes\u201d against them.\u201cShe caused deep and lasting harm to young girls,\u201d the prosecutor said.Maxwell\u2019s defense team rested its case on Friday after Maxwell opted not to testify in her own defense.Related: Prosecution Focuses On 8 Key Points In Closing Arguments Of Ghislaine Maxwell TrialThe Daily Wire is one of America\u2019s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a member.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":107,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1135325","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1135325","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/107"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1135325"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1135325\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1135325"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1135325"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1135325"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}