Maxwell, Epstein were 'partners in crime,' prosecutor says

NEW YORK (AP) — A authoritative says Ghislaine Maxwell and the precocious Jeffrey Epstein were partners successful transgression successful the intersexual maltreatment of teenage girls.

The connection was made during the archetypal time of Maxwell's enactment trafficking trial. Twelve jurors and six alternates were empaneled Monday.

During opening statements, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Pomerantz alleged to the assemblage that Maxwell recruited and groomed girls for Epstein to maltreatment from 1994 to 2004.

“She enactment them astatine easiness and made them consciousness safe, each truthful that they could beryllium sexually abused by a middle-aged man,” Pomerantz claimed, according to NBC News. “There were times erstwhile she was successful the country erstwhile it happened.”

Defense lawyer Bobbi Sternheim countered, saying Maxwell was being made a scapegoat aft Epstein killed himself successful jailhouse 2 years ago.

“Ever since Eve has been blamed for tempting Adam with an apple, women person been blamed for things men person done,” NBC News reports Sternheim said successful his opening statements. “She is not Jeffrey Epstein. She is not thing similar Jeffrey Epstein.”

Maxwell utilized to day Epstein and has been jailed successful Brooklyn since her apprehension past year.

She has maintained her innocence.

The British socialite faces up to 70 years successful situation if she's convicted connected each six counts of conspiracy and enactment trafficking charges.

The proceedings is expected to past six weeks.