Maxwell’s lawyers planning to call 35 defense witnesses

Lawyers for Ghislaine Maxwell, who is accused of helping convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein recruit and sexually abuse underage girls, are planning to call 35 defense witnesses to the stand in the British socialite’s trial.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams revealed in a Sunday court filing that the defense sent the prosecution the names of 35 defense witnesses it is planning to call to testify in the trial. He said the defense did not say what order the witnesses would be called but that such information would be forthcoming.

In a letter to Judge Alison Nathan on Sunday, defense attorney Bobbi Sternheim said three witnesses the defense is planning to call to the stand would like to testify under their first names or a pseudonym, but the government has rejected that request.

The defense is set to begin delivering its case on Thursday in the highly anticipated trial. Maxwell, 59, who was a close confidant of Epstein’s, is facing a total of six counts: conspiracy to entire a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, enticing a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, conspiracy to transport a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors and sex trafficking of minors.

She has pleaded not guilty to all charges and faces a maximum sentence of 70 years in prison if convicted.

She was also charged with two separate counts of perjury in connection to a sworn deposition, but a date for that trial has not yet been set.

The prosecution rested its case on Friday after 10 days of testimony. Twenty-four witnesses took the stand, including four accusers. Only one accuser, Annie Farmer, used her real name while testifying.

The third accuser to take the stand, who was identified only as “Carolyn,” testified that Epstein abused her when she was 14 years old. She said on her first visit with Epstein, Maxwell greeted her.

Another accuser, identified as “Jane,” testified that Maxwell was present when Epstein was sexually abusing her. She was the first accuser to take the stand.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Pomerantz said in the prosecution’s opening statement that Epstein and Maxwell were “partners in crime.”

Maxwell’s family wrote a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland earlier this month requesting that she receive better treatment during the trial, according to a statement obtained by The Associated Press. Specifically, they asked that authorities stop putting her in four-point restraints when being moved from her holding cell to the courtroom, claiming that it causes “unnecessary trauma.”

They asked that she be given a food pack and bar of soap daily, and be allowed to meet with her attorneys for at least 30 minutes before and after the trial every day.