By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters – The opening statements of Ghislaine Maxill’s sex abuse trial will begin Monday. It comes almost 17 months after prosecutors alleged that Maxwell, a British socialite, groomed and recruited young girls to provide “sexualized massaging” for Jeffrey Epstein.

This is a list of individuals who could play major roles in the trial that is scheduled to last 6 weeks.

THE DEFENDANT

Maxwell, 59, rose to prominence https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-jeffrey-epstein-investigation/who-is-ghislaine-maxwell-the-epstein-confidant-detained-by-the-fbi-idUSKBN243221 as the daughter of late British media magnate Robert Maxwell, who owned tabloids including the Daily Mirror. Robert Maxwell died in 1991 https://www.reuters.com/article/people-ghislainemaxwell-factbox/ghislaine-maxwell-socialites-arrest-highlights-royal-connection-idINKBN24724V, when his body was found floating near the Canary Islands after he went over the side of his yacht – named the Lady Ghislaine.

Maxwell immigrated to New York from the UK in early 1990s. He fell for Epstein who was an investor and friend of elite politicians and executives. Epstein died by suicide https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-jeffrey-epstein/epstein-found-dead-in-jail-was-not-on-suicide-watch-idUSKCN1V00GM at age 66 in 2019 in a Manhattan jail cell while awaiting trial on sex abuse charges.

In July of 2020, Maxwell was arrested https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-ghislaine-maxwell/jeffrey-epstein-friend-ghislaine-maxwell-arrested-on-sex-abuse-charges-idUSKBN24321V at a spacious, remote home in New Hampshire and later transferred to Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center https://www.reuters.com/world/us/ghislaine-maxwell-sex-crimes-trial-highlights-conditions-brooklyn-jail-2021-11-18 (MDC).

THE ACCUSERS

Indictments by federal prosecutors against Maxwell detail Maxwell’s interactions with the four alleged victims. Prosecutors allege Maxwell did not respect their sexuality and “groomed” them.

Annie Farmer, one of the accused, is likely to testify. Farmer said she was 16 https://www.reuters.com/world/us/ghislaine-maxwell-cannot-compel-epstein-accuser-divulge-settlement-payment-us-2021-02-10 when Epstein abused her at his New Mexico ranch in 1996. Indictment claims Maxwell provided Farmer, also known as Minor Victim-2, an unpaid massage. Farmer was not topless and encouraged Farmer to massage Epstein.

The other three alleged victims will testify under pseudonyms https://www.reuters.com/world/us/maxwell-accusers-can-be-called-victims-sex-crimes-trial-judge-rules-2021-11-01.

THE EXPERTS

Maxwell’s defense intends to call Elizabeth Loftus https://www.reuters.com/world/us/ghislaine-maxwell-challenge-claims-she-groomed-underage-girls-epstein-2021-11-08, a psychology professor at the University of California at Irvine who argues that people can be manipulated into having “false memories.” In hundreds of trials she has been consulted or testified, even those of O.J. Simpson, Harvey Weinstein.

The prosecution plans to call Lisa Rocchio https://www.reuters.com/world/us/ghislaine-maxwell-loses-bid-bar-psychologist-testifying-sex-crimes-trial-2021-11-10/#:~:text=Ghislaine%20Maxwell%20loses%20bid%20to%20bar%20psychologist%20from%20testifying%20at%20sex%20crimes%20trial,-By%20Luc%20Cohen&text=NEW%20YORK%2C%20Nov%2010%20(Reuters,testifying%20at%20her%20upcoming%20trial, a psychologist who has studied how underage sexual abuse victims who have been “groomed” may not immediately recognize their experiences as abuse and sometimes do not come forward until years later.

THE LAWYERS

Three Assistant U.S. The three Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the case – Alison Moe and Alex Rossmiller – were previously prosecuting Epstein prior to his death. James Comey was the father of Maurene Comey.

One of Maxwell’s lawyers, New York defense attorney Bobbi Sternheim, has previously represented individuals facing terrorism charges, including a man who pleaded guilty https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-security-alqaeda-idUSKCN0YI283 to supporting al Qaeda. Christian Everdell (a member of Maxwell’s defense group) was also involved in the prosecution and investigation of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, a drug dealer convicted.

THE JUDGE

U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan will preside over the Manhattan federal court case. Former President Barack Obama nominated Nathan at the court’s federal level in 2011.

She presided over the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s suit against Tesla (NASDAQ:) Inc Chief Executive Elon Musk https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-musk-sec/teslas-musk-agrees-to-new-vetting-rules-for-tweets-in-sec-deal-idUSKCN1S22BV, which ended in Musk agreeing to new vetting rules over his use of Twitter (NYSE:).

Earlier this month, Nathan was nominated https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/schumer-recommends-ghislaine-maxwells-judge-2nd-circuit-seat-2021-11-17 by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to serve on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Nathan stated that she was humbled by her nomination and would continue to see the Maxwell trial through.