By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Opening statements in the sex abuse case against Ghislaine Maxill, a British socialite, are scheduled to start Monday. She is accused of helping Jeffrey Epstein, her former boyfriend and longtime associate, recruit and groom girls underage for his girlfriend.

The following timeline shows the significant events which led to Maxwell’s arrest.

November 2018,

The Miami Herald published a report that details a secret deal Epstein made in 2007 with Miami federal prosecutor to resolve allegations that Epstein sexually assaulted minors at the Palm Beach, Florida, mansion. Epstein pleaded guilty in lesser cases to state prostitution.

In the light of the #MeToo movement which encouraged women to expose abuses by men, the report draws wide attention to Epstein’s and Maxwell’s decades-old claims.

July 2019,

Epstein is arrested https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-justice-epstein/financier-epstein-arrested-in-u-s-sex-trafficking-case-idUSKCN1U20IK on charges of luring dozens of girls as young as 14 to his homes in New York City and Florida and paying them for sex acts. He pleads not guilty https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-jeffrey-epstein/financier-epstein-pleads-not-guilty-to-sex-trafficking-charges-involving-girls-idUSKCN1U3136 in Manhattan federal court. Epstein, who was found in his cell unconscious with neck injuries, is put on suicide watch. After claiming that his cell mate attacked him, Epstein is placed on suicide watch for less than a week.

August 2019,

Epstein’s cellmate was transferred to his new home on August 9. The following morning on Aug. 10 Epstein is found hanged https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-people-jeffrey-epstein-idUKKCN1V00H0 in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Medical examiners on Aug. 16 rule his death a suicide https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-jeffrey-epstein-autopsy/official-autopsy-concludes-epsteins-death-was-suicide-by-hanging-idUSKCN1V61Y7.

July 2020

Maxwell is arrested by the FBI https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-ghislaine-maxwell/jeffrey-epstein-friend-ghislaine-maxwell-arrested-on-sex-abuse-charges-idUSKBN24321V in Bradford, New Hampshire on July 2. Manhattan federal prosecutors have charged Maxwell with four criminal charges of procuring, transporting, and using three minor victims to commit illegal sex acts. There are also two perjury convictions.

Maxwell pleads not guilty https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-ghislaine-maxwell/ghislaine-maxwell-seeks-bail-citing-coronavirus-and-denies-jeffrey-epstein-charges-idUSKBN24B2KN, saying in a filing she “vigorously denies the charges.” U.S. District judge Alison Nathan rejects Maxwell’s application for bail. She said Maxwell posed a risk of flight.

October 2020

A 2016 deposition Maxwell gave in a now-settled civil defamation lawsuit filed against her by Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre is made public https://www.reuters.com/article/people-ghislaine-maxwell/ghislaine-maxwell-repeatedly-denies-witnessing-underage-sex-other-misconduct-in-epstein-deposition-idUSKBN27723G. Maxwell denied that Epstein had sex in the presence of underage girls and helped him to have illicit sexual encounters.

March 29, 2021

Prosecutors expand their case https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-people-ghislaine-maxwell/ghislaine-maxwell-faces-new-charges-as-u-s-expands-sex-crime-case-idUSKBN2BL2OV against Maxwell, filing a new indictment that charges her with sex trafficking involving a fourth victim. According to the indictment, Maxwell recruited her to perform sex acts alongside Epstein in 2001 when she was just 14 years.

April 23, 2021

Maxwell pleads not guilty https://www.reuters.com/world/us/ghislaine-maxwell-enter-plea-sex-trafficking-charges-2021-04-23 to the new charges.

April 27, 2021

A U.S. appeals court rejects Maxwell’s latest request https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-appeals-court-rejects-ghislaine-maxwells-bail-request-2021-04-27 for bail.

August 13, 2021

Maxwell rejects Nathan’s attempt to discredit her indictment, claiming that Epstein made an agreement in 2007 with Florida federal prosecutors. Maxwell had suggested that Maxwell’s deal with Epstein, which was widely criticized for being too gentle, covered co-conspirators who were also accused.

November 16th, 2021

Nathan begins questioning more than 200 potential jurors https://www.reuters.com/world/search-fair-jury-decide-ghislaine-maxwells-fate-2021-11-16 for the case, asking about their own experiences with sexual abuse and their opinions about people with luxurious lifestyles, in an effort to weed out biased individuals.

November 29, 2021

The trial’s opening statements are set to commence.