Elizabeth Stein

Elizabeth Stein addressed the court at Maxwell’s sentencing, describing how Maxwell had groomed and exploited her.

She stated that Maxwell approached her when she was a young woman and drew her into Epstein’s orbit through a combination of charm, social access, and manipulation. She described Maxwell as calculating and deliberate, always maintaining control over the girls in Epstein’s circle.

Elizabeth told the court that the abuse shattered her sense of self. She described years of struggling with trauma, substance abuse, and broken relationships. She said she had only begun to process and name what had happened to her many years later.

She emphasized that Maxwell was not a mere accomplice. Maxwell took initiative, made decisions, and exercised independent judgment in the targeting and grooming of young women. Elizabeth said Maxwell derived personal satisfaction from the power she wielded over vulnerable girls.

Elizabeth asked for the maximum sentence, saying that anything less would fail to account for the scale and duration of Maxwell’s crimes. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to finally be heard in a court of law.

“Ghislaine Maxwell shattered my life,” she stated. “The effects have been felt in every area of my existence for decades.”