by Affiliates of convicted sex offenders Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein should be concerned now that “victims are being believed,” a top lawyer has said.
Lisa Bloom, who represents eight victims of the disgraced couple, told the Pennsylvania News Agency that her clients think Maxwell should never be released because “other women could be harmed in the future.”
The lawyer said the number of women who have come forward to accuse the British socialite means she could be prosecuted again.
“I expect it will be a long sentence where he will probably spend the rest of his life behind bars,” Ms Bloom said before Tuesday’s sentencing hearing.
“She made decisions, she knew what she was doing, she damaged the lives of many girls and she has shown no remorse.
So why should he receive anything less than a very significant sentence of 30 years or more?
Speaking about what her clients have been through since they were abused, Ms Bloom said: “My clients suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of being sexually abused by Jeffrey Epstein, which is what Ghislaine Maxwell facilitated. .
“That is a condition for life. There is no cure for PTSD.
“You can control it, like diabetes, but it’s something you always have to manage for the rest of someone’s life.
“My clients have relationship and career problems, depression, suicidality, sexual disorders, and that is something they will always have to live with.”
Addressing how her clients felt during the trial, Ms. Bloom continued, “It’s very empowering for them to hear what’s going on in the trial, to hear the victims testify…and then to hear their lawyers and all the excuses. and all defenses.
“The verdict of the jury was very encouraging and demanding for them.
“But it’s just one thing after another with Ghislaine Maxwell and her attorneys (and) her defense attorneys and it’s all very painful for the victims.”
Ms Bloom added: “They are really heartened and really encouraged by the fact that this case was prosecuted and brought to trial.
“And now she is going to be sentenced, probably, to a long prison term. That really means a lot to them.
They made decisions that harmed girls and women and should be held accountable
Lisa Bloom, attorney representing Maxwell victims
“They don’t think I should ever come out because other women could be harmed in the future.”
Commenting on the number of women who have accused Maxwell of abuse, Ms Bloom said: “I think there are hundreds and hundreds of victims.
“We know that 150 women showed up to the Jeffrey Epstein settlement fund and even that is probably the tip of the iceberg.
“I talk to a lot of women who say they were abused by Epstein and Maxwell, but ultimately decided they just couldn’t move on.
“So there could be other victims that come forward, she could be prosecuted again, that’s always possible.”
Asked if other people associated with Maxwell and Epstein could be prosecuted, Ms Bloom said: “I think there are other people who could be held accountable.
“They made decisions that harmed girls and women and they should be held accountable.
“Prosecutors are going to need victims and they are going to need evidence to present those cases.
“If anyone else was part of this scheme, we know other names have been mentioned, including at the Ghislaine Maxwell trial, they should be very concerned.
“Now we are seeing a new era where victims are believed even if they are flawed, even if they made mistakes in their lives, as was the case with Ghislaine Maxwell.
“However, they are being believed and I think it would be very important to bring others to justice.”
