Procuring teen girls for Jeffrey Epstein.

Ghislaine Maxwell, former socialite and associate of Jeffrey Epstein, was sentenced on Tuesday to 20 years in prison for her role in procuring teenage girls for Epstein's sexual abuse.

Maxwell, 60, has maintained her innocence despite being convicted in December on five of the six charges she faced. Her attorneys had argued for leniency, requesting a sentence significantly lower than the 20 years recommended by federal probation officials.

Prosecutors, on the other hand, sought a harsher sentence of 30 to 55 years. The jury reached their verdict after 40 hours of deliberation over six days. In addition to sex trafficking, Maxwell was found guilty of conspiracy to entice minors to travel for illegal sexual activity, conspiracy to transport minors for illegal sexual activity, transportation of a minor for illegal sexual activity, and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.

During the sentencing hearing, Maxwell appeared visibly unsettled, repeatedly touching her hair and sipping water. She wore drab gray-blue jail scrubs and a white undershirt, turning several times to look at her siblings, Isabel, Christine, and Kevin, who sat behind her in court.

While Maxwell did not offer a full apology, she did express empathy for the victims and acknowledged her involvement in Epstein's crimes. "I empathize deeply with all of the victims in this case. I also acknowledge that I have been convicted of helping Jeffrey Epstein commit these crimes," Maxwell stated, adding, "Despite the many helpful and positive things I have done in my life and will continue to do, I know that my association with Epstein and this case will forever and permanently stain me."

Maxwell attempted to shift blame towards Epstein, saying, "Jeffrey Epstein should have been here before all of you. He should have stood before you all those years ago, he should have stood before you in 2005, again in 2009, and again in 2019." She later added, "I am sorry for the pain that you experienced."

Four accusers testified during the trial: Jane, Kate, Carolyn, and Annie Farmer. Jane, who was 14 in 1994 when Epstein began abusing her, testified that Maxwell was sometimes present and even participated in the abuse. "Sometimes, Maxwell participated in this abuse," Jane said. "There were hands everywhere."

Kate, who met Maxwell in Paris in 1994 at the age of 17, described how Maxwell introduced her to Epstein and later lured her to Epstein's home for a "massage." "Jeffrey was meant to get a massage but the massage therapist had canceled. Could I do her a favor and come over - because I had strong hands," Maxwell allegedly told Kate.

Carolyn, who became involved with Epstein and Maxwell around the early 2000s when she was 14, testified that Maxwell commented on her body. "I was getting fully nude, and she came in and felt my boobs and my hips and my buttocks and said that I had a great body for Mr Epstein and his friends," Carolyn said. "She just said that I had a good body type."

Farmer testified that Maxwell gave her a nude massage when she was 16 at Epstein's New Mexico estate. She met Epstein in 1995 while visiting her sister, Maria, who was an artistic painter for Epstein.

Maxwell's case faced potential disruption after the verdict when one of the jurors, Scotty David, gave interviews discussing his own childhood sexual abuse. David claimed he shared this information with the jury to better understand the facts from a victim's perspective. This sparked questions about the jury selection process, as potential jurors were asked about any history of abuse.

The prosecution and defense asked Judge Alison Nathan to investigate, with Maxwell's lawyers requesting a new trial. Nathan summoned David to testify publicly about his omission, which he attributed to being distracted while filling out the questionnaire. Judge Nathan rejected Maxwell's request for a new trial, concluding that David's answer was truthful and would not have disqualified him even if he had answered all questions accurately.