Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyers defend divorce plan

Ghislaine Maxwell is seeking bail

Credit: PA

Ghislaine Maxwell only discussed getting a divorce from her husband before her arrest to "protect" him from the "terrible consequences" of being publicly linked to her, according to new court documents.

As Ms Maxwell seeks bail prosecutors have argued that the divorce discussions undermined her claim that her marriage to tech CEO Scott Borgerson was a strong reason for her to stay in the United States to face trial.

In a newly filed claim, lawyers for Ms Maxwell said: "Prior to her arrest Ms Maxwell and her spouse had discussed the idea of getting a divorce as an additional way to create distance between Ms Maxwell and her spouse to protect him… from the terrible consequences of being associated with her."

They argued there was later no reason to continue the idea of a divorce, which "neither of them wanted in the first place", and that the US government had offered "nothing but unsupported innuendo."

They added that the suggestion was "particularly callous and belied by the facts".

Ghislaine Maxwell is pictured with her husband Scott Borgerson in 2013 

Mr Borgerson, 44, has offered to put up more than $22 million in security, and wrote a letter to the judge calling Ms Maxwell a "wonderful and loving person".

Ms Maxwell, 58, who holds French and British citizenship, has pleaded not guilty to helping Jeffrey Epstein recruit and groom under age girls for sex in the 1990s.

Her lawyers have been seeking to convince a judge that she would not be a flight risk if bailed.

She holds French and British citizenship in addition to being a naturalised US citizen.