Ghislaine Maxwell denies giving Jeffrey Epstein a massage in newly unsealed testimony

Ghislaine Maxwell awaiting trial

Credit: Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

Ghislaine Maxwell has denied ever giving Jeffrey Epstein or anyone else a massage, according to newly-released testimony.

Her denial is contained in 20 lines of a July 2016 deposition, which she gave during a defamation case – since settled — brought against her by Virginia Guiffre, Epstein’s “sex slave”.

Ms Guiffre has alleged that Epstein forced her to have sex with the Duke of York and others when she was 17. He has repeatedly denied the allegations.

Maxwell, 58, had sought to keep the excerpt from the testimony, which led to her being charged with perjury, under wraps.

Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell

Credit: Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

On Monday, US District Judge Loretta Preska rejected Maxwell’s plea, saying she only had a “minimal” privacy interest, which was outweighed by the presumption of public access to the document.

In the excerpt Maxwell is asked by Ms Guiffre’s lawyer, David Boies whether she ever gave the billionaire or anybody else a massage at his properties.

“First of all, I never said I gave Mr Epstein a massage. I don’t give massages,” she responded.

Mr Boies replied: “Let’s just tie that down. It is your testimony that you’ve never given anybody a massage?’

“I have not given anyone a massage,” Maxwell responded.

“You never gave Mr Epstein a massage, is that your testimony?”

‘That is my testimony.”

The depositions are Maxwell’s only on the record account of her association with Epstein, who committed suicide in a Manhattan prison cell in August  2019, while awaiting trial.

Prosecutors in the Southern District of New York claim Maxwell committed perjury in the deposition by claiming she had no knowledge of the abuse perpetrated by Epstein.

Maxwell’s lawyers have maintained the documents, including the newly-released excerpt, would lead to “substantial negative media publicity and speculation in an internet world."

Maxwell, who is currently in custody in New York awaiting trial on charges that she recruited underage girls in the 1990s for financier Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse and two counts of perjury.

Maxwell has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.