Ghislaine Maxwell's Attorney Calls 'False Memories’ Expert To Witness Stand To Poke Holes In Accusers' Stories
Ghislaine Maxwell's attorneys have called in a high-profile "false memories" expert to take the stand in her sex trafficking trial.
Professor Elizabeth Loftus took the stand in the New York court on Thursday. She's testified in cases for Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, O.J. Simpson, Michael Jackson, Robert Durst, and Ted Bundy.
When asked by Maxwell's lawyer Bobbi Sternheim if memories can be altered or influenced, Loftus said, "Emotion is no guarantee that you’re dealing with an authentic memory."
She also stated, “People do seem to be more willing to accept suggestions when it’s going to fit with their prior beliefs or fit with their motives."
But Assistant US Attorney Lara Pomerantz wasn't having it. She grilled Loftus in cross-examination.
“You wrote a book called ‘Witness for the Defense?'" Pomerantz asked, referencing Loftus' book from the '90s. Yes,” Loftus responded to which the attorney replied, “You haven’t written a book called ‘Impartial Witness,’ right?”
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Maxwell is currently on trial after being accused of recruiting and grooming young girls — some of whom were allegedly underage — for Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse.
Earlier this week it was revealed she is "unlikely" to take the stand in her own defense because she's "too fragile." The 58-year-old British socialite-turned-disgraced jailbird's family and friends are allegedly concerned about how she'll hold up if she does testify.
Her attorneys plan on calling 35 witnesses to the stand, including three lawyers who represent a few of Maxwell's accusers.
According to Page Six, her legal team will call Jack Scarola, Brad Edwards, and Robert Glassman to testify. They want each attorney to testify about their clients' multi-million payments from the Epstein Victim Compensation Fund.
Prosecutors are asking Judge Alison Nathan to block the request.
Maxwell was arrested in July 2020. She pled not guilty to 6 counts of sex trafficking, enticement of minors, and other crimes.
If convicted, Ghislaine could face up to 80 years in prison.
