London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Sep 03, 2026

Ghislaine Maxwell accuser says she met Trump at 14 and flew with Prince Andrew

Ghislaine Maxwell accuser says she met Trump at 14 and flew with Prince Andrew

‘Jane’, who did not accuse Trump or duke of misconduct, testifies in court she was introduced to former president by Jeffrey Epstein
The first accuser in Ghislaine Maxwell’s child sex trafficking trial testified on Wednesday that Jeffrey Epstein introduced her to Donald Trump when she was 14. This accuser also claimed that she was on a flight with Prince Andrew.

She did not accuse Trump or the Duke of York of any misconduct. The accuser, who used the pseudonym “Jane” in court, said this as she was undergoing cross-examination from one of Maxwell’s attorneys.

“Mr Epstein introduced you to Donald Trump, correct?” defense lawyer Laura Menninger asked.

“He took you to Mar-a-Lago when you were 14, you claim?” Menninger said, in reference to the former president’s home in Palm Beach, Florida.

“Yes,” Jane said.

“He took you in a dark green car and you met Donald Trump there, correct?”

“Correct.”

Menninger also asked: “You remember Prince Andrew being on a flight with you?”

“Yes,” Jane said.

Jane had alleged on Tuesday that Maxwell drew her into Epstein’s predatory orbit when she was 14 years old. At times, Jane alleged, Maxwell was present when Epstein sexually abused her, and claimed that she sometimes participated in the encounters.

Epstein, a financier and convicted sex offender who counted Prince Andrew among his associates, killed himself at a New York City jail in August 2019 while awaiting his own sex-trafficking trial.

Maxwell, 59, daughter of the late British press baron Robert Maxwell, was arrested at a luxurious New Hampshire estate in July last year. She is on trial for six counts related to her alleged involvement in Epstein’s sexual abuse of teenage girls. She has pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Menninger challenged Jane about statements she made to law enforcement in the months following Epstein’s death. Menninger did so by pointing Jane to statements she had previously given to authorities.

“It is true that you do not recall Ghislaine ever touching you?” Menninger asked.

“That’s not true,” Jane said.

Menninger said: “When you spoke to the government in December of 2019, with your lawyers there, and you told the government at that time, you are not sure whether Maxwell ever touched you during these encounters, correct?”

“I don’t recall,” Jane said, referring to what she had told authorities.

“You told the government you had no memory of Ghislaine being present when you claim that Epstein engaged in any sexual contact with you?”

“I don’t recall.”

“You recall telling the government that Maxwell never touched you?”

“I don’t recall that,” Jane replied.

Menninger also asked: “Has your story changed about how many times you remember abuse over the course of your discussions with the government?”

Menninger’s questioning speaks to one aspect of Maxwell’s defense – attempting to undermine accusers’ recollection of events. The defense is expected to call psychologist Elizabeth Loftus as a witness, to discuss how people can form “false memories”.

Maxwell’s demeanor on day three of testimony was in keeping with the way she has carried herself throughout the trial. Maxwell entered the courtroom and hugged her lawyers as usual. Her brother, Kevin Maxwell, approached her at the divider and spoke with her. Her sister, Isabel, also went to speak with her prior to the proceedings starting.

When cross-examination ended, the prosecution had a chance to question Jane again. She blotted her eyes with tissue after being asked to describe Maxwell’s interaction with her during alleged abuse.

Prosecutors also asked Jane about her lawsuit against Epstein’s estate, which resulted in a settlement. That line of questioning addressed one of the defense’s strategies, which is to portray Maxwell’s accusers as being motivated by money.

“Would you give that money back if it meant that you weren’t abused as a kid?” the prosecution asked.

Jane started crying moments later. She said “sorry” as her voice cracked.

The prosecution asked Jane what the money meant to her. “I wish I would have never received that money in the first place, because of what happened,” she said.

When Jane’s testimony concluded, prosecutors called one of her former boyfriends to the stand. The man, who testified under the pseudonym “Matt” to keep Jane’s identity confidential, said she had discussed a “godfather”-like figure who helped cover her expenses as a child.

In about 2008, he said, Jane told Matt that the FBI had contacted her, asking if she wanted to tell her story. That year, Epstein would start his sentence for soliciting a minor for prostitution.

Matt told the court: “She said: you know the godfather that I told you about? She said: I need you to know this is who it is.”

“I said: that guy is your godfather?” Matt continued. “She said yes.”

“Did you ask her the details about what happened with her and Jeffrey Epstein?” the prosecution asked.

“Yes, I did.”

Matt said Jane did not provide details about their interactions.

Asked how Jane reacted to questions about Epstein, Matt said: “She would say to me: ‘Matt, the money wasn’t fucking free.’”

Prosecutors have alleged that Maxwell was Epstein’s “best friend and right hand”.

“Who was most frequently in the room when you had sexual contact with Jeffrey Epstein when you were 14 years old?” prosecutor Alison Moe asked.

“Ghislaine Maxwell,” Jane responded.

The trial continues.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK Business Confidence Improves but Remains Deeply Negative
Aberdeen Hydrogen Bus Sale Recovers Just Six Pence for Every Pound Invested
Which? Exposes Booking.com Verification Failures With Fake 10 Downing Street Listing
British Business Bank Invests Up to £46 Million in Deep-Tech Startup Fund
Scottish Government Puts Violence Against Women at Center of Legislative Program
FCA Eases UK IPO Rules to Strengthen London’s Listing Market
UK Likely to Avoid Next US Tariff Measures as Washington Targets EU
Macron Visits UK for Bayeux Tapestry Exhibition and Border Security Talks
British Chambers of Commerce Cuts UK Growth Outlook to 1% for 2026 and 2027
Keir Starmer Resigns as MP for Holborn and St Pancras, Triggering By-Election
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Unveils Devolution and Cost-of-Living Agenda
UK Borrowing Costs Surge as 30-Year Gilt Yield Reaches 5.88%
Cleveland Police Receive £2 Million to Tackle Serious Crime in Middlesbrough
Number of Young People in England Without a Close Friend Reaches Record Level
Five Arrested After Newborn Baby Dies From Stab Wounds in Sheffield
Nigel Farage Faces Questions Over Reported Second Parliamentary Standards Investigation
UK Retirement Funding Requirement Rises by £64,000 Compared With 2021
UK House Prices Rise for First Time Since April, Nationwide Says
FCA Chief Faces Allegations of Intimidating Consumer Group Over £9 Billion Car Loan Inquiry
Scottish Government Presses Ahead With Cap on Essential Food Prices
Burnham Government Moves to Overhaul Early Prison Release Scheme
UK Records Hottest Summer on Record in 2026, Met Office Says
UK Government Announces Major Reset of Diplomatic Policy Towards Israel
UK Pushes Back After Trump Reopens Falkland Islands Sovereignty Dispute
Keir Starmer Resigns as MP, Triggering Holborn and St Pancras By-Election
Andy Burnham Blames Brexit for UK’s Decade of Weak Growth in First Commons Address
England Faces Renewed Scrutiny Over Sewage Discharges and Water Quality
Victoria Beckham Business Reports First Operating Profit Since Launch
BT Expects £2 Billion From Copper Sales During Full-Fibre Rollout
UK Train Drivers Secure 3.6% Pay Rise and Avert Strike Action
FCA Chief Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Pressure on Consumer Group in Car Finance Case
Kemi Badenoch Names Andrew Griffith Shadow Chancellor in Conservative Reshuffle
UK House Prices Rise for First Time Since April
UK Shop-Price Inflation Accelerates to 1.5% in August
Met Office Data Point to Hottest UK Summer on Record
UK Announces Emergency Prison Release Measures and £110 Million Capacity Expansion
UK Launches Expanded Free School Meals and 1,400 Breakfast Clubs
Bank of England Governor Warns G20 of AI-Related Economic and Cyber Risks
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Calls for Greater Public Control of Water, Energy and Transport
UK Gains Full Access to £13 Trillion Trans-Pacific Trade Bloc
UK Long-Term Borrowing Costs Hit 28-Year High as Oil Shock Drives Global Bond Selloff
Royal Mail Keeps First-Class Stamps at £1.80 and Second-Class at 91p
Church of England Prepares Formal Apology Over Historical Forced Adoptions
UK Competition Regulator Caps Veterinary Prescription Fees at £21
UK Aviation Authorities Roll Out Airspace Changes to Reduce Flight Delays
England Makes School Allergy Policies Mandatory Under Benedict’s Law
England and Wales Tighten Child Safeguarding Checks by Removing Supervision Exemption
Cornwall Geothermal Plant Begins Commercial Power and Lithium Operations
UK Inflation Holds Near 2.9% as Energy Costs Remain a Risk
UK Productivity Growth Averages 1.1% Over Two Years, Resolution Foundation Says
×