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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Media Allowed to Attend Ghislaine Maxwell’s Trial, Contrary to Social Media Posts

Media Allowed to Attend Ghislaine Maxwell’s Trial, Contrary to Social Media Posts

The federal trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, who is charged with assisting accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, opened on Nov. 29 with extensive media coverage. But social media posts falsely claim the judge issued a “gag order” and the media is “barred from courtroom.” The judge’s order allows “substantial public and press access at the Courthouse.”

Posts Misidentify Man Shown in Photo with Ghislaine Maxwell

Posts Misidentify Man Shown in Photo with Ghislaine Maxwell

Ghislaine Maxwell, who is charged with assisting accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, is scheduled to go on trial on Nov. 29. Social media posts are circulating a photo that falsely claims to show Chief Justice John Roberts in an affectionate pose with Maxwell. The photo actually shows Maxwell with a French modeling agent facing sexual assault charges.

Officials Didn’t Say Epstein Associate Has COVID-19

Officials Didn’t Say Epstein Associate Has COVID-19

Social media posts falsely assert that Ghislaine Maxwell — the recently arrested associate of Jeffrey Epstein — has tested positive for COVID-19 in jail. The story is the product of a website that says its work is satire.