Witness at Ghislaine Maxwell's sex-trafficking trial describes her as Jeffrey Epstein's 'No. 2'

A longtime pilot for the late financier Jeffrey Epstein resumed his testimony at Ghislaine Maxwell's sex-trafficking trial Tuesday, saying that the British socialite charged with helping the financier find teenage girls to sexually abuse was "Number 2" in the hierarchy of Epstein's operations.

Also Tuesday, the first of four alleged victims testified against Maxwell at the trial in New York City. 

A woman using the pseudonym "Jane" testified she had repeated sexual contact with Epstein when she was 14 and that Maxwell was there when it happened.

Pilot Lawrence Paul Visoski Jr. was the first witness in the sex-trafficking trial of Maxwell, 59, a woman who travelled for decades in circles that put her in contact with accomplished and wealthy people before her July 2020 arrest.

Asked where Maxwell stood in the hierarchy of Epstein's world, Visoski said Maxwell "was the Number 2." He also said that "Epstein was the big Number 1."

Visoski also testified he never saw evidence of sexual activity on planes as he shuttled his boss and others, including former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, to destinations for nearly three decades.

'Partners in crime'

The testimony supports what Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Pomerantz told jurors in her opening statement Monday when she said Epstein and Maxwell were "partners in crime."

Pomerantz said Maxwell recruited and groomed girls for Epstein to sexually abuse from 1994 to at least 2004.

Maxwell has pleaded not guilty and her lawyer says she's being made a scapegoat for Epstein's alleged crimes.

Visoski testified briefly on Monday before beginning Tuesday on the witness stand. Prosecutors have used his testimony to show jurors photographs of Epstein's homes and properties.

Maxwell has been held without bail since her arrest.

Epstein killed himself in his Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 as he awaited a sex-trafficking trial.