Ghislaine Maxwell Convicted of Federal Sex Crimes

British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell was found guilty of child sex crimes Wednesday by a federal jury in New York.

Maxwell, 60, was convicted of sex trafficking minors and four of the other five criminal counts against her. The verdict ends federal prosecutors’ efforts to convict Maxwell, who gained infamy in recent years as the chief facilitator of Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse of underage teenagers. The jury deliberated for five days after three weeks of witness testimonies and court proceedings. Prosecutors called over 20 witnesses to testify that Maxwell and Epstein targeted vulnerable teenage girls for systematic sexual abuse. Maxwell pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing; her lawyers argued in closing statements that she was a scapegoat for Epstein's crimes.  A sentencing date has not yet been set. Maxwell faces up to 65 years in prison.

News outlets across the spectrum covered the verdict similarly, often focusing on the trial's more damning revelations and witness statements.