Prosecutors released a trove of racy images Wednesday taken during a search of Jeffrey Epstein’s Upper East Side mansion in 2019 and aimed at illustrating how closely connected he was with Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite on trial in Manhattan for sex trafficking and related charges.

Federal prosecutors contend that Epstein and Maxwell, 59, were “partners in crime” in his sexual abuse of girls between 1994 and 2004, with Maxwell taking an active roll in grooming the girls for their encounters with Epstein and sometimes participating in the abuse, as CrimeOnline has reported.

Defense attorneys argue that Maxwell is a stand-in for Epstein, who was found hanging in his jail cell in 2019 while awaiting his own trial on sex trafficking charges.

Three of the photos released show Maxwell massaging Epstein’s feet and flashing him while the two appear to be on a private airplane, the New York Post reports. Other images show Epstein’s arm around Maxwell, intimate glances between the two, and Maxwell’s arms around his neck, kissing his cheek.

The couple are seen on a motorcycle, on a European street, and at a restaurant.

Maxwell has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The prosecution is expected to finish its case by the end of the week.

See more of CrimeOnline’s reporting on this story.

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[Featured image: SDNY]