Jeffrey Epstein's housekeeper Juan Alessi has taken the stand in Day Four of Ghislaine Maxwell's sex trafficking trial.
Questioned by Prosecutor Maurene Comey, Alessi said that he worked as a maintenance worker and house manager for Epstein at his Palm Beach mansion between 1990 and December 2002.
His role was to make sure the house looked like a 'five star hotel' for whenever Epstein arrived, including having hundred dollar bills in each of Epstein's cars.
Alessi said that he first met Maxwell in 1991 and after that his relationship with Epstein became less 'cordial' and more 'professional'.
Alessi said: 'From the day she came to the house she right away took over. She mentioned to me she was going to be the lady of the house. She also told me she was in charge of (Epstein's) other properties'
According to Alessi, Maxwell was with Epstein on his visits to the property '95 percent of the time.'
Jeffrey Epstein's housekeeper Juan Alessi took the stand Thursday in Day Four of Ghislaine Maxwell's sex trafficking trial
This courtroom sketch shows Ghislaine Maxwell entering court followed by two US Marshalls, for Day 4 of her trial
In an interview with Palm Beach police in 2005, Alessi admitted he would wash off vibrators and a long rubber penis after a young girl visited Epstein for a massage.
The bed would have to be made up after each massage as well, strongly suggesting some kind of sexual activity.
Alessi said Thursday that Maxwell gave him 'many, many instructions' about how to run the house about every aspect of the property.
Prosecutor Comey asked Alessi about his understanding of the relationship between Maxwell and Epstein.
He replied that Maxwell was the 'girlfriend' of Epstein.
Jeffrey Epstein's former housekeeper Juan Alessi claims that Ghislaine Maxwell opened up to him when he asked her why she was so close to the pedophile
Comey asked if Maxwell ever gave him instructions on how to speak to Epstein.
He said she told him that 'I was only supposed to speak to Mr. Epstein when he asked a question'.
Comey asked if there were instructions from Maxwell about eye contact with Epstein.
Alessi said: 'She said Jeffrey doesn't like to be looked at in the eyes. You should never look at his eyes. Look at another part of the room and answer him'.
Last year Alessi appeared as a guest for a podcast interview with Virginia Roberts Giuffre, the Epstein survivor who claims she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew, allegations he denies.
Alessi revealed that the Duke of York visited Epstein's mansion in Palm Beach, Florida two or three times while he was there.
Andrew was memorable because he was so polite - and was the only one of Epstein's guests to leave him a tip,' he claimed.
The interview with Alessi happened at his home in Florida last year when Giuffre turned up unannounced at his door.
They last saw each other in 2002 when Giuffre left for Thailand to train as a masseuse and never returned to Epstein, who had asked her to carry a baby for him and Maxwell before she left.
Their conversation turned to Maxwell and as former Epstein employees they used to bond over stories of mistreatment by their boss - Maxwell.
Alessi spoke out in a podcast interview with Epstein survivor Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who claims she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew
In the podcast Alessi said: 'That relationship between Epstein and her I never understood.'
Giuffre said: 'Me neither, I asked Maxwell, so…'
Alessi cut in and said 'I told her many times. I said: ''Ghislaine, why are you doing this? Why are you staying with this guy?'' (She said) ''I hate him, I hate him but I can't leave''. I said: ''Why? You have money, why are you not leaving?'''
Giuffre says: 'That relationship was confusing'.
He said that Epstein 'liked massages from the day I met him' and talks of a regime of secrecy inside the house.
He said: 'I was not supposed to talk to the guests, I was not supposed to talk to Virginia. Nothing, no talking. I was not allowed to interrupt conversations'.
