Socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, described in one lawsuit as Jeffrey Epstein’s “highest-ranking employee” and linked to the disgraced financier’s sex trafficking nexus, was on Thursday arrested by the FBI in New Hampshire on multiple federal charges.
Maxwell, Epstein’s one-time girlfriend, is accused of recruiting underage girls to perform sexual favours for Epstein. After Epstein’s suicide under mysterious circumstances in prison on August 10, 2019, Maxwell went missing for ten months (though was briefly spotted by the New York Post at an In-And-Out Burger outlet).
Ghislaine is the daughter of the late publishing magnate Robert Maxwell, who died in a boat named after her in 1991. She is scheduled to appear in federal court on Thursday, Reuters reported.
While Maxwell has denied the charges against her, she has been the subject of several lawsuits. Among the accusations against her was an infamous one by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who accused Maxwell of trying to solicit her into having sex with Britain’s Prince Andrew.
Maxwell lived with Epstein for several years and has been accused of being a ‘madam’, taking his victims on outings and convincing them to give Epstein sexualised massages. One girl who accused Maxwell of luring her into Epstein’s sex trafficking ring, says she was 14 at the time.
According to the indictment against her, she is charged with six counts including conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, conspiracy to transports minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and two counts of perjury, according to court documents released by Courthouse News.
According to the indictment, Maxwell "assisted, facilitated, and contributed to Jeffrey Epstein's abuse of minor girls by, among other things, helping Epstein to recruit, groom and ultimately abuse victims known to Maxwell and Epstein to be under the age of 18".
At a press conference announcing her arrest, US officials said she would earn the trust of Epstein's victims before luring them in.
Maxwell, often seen with Epstein, is in one photo shown next to US President Donald Trump and his wife Melissa Trump.
Maxwell and Epstein alike have been known associates of Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, and Prince Andrew.
Audrey Strauss, Acting US Attorney for the Southern District of New York said the prosecution team “would welcome" Prince Andrew giving them his statement. Earlier, the US Department of Justice formally requested the UK Home Office to hand Prince Andrew over for questioning regarding his role and relationship with Epstein.
