Ghislaine Maxwell, accused Jeffrey Epstein madam, arrested in New Hampshire for abuse of underage girls
NEW YORK — Ghislaine Maxwell’s days of living a lavish lifestyle while her victims suffer the trauma of underage sex abuse are over, authorities said Thursday, announcing charges against the British socialite for her role in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking scheme.
The 58-year-old was arrested at an opulent $1 million home in Bedford, New Hampshire, for allegedly helping Epstein find and groom underage girls for sexual abuse in the 1990s. In some instances, Maxwell, who has more than $20 million in 15 different bank accounts, participated in the sexual abuse, prosecutors said.
The daughter of British publishing tycoon Robert Maxwell faces four charges relating to enticement of minors to travel and engage in sex acts between 1994 and 1997. The most serious charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. She is also accused of lying under oath about her involvement in Epstein’s sick scheme.
Her arrest comes nearly a year to the day of Epstein’s arrest on July 6, 2019.
Her alleged tactics included befriending the girls, normalizing sexual abuse by undressing in front of them and initiating raunchy conversations. Prosecutors said she was present for some of Epstein’s “massages” that routinely devolved into sexual abuse and that she at times participated in the sadistic acts.
The indictment referenced three victims, including one as young as 14 years old.
“Maxwell enticed minor girls, got them to trust her, and then delivered them into the trap that she and Jeffrey Epstein had set. She pretended to be a woman they could trust. All the while, she was setting them up to be abused sexually by Epstein and, in some cases, Maxwell herself,” acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said.
“Maxwell’s presence as an adult woman helped put the victims at ease.”
Maxwell has lived in hiding since Epstein’s arrest and suicide behind bars last year while awaiting trial for sex trafficking of minors. FBI New York Assistant Director William Sweeney said that the feds “discreetly” kept tabs on her.
“Recently we learned she had slithered away to a gorgeous property in New Hampshire, continuing to live a life of privilege while her victims live with the trauma inflicted upon them years ago,” Sweeney said.
An online listing describes the country hideaway as “an amazing retreat for the nature lover who also wants total privacy.” Maxwell bought the property in December using a “carefully anonymized LLC,” prosecutors wrote.
The investigation into Epstein’s circle of enablers was ongoing, according to Strauss. The Maxwell indictment, Strauss said, was “the prequel” to charges brought against Epstein last year for abuse of girls between 2002 and 2005. Epstein hanged himself in a lower Manhattan jail cell in August while awaiting trial for sex trafficking of minors.
Maxwell was once Epstein’s girlfriend and close confidante. The financier also paid her to manage his properties, prosecutors wrote. Maxwell allegedly helped groom and abuse Epstein victims at his palatial residences in the Upper East Side, New Mexico and Palm Beach, Florida. Victims also endured the couple’s abuse at Maxwell’s home in London, according to the indictment.
Maxwell faced two counts of perjury for lying under oath in a civil lawsuit an Epstein accuser filed against her.
She allegedly lied in 2016 when she said she did not know whether Epstein possessed sex toys used in “sexual activities.”
Maxwell’s claim that “I wasn’t aware that he was having sexual activities with anyone when I was with him other than myself” was also a lie, prosecutors said.
Another alleged lie: “I have not given anyone a massage.”
Maxwell has denied wrongdoing but fought to keep details of the allegations against her secret. A judge is overseeing the complex process of unsealing documents on those allegations, which are believed to include references to rich and powerful people who associated with Epstein and Maxwell. Many celebs and members of high society continued to associate with the pair even after allegations of abuse of minors first emerged against Epstein in 2007.
Strauss said her office still hoped to speak to Prince Andrew, a friend of Maxwell’s who has been accused of having sex with one of Epstein’s underage victims.
“Today, my fellow Epstein survivors and I are able to take a breath of relief, as Maxwell’s arrest means some justice for survivors can exist. For years, I feared Epstein and his ring. Maxwell was the center of that sex trafficking ring. Now that the ring has been taken down, I know that I can’t be hurt anymore. Day after day, I have waited for the news that Maxwell would be arrested and held accountable for her actions. Her arrest is a step in that direction, and it truly means that the justice system didn’t forget about us,” said Jennifer Araoz, who has sued Epstein’s $630 million estate and Maxwell for sexual abuse she allegedly endured.
Maxwell must first appear in New Hampshire federal court before being transferred to Manhattan. Federal prosecutors will seek Maxwell’s detention pending trial, arguing that her ties abroad and extraordinary wealth make her a flight risk. Prosecutors said she possesses passports from France, the U.S. and United Kingdom.
It was unclear if Maxwell would be held in the same dysfunctional federal jail, MCC, where Epstein killed himself.
“This a great day for justice. Our clients are very pleased and very grateful to the prosecutors that this important step has been taken towards bringing to justice Jeffrey Epstein’s co-conspirators,” said attorney David Boies, who represents some of Epstein’s victims.
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