Ghislaine Maxwell, associate of Jeffrey Epstein, charged with luring girls into sex abuse

New York: Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend and longtime associate of the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, has been arrested in the US on charges of luring underage girls so that Epstein could sexually abuse them.

The arrest of the British socialite adds another twist in the mystery of Epstein, whose high-flying lifestyle included private Caribbean islands and powerful connections that his victims say allowed him to abuse minors with impunity.

Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in New York in 2005.Credit: Getty Images

Maxwell, 58, was arrested in Bradford, New Hampshire on Thursday morning, local time. She is charged with four counts related to procuring and transporting minors for illegal sex acts and two counts of perjury, according to the indictment by federal prosecutors in New York.

"Maxwell was among Epstein's closest associates and helped him exploit girls who were as young as 14 years old," said acting Manhattan US Attorney Audrey Strauss.

"Maxwell played a critical role in helping Epstein to identify, befriend and groom minor victims for abuse. In some cases, Maxwell participated in the abuse herself."

Maxwell could face a potential life sentence, even if she pleads guilty, according to Mark Allenbaugh, the co-founder of Sentencing Stats and a former staffer with the US Sentencing Commission.

Epstein was awaiting trial on federal charges of trafficking minors when he was found dead in an apparent suicide while in a New York City jail in August. Previously, he pleaded guilty in Florida to state charges of solicitation of prostitution from a minor in a 2008 deal with prosecutors that was widely criticised as too lenient.

The indictment accuses Maxwell of luring the girls beginning in 1994 through to 1997 by asking them about their lives, schools and families and taking them shopping or to movies.

Strauss called Maxwell's alleged acts "the prequel" to Epstein's abuse.

Audrey Strauss, acting Manhattan US Attorney, discusses the charges against Ghislaine Maxwell.Credit: AP

After Maxwell won the girls' trust, the indictment alleges, she would try to "normalise sexual abuse" by discussing sexual topics or by undressing in front of them or being present when they were undressed.

The indictment alleges that Maxwell was well aware of Epstein's preference for minor girls and that he intended to sexually abuse them. Epstein's alleged abuse included touching their genitals, placing sex toys on their genitals and having the girls touch Epstein while he masturbated.

Maxwell also encouraged the young girls to massage Epstein, and in some cases, the victims were partially or fully nude during the massages, according to the indictment.

Strauss said the abuse took place at Epstein's homes in London, New York and Palm Beach, Florida.

Prosecutors seek answers

Epstein has been linked socially to numerous powerful figures, from US President Donald Trump to former president Bill Clinton and Britain's Prince Andrew.

"We would welcome Prince Andrew coming in to talk with us," Strauss said.

One Epstein victim, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, has previously claimed that Maxwell arranged for her to have sex with Andrew at her London townhouse.

Giuffre, who now lives in Australia, bolstered her allegations with a picture of her, Andrew and Giuffre that she said was taken at the time. Andrew has denied her story.

Prince Andrew pictured with Virginia Roberts in 2001 at the townhouse of Ghislaine Maxwell, right, in London.

Giuffre said in court documents that she had been directed by Epstein and Maxwell to have sex with a number of prominent men, including Andrew, former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, lawyer Alan Dershowitz, former US Senator George Mitchell and Hyatt Hotels magnate Tom Pritzker, among others. The men have denied her accusations. The suit was settled in 2017. Dershowitz and Giuffre, meantime, have sued each other for defamation.

Giuffre said she was not directed to have sex with either Trump not Clinton and had no knowledge of them having sex with any of the other girls allegedly recruited by Epstein and Maxwell.

After Maxwell's arrest, Giuffre tweeted "Orange is the new black", in a reference to American prison garb. She thanked the FBI and "anyone involved in the arrest". "So so so happy - she's finally where she belongs," Giuffre wrote.

In June, then-US Attorney for Manhattan Geoffrey Berman said Andrew was evading their efforts to question him about his contacts with Epstein. Berman stepped down after he was fired by Trump later the same month.

Andrew has publicly stated he will cooperate with any appropriate law enforcement agency. Buckingham Palace referred a request for comment to Andrew's lawyers, who could not be reached immediately for comment.

US Attorney-General William Barr said in June there were no plans to extradite Andrew.

At a hearing in New Hampshire federal court on Thursday afternoon, US time, the judge ordered the criminal case against Maxwell be transferred to the Southern District of New York. The judge ordered Maxwell be transferred to the custody of the US Marshal. Prosecutors had planned to ask a judge to deny bail, calling her "an extreme risk of flight".

A lawyer who represented Maxwell in civil litigation did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"For years, I feared Epstein and his ring," Jennifer Araoz, who has accused Maxwell of trafficking her for Epstein, said in a statement. "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."

Maxwell, the daughter of late British media magnate Robert Maxwell, has kept a low profile since the death of Epstein.

Maxwell was an ex-girlfriend of Epstein who became a longtime member of his inner circle. In a 2003 Vanity Fair article, Epstein was quoted as saying Maxwell was his "best friend".

Since Epstein's arrest and death last year, questions have arisen about how he built his vast wealth, which included two privately owned Caribbean islands, multiple homes and one of the largest mansions in Manhattan.

Maxwell has previously repeatedly denied wrongdoing and has called some of the claims against her "absolute rubbish".

She largely disappeared from public view in 2016 and was particularly elusive after Epstein was charged with sex trafficking.

The filing says Maxwell appears to have been living on a 156-acre property in Bradford, New Hampshire, that she bought last December in a cash purchase, using a limited liability-company to shield her identity.

Prosecutors asked for her to be held in custody because she has "extensive international ties, three passports, citizenships in two other countries and absolutely no reason to stay in the US".

Maxwell has a British passport as well as a French one from her mother. She was held without bail. She is also reported to have links to more than 15 bank accounts from 2016 to present, with accounts up to $US20 million ($28 million).

She faces up to 35 years in prison if convicted of the charges against her.

❏ Support is available for those who may be distressed by phoning Lifeline 13 11 14; Mensline 1300 789 978; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636.

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Reuters, with AP, staff reporters