British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell arrested in Jeffrey Epstein case, FBI says

Prince is under pressure as Ghislaine Maxwell faces charges of grooming girls for sex with herself and Jeffrey Epstein.

Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell (left) are pictured together in 2005. Right: Prince Andrew. Pictures: Agencies

American authorities have urged Prince Andrew to provide evidence about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after arresting Epstein’s alleged “madam”, Ghislaine Maxwell, in New Hampshire.

In a bombshell arrest overnight (AEST), Ms Maxwell is accused of six charges, including trafficking minors for sex between 1994 and 1997 and then lying about it.

Ghislaine Maxwell. Picture: AFP

The sealed 18-page grand jury indictment claims Ms Maxwell, the British socialite, had groomed three girls for sex with herself and Epstein in four locations — New York, Florida, London and New Mexico. The girls were not named.

The perjury charge of lying related to Ms Maxwell’s testimony under oath when she was sued by Queensland woman Virginia Roberts Giuffre.

Ms Roberts has previously claimed she was trafficked by Ms Maxwell and Epstein and had sex with Prince Andrew on three occasions, including the first time at the London mews house owned by Ms Maxwell.

“Maxwell enticed minor girls, got them to trust her, then delivered them into the trap that she and Epstein had set for them,” Audrey Strauss, the acting US Attorney for the Southern District, alleged at a press conference.

“She pretended to be a woman they could trust, all the while she was setting them up to be sexually abused by Epstein (and) in some cases, by Maxwell herself.”

Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Audrey Strauss, speaks to the media at a press conference to announce the arrest of Ghislaine Maxwell. Picture: Getty Images

The fresh developments have increased the pressure on Andrew, who has denied knowing Ms Giuffre despite a photo of the two of them together with Ms Maxwell standing in the background.

Andrew has suggested the photo may have been doctored and claims he was at a Pizza Express restaurant on the day he is alleged to have met Ms Giuffre.

“Our doors remain open and we would like to hear from him (Andrew) and have the benefit of his statement,” Ms Strauss said.

US prosecutors last month lodged a mutual legal assistance request to the UK Home Office, bypassing usual diplomatic channels, which could compel Andrew to give evidence in court about his friendship with Epstein and what he knew of his activities.

Andrew has been a long time friend of Ms Maxwell, the daughter of disgraced media tycoon Robert Maxwell, and she has been photographed at various royal functions over decades, including Andrew’s 40th birthday and Princess Beatrice’s 18th birthday party.

During an interview on Newsnight, Andrew said of his friend: “If there are questions that Ghislaine has to answer, that’s her problem I’m afraid. I’m not in a position to be able to comment one way or the other.”

FBI’s William Sweeney said Ms Maxwell was “a villain”.

“We have been discreetly keeping tabs on Maxwell’s whereabouts as we work this investigation, and more recently we gathered she had slithered away to a gorgeous property in New Hampshire,” he said.

“She continued to live a life of privilege while her victims lived with the trauma inflicted upon them years ago.”

The house in New Hampshire where Ghislaine Maxwell was staying when she was arrested. Picture: Supplied

Charges against Ghislaine Maxwell:

■ Count one: Conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts.

■ Count two: Enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts.

■ Count three: Conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

■ Count four: Transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

■ Counts five and six: Perjury — the offence of wilfully telling an untruth or making a misrepresentation under oath.