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Ghislaine Maxwell Arrested, Charged In Connection To Jeffrey Epstein Abuse Case

Ghislaine Maxwell has been arrested on charges that she helped Jeffrey Epstein recruit underage girls for sexual abuse. The two are seen here in 2005.

July 2, 2020

The FBI has arrested British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell on multiple charges related to the serial sexual abuse of girls and young women by the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.

"Maxwell was among Epstein's closest associates and helped him exploit girls who were as young as 14 years old," Audrey Strauss, acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said at a news conference Thursday.

Maxwell faces charges that include transporting a minor for the purposes of criminal sexual activity and conspiring to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, according to a six-count grand jury indictment that was unsealed earlier in the day.

Maxwell, 58, was arrested early Thursday in Bradford, N.H. She is expected to appear in U.S. District Court in New Hampshire on Thursday afternoon, Strauss said.

The federal charges against her largely align with allegations by Epstein's victims, who have accused Maxwell of helping the disgraced financier run a sex-trafficking ring that victimized teenage girls.

Maxwell has previously denied allegations linking her to Epstein's exploitation of girls and young women — including denials she made during sworn testimony for depositions in 2016. The indictment accuses Maxwell of committing perjury in those depositions.

Write Ghislaine Maxwell currently held in MDC Brooklyn

Maxwell, 58, a close friend of Prince Andrew, is being held in Merrimack County jail. She is due to be transferred to Brooklyn MDC, NY and brought to court later this week.

The youngest child of the publisher Robert Maxwell, Ghislaine faces six charges 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 transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and perjury.

If convicted, she could face up to 35 years in prison. She has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

New York prosecutors, who led the investigation, have said they will oppose any bail application on the grounds that Maxwell may flee. Her lawyers are expected to argue that she enjoys immunity under a previous deal Epstein made with prosecutors in Florida and that the charges against her are out of time and consequently barred by the US statute of limitations.