Ghislaine Maxwell, arrested in connection with sex abuse investigation
Federal authorities arrested Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime
confidant of Jeffrey Epstein, on Thursday in New Hampshire in connection with
the late, accused sex trafficker, authorities announced.
She was taken into custody at about 8:30 a.m. in Bedford and
is expected to appear before a federal judge in New Hampshire later in the
afternoon, officials said.
Maxwell was charged with six counts for acts committed
between 1994 and 1997 and then allegedly lying to investigators in 2016. Four
counts are related to allegedly helping transport minors for sexual activity
and two for perjury, according to the criminal complaint.
"Maxwell played a critical role in helping Epstein
identify, befriend and groom minor victims for abuse," Acting U.S.
Attorney Audrey Strauss told reporters in Manhattan. "In some cases,
Maxwell participated in the abuse herself.”
FBI agents in New York, Boston, Newark and Albany had been
keeping tabs on Maxwell before her arrest, officials said.
"More recently we learned she had slithered away to a
gorgeous property in New Hampshire continuing to live a life of privilege while
her victims lived with the trauma inflicted on them years ago," said
William Sweeney, assistant director in charge of the FBI in New York City.
"We moved when we were ready and Ms. Maxwell was arrested without
incident."
A lawyer for Maxwell did not immediately return phone calls
or emails on Thursday, seeking comment on her behalf.
Multiple young women have accused Maxwell, 58, the youngest
daughter of the late British publishing magnate Robert Maxwell, of complicity
in Epstein's alleged sex trafficking ring.
They say she either recruited them directly or provided
logistical support, like scheduling visits to Epstein's home.
The abuse allegedly happened at Palm Beach, Florida; Santa
Fe, New Mexico; and at Epstein's home on the Upper East Side of Manhattan,
officials said Thursday.
"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," Epstein victim Jennifer Araoz said in a statement.
Araoz accused Epstein of sexually abusing her when she was
just a teenager and has sued Maxwell, claiming that she and other staffers
"conspired with each other to make possible and otherwise facilitate the
sexual abuse and rape of Plaintiff."
"Day after day, I have waited for the news that Maxwell
would be arrested and held accountable for her actions," Araoz said.
"Her arrest is a step in that direction, and it truly means that the
justice system didn’t forget about us.”
Victims were often treated to expensive shopping trips,
travel and education so they'd feel indented to Epstein, prosecutors said.
Epstein gained the trust of victim, with crucial help from
Maxwell, according to Strauss.
"Maxwell would discuss sexual topics with the victim
and undress in front of the victim," Strauss said. "Maxwell's
presence as adult woman helped put the victims at ease, as Maxwell and Epstein
intended. This grooming process left the minor victims susceptible to sexual
abuse."
Maxwell's alleged role came into sharper focus in August
when unsealed court filings revealed depositions from Epstein's former
masseuses, staffers and associates. They painted a portrait of Maxwell as the
accused sexual predator's chief enabler.
Epstein’s estate has sought to shield Maxwell from civil
legal liability by classifying her as a former employee under the terms of the
recently established Epstein Victims Compensation Fund, according to the
administrator for the program.
In order to receive money from the funds, victims must waive
their right to sue any individuals employed by Epstein.
Maxwell, through public court filings and statements, has
denied any wrongdoing.
Strauss on Thursday declined to discuss any details regarding
Britain's Prince Andrew, who once befriended Epstein and has been photographed
with Maxwell.
“I’m not going to comment on anyone's status in this
investigation," Strauss said. "But I would say we would welcome
Prince Andrew coming in to talk with us. We would like to have the benefit of
his statement."
Epstein was arrested July 6 last year at an airport in
Teterboro, New Jersey, as he returned from Paris on a private jet. He was
charged with one count of sex trafficking conspiracy and one count of sex
trafficking, and faced up to 45 years in prison if found guilty.
He pleaded not guilty and was denied bail.
The indictment in his case showed that he sought out minors,
some as young as 14, from at least 2002 through 2005 and paid them hundreds of
dollars in cash for sex at either his Manhattan townhouse or his estate in Palm
Beach, Florida, federal prosecutors revealed last month.
Before Epstein could stand trial, he was found dead in his
Manhattan jail cell shortly after 6:30 a.m. on Aug. 10 of last year. His death
was ruled a suicide. Several guards responsible for checking on Epstein’s cell
during the course of the night were charged with falsifying records and never
actually checking in on him.
At the time of his death and throughout the year, federal
prosecutors have vowed that the investigation into Epstein’s conduct and anyone
who may have been involved in recruiting or facilitating his sex with minors
will continue.
Epstein had previously served 13 months of an 18-month
sentence for two Florida prostitution charges. Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008,
after striking a plea agreement that many considered to be far too lenient and
which hid its details from victims.
The deal was agreed to by the former Secretary of Labor Alex
Acosta, who was then the U.S. attorney in Miami.
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