Jeffrey Epstein’s child sex abuse co-conspirator Ghislane Maxwell arrested, ‘ready to name names’
Ghislaine Maxwell, 58, the British socialite best known as convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s girlfriend and “Madame” was arrested on the morning of July 2 and charged with enticing a minor to travel to engage in criminal sexual activity, transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, conspiracy to commit both of those offenses, and perjury in connection with a sworn deposition.
More than 20 armed agents and police are reported to have taken part in the early-morning operation on Thursday that led to her being handcuffed at her secluded, rural retreat in New Hampshire and taken into custody.
Officers were said to have broken down the front door at the 156-acre property, which is called Tucked Away. Her arrest ended almost a year of speculation over her whereabouts following the death of Epstein in a New York jail last summer; some reports had suggested she was in Los Angeles, others that she had moved to Paris. ~ The Guardian
The Indictment against her alleges that between at least in or about 1994 through 1997, Maxwell and co-conspirator Jeffrey Epstein exploited girls as young as 14, including by enticing them to travel and transporting them for the purpose of engaging in illegal sex acts.
As alleged, knowing that Epstein had a preference for young girls, Maxwell played a critical role in the grooming and abuse of minor victims that took place in locations including New York, Florida, and New Mexico. Additionally, Maxwell allegedly made several false statements in sworn depositions in 2016. Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:
“As alleged, Ghislaine Maxwell facilitated, aided, and participated in acts of sexual abuse of minors. 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. Today, after many years, Ghislaine Maxwell finally stands charged for her role in these crimes.”
According to court papers:
From at least 1994 through at least 1997, Ghislaine Maxwell assisted, facilitated, and participated in Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse of minor girls by, among other things, helping Jeffrey Epstein to recruit, groom, and ultimately abuse victims known to Maxwell and Epstein to be under the age of 18. The victims were as young as 14 years old when they were groomed and abused by Maxwell and Epstein, both of whom knew that their victims were in fact minors. As a part and in furtherance of their scheme to abuse minor victims, Maxwell and Epstein enticed and caused minor victims to travel to Epstein’s residences in different states, which Maxwell knew and intended would result in their grooming for and subjection to sexual abuse.
Maxwell allegedly enticed and groomed minor girls to be abused in multiple ways. For example, she attempted to befriend certain victims by asking them about their lives, taking them to the movies or taking them on shopping trips, and encouraging their interactions with Epstein. Maxwell also acclimated victims to Epstein’s conduct simply by being present for victim interactions with Epstein, which put victims at ease by providing the assurance and comfort of an adult woman who seemingly approved of Epstein’s behavior.
Additionally, to make victims feel indebted to Epstein, Maxwell would encourage victims to accept offers of financial assistance from Epstein, including offers to pay for travel or educational expenses. Maxwell also normalized and facilitated sexual abuse by discussing sexual topics with victims, encouraging them to massage Epstein, and undressing in front of a victim.
As Maxwell and Epstein intended, these grooming behaviors left minor victims vulnerable and susceptible to sexual abuse by Epstein. Maxwell was then present for certain sexual encounters between minor victims and Epstein, such as interactions where a minor victim was undressed, and ultimately Maxwell was present for sex acts perpetrated by Epstein on minor victims. That abuse included sexualized massages during which a minor victim was fully or partially nude, as well as group sexualized massages of Epstein involving a minor victim where Maxwell was present.
Minor victims were subjected to sexual abuse that included, among other things, the touching of a victim’s breasts or genitals, placing a sex toy such a vibrator on a victim’s genitals, directing a victim to touch Epstein while he masturbated, and directing a victim to touch Epstein’s genitals. Maxwell and Epstein’s victims were groomed or abused at Epstein’s residences in New York, Florida, and New Mexico, as well as Maxwell’s residence in London, England.
Additionally, in 2016, while testifying under oath in a civil proceeding, Maxwell repeatedly made false statements, including about certain specific acts and events alleged in the Indictment.
Maxwell and Epstein had been widely photographed during their reign in the company of wealthy and influential luminaries including Prince Andrew, the Clintons and the Trumps – although all have said that they weren’t aware of any criminal behavior regarding children nor did they partake in having sex with any minors.
Following her arrest, it’s been reported that Maxwell will be cooperating with authorities and will be “naming some big names” in an attempt to help out her own case, according to Page Six.
“She’s going to be naming some big names — not only in terms of those who abused underage girls at Epstein’s parties — but also those who made financial agreements with Epstein or benefited from his generosity, including flying on his plane and staying at his homes,” Steven Hoffenberg, a former business associate of Epstein, told Page Six.
Specifically, Maxwell has been charged with:
- one count of enticing a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison;
- one count of conspiracy to entice a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison;
- one count of transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison;
- one count of conspiracy to transport a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and,
- two counts of perjury, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Although final sentencing will be determined by the judge overseeing the case, if found guilty on all counts, Maxwell faces a maximum 35 years behind bars.
Maxwell is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, according to a July 6 report from Reuters. She should be making her first court appearance to face charges sometime this week.
For more on the story, see the video accompanying this article.
If you believe you are a victim of the sexual abuse perpetrated by Jeffrey Epstein, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL FBI, and reference this case.
(Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York)
(Cover image: Jeffrey Epstein with Ghislane Maxwell, Image credit: Justice.gov)
(Gallery Image credits: @AstridWinegar, @emmmcfarland , @lenathehyena / Twitter)
~ Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter
