Ghislaine Maxwell, the socialite companion of Jeffrey Epstein, was arrested Thursday morning for her alleged role in Epstein’s crimes. The FBI took Maxwell into custody in New Hampshire at approximately 8:30 am.
The Charges
New York federal prosecutors charged Maxwell with six counts after a federal investigation into Epstein’s potential accomplices. The charges include enticement and conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, transportation, and conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Federal prosecutors are also charging Maxwell with two counts of perjury in connection with a 2016 deposition.
The indictment claims that, “In particular, from at least in or about 1994, up to an including at least in or about 1997, Maxwell assisted, facilitated, and contributed to Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse of minor girls by, among other things, helping Epstein to recruit, groom, and ultimately abuse victims known to Maxwell and Epstein to be under the age of 18,”
Maxwell’s arrest comes nearly a year after her federal prosecutors indicted her companion, Epstein, on various sex charges. Epstein then committed suicide in prison. His suicide lead to a great deal of public speculation and on his death and what it meant for his victims.
The Background
Maxwell’s has long been suspected of being complicit in Epstein’s sexual abuse of minors. Several survivors have come forth in the last year with claims that Maxwell helped recruit and groom them to serve as Epstein’s sexual victims.
The story of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell was detailed by survivors in the new Netflix documentary series, Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich. Maxwell started out as Epstein’s girlfriend and moved into the role of fixer and recruiter for him over the years.
The details of the indictment are a disturbing accompaniment to previous accusations made by various women in recent years.
“Maxwell’s presence during minor victims’ interactions with Epstein, including interactions where the minor victim was undressed or that involved sex acts with Epstein, helped put the victims at ease because an adult woman was present,” according to the indictment.
It is unclear how long the FBI has been investigating, or what other accomplices they might be looking in to.
