Jeffrey Epstein’s ex-girlfriend, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, has been arrested by the FBI in New Hampshire after being accused of recruiting and trafficking minors for the convicted sex offender. She had formerly denied connections to Epstein’s criminal activities – which included grooming and sexually abusing girls as young as 14 – and claimed that she was unaware of such activities. However, prosecutors claim that from 1994 to 1997, Maxwell assisted Epstein in grooming underage girls. Allegedly, she would take the victims shopping or to the cinema, then persuade them into giving Epstein messages, where they would be sexually abused. According to acting US attorney, Audrey Strauss, “Maxwell played a critical role in helping Epstein to identify, befriend and groom minor victims for abuse”.
So far, a total of six charges have been brought against Maxwell, one of which is transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity – carrying a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. The other five charges carry a sentence of 5 years. If found guilty, she could face 35 years in prison.
Maxwell has denied all allegations.
Written by Sufia Jafri
Media by Ben Hyland
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