By Dominic Taylor
British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, an ex-girlfriend of convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, is facing charges in the U.S after being arrested by the FBI.
She stands accused of assisting Epstein’s abuse of minors by helping to recruit and groom victims known to be underage.
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The arrest of the British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell in the U.S on Thursday morning is a major development in the investigation of the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and some in his circles since the wealthy financier killed himself last year in a New York jail cell
She was arrested in New Hampshire and due in federal court later on Thursday.
Ms Maxwell has always denied any involvement in or knowledge of Epstein’s alleged sexual misconduct.
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Epstein died in prison on 10 August as he awaited, without the chance of bail, his trial on sex trafficking charges.
He was arrested last year in New York after damning allegations that he was running a network of underage girls. He committed suicide while awaiting trial.
Prosecutors allege that between 1994 and 1997 Ms Maxwell helped Epstein groom girls as young as 14.
The charges say she would build a rapport with them – including by taking them shopping or to the movies – and would later coax them into giving Epstein massages during which they were sexually abused.
“Maxwell played a critical role in helping Epstein to identify, befriend and groom minor victims for abuse,” said Audrey Strauss, acting US attorney for the southern district of New York.
Charges
Four of the six charges relate to the years 1994-97 when Ms Maxwell was, according to the indictment, among Epstein’s closest associates and also in an “intimate relationship” with him. The other two charges are allegations of perjury in 2016.
A 17-page, six-count indictment filed by the FBI charges her with numerous counts of trafficking young women and alleges Maxwell was “present for and participated in the abuse”.
Epstein had previously agreed a plea deal in a Florida underage sexual abuse case and then was under extensive investigation in New York when he was arrested and then died.
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