Jeffrey Epstein’s 'Madam' Ghislaine Maxwell Arrested on Sexual Abuse Charges
The former girlfriend of the late billionaire sex trafficker charged
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Jeffrey Epstein's confidant Ghislaine Maxwell has been arrested by FBI agents in New Hampshire on Thursday on multiple charges relating to sex abuse, including conspiracy to entice minors to engage in sexual acts.
The former girlfriend of the late billionaire sex trafficker and accused madam was taken into custody at 8:30 a.m. in Bedford, N.H.
Earlier reports said Maxwell has been hiding out in Paris, France, before her arrest.
The daughter of late British media tycoon Robert Maxwell was accused in civil court filings of aiding a child sex-trafficking that brought in girls, as young as 14, to Epstein's Manhattan home.
Maxwell had escaped any formal charges until Thursday.
While there have been reports that there were several others who "facilitated" Epstein's alleged sexual abuse are also being investigated, the main focus has been on Maxwell.
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Maxwell became a member of Epstein's elite inner circle until his August 10 jail-cell suicide.
Epstein referred to Maxwell as his "best friend" in a 2003 Vanity Fair article.
Epstein faced sex-trafficking charges before he committed suicide while awaiting trial.
Maxwell earlier this year won a request to delay questioning in a civil suit filed against her on the grounds that her sworn testimony could incriminate her should there be a case against her in the future.
"I'm permitting her not to respond to (written questions) and not to have her deposition," Magistrate Judge Debra Freeman said during her ruling.
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"Not forever, but at least long enough to let us know whether the claims process is likely to go forward."
Maxwell's lawyer, Laura Menninger, had asked the federal judge to stay Maxwell's deposition.
"The U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of New York has publicly and repeatedly announced its 'ongoing' criminal investigation into alleged Epstein 'co-conspirators' on the same topic as (Farmer) alleges in this case," Menninger wrote to the court.
She added:
"Denial of a stay, particularly a stay of Ms. Maxwell's deposition, pending [the] outcome of the criminal investigation could impair her Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination, extend criminal discovery..., expose the defense's theory to the prosecution in advance of trial, or otherwise prejudice the criminal case."
Earlier this year, Neon Nettle reported hackers stole Maxwell's private emails, including damaging information and names of individuals, creating a potential ticking time bomb of scandal for those connected to Epstein.
