Following the billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged suicide just hours after the unsealing of more than one thousand documents related to the pedophilia sex-trafficking scandal that Epstein propagated, Ghislaine Maxwell has surged as a prime target to be held accountable for the alleged crimes committed.
Maxwell, 57, is repeatedly mentioned in the documents, as she was a close friend of Epstein’s and according to him, his “best friend,” and ex-girlfriend, as well as assistant, reported CBS.
Maxwell has been accused of finding underage girls for Epstein and his circle. She has been described in court documents (pdf) as a “madame” for Epstein and “procurer of underage girls.”
“There are multiple victims who claim that Ghislaine Maxwell was a personal participant in recruiting them for Jeffrey Epstein, that she assisted in the scheduling of appointments, multiple victims being delivered to Epstein on a daily basis over an extended period of time,” attorney Jack Scarola, who has represented various of Epstein’s accusers, told CBS. “There are allegations that Miss Maxwell was an active participant in the sexual abuse.”
She’s still here. Ghislaine Maxwell knows everything Epstein. https://t.co/Nk7s7BC4Yk
— Mia Farrow (@MiaFarrow) August 10, 2019
Virginia Guiffre alleged that Maxwell recruited her to become a masseuse when she was 16.
“We can train you. We can get you educated. You know, we can help you along the way if you pass the interview. If the guy likes you, then you know, it will work out for you. You’ll travel. You’ll make good money. You’ll be educated, and you’ll finally get accredited one day,” Maxwell told her, according to the court documents, reported News.
Maxwell denied any misconduct in her deposition, “A very small part of my job was, from time to time, to find adult professional massage therapists for Jeffrey. As far as I’m concerned, everyone who came to his house was an adult professional person.”
But Guiffre says she was forced to engage in sex with various individuals. She has identified, among others: Prince Andrew, son of Queen Elizabeth II, former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson (D), and former Senate majority leader George J. Mitchell (D-Maine).
#RECAP on the (partially) unsealed #JeffreyEpstein related docs: though it’s not earth-shaking as most alegations are public, it’s extremely damaging to #GhislaineMaxwell & for #PrinceAndrew who’s also accused by a witness. Obviously very helpful in USA v #Epstein #Giuffre pic.twitter.com/bSpFZvy8lT
— Marta Dhanis (@MartaDhanis) August 9, 2019
Spokespeople for Mitchell and Richardson denied Guiffre’s accusations. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson stated: “Any suggestion of impropriety with underage minors is categorically untrue,” reported The Washington Post.
But Guiffre’s version is different, “My whole life revolved around just pleasing these men and keeping Ghislaine and Jeffrey happy,” Giuffre said in the deposition. “Their whole entire lives revolved around sex.”
Giuffre said in an interview with Miami Herald last year: “The training started immediately. It was everything down to … how to be quiet, be subservient, give Jeffrey what he wants. A lot of this training came from Ghislaine herself, and being a woman, it kind of surprises you that a woman could actually let stuff like that happen. But not only let it happen but to groom you into doing it.”
According to CBS, Epstein was reportedly able to cover his alleged co-conspirators with a plea deal in 2007. Scarola says that Maxwell was included.
“When a non-prosecution agreement is entered into that grants immunity to Ghislaine Maxwell and other named and unnamed co-conspirators for unspecified crimes, that just doesn’t make any sense at all,” Scarola said. “Why would prosecutors ever agree to that kind of provision?”
One royal in particular. Andrew with #GhislaineMaxwell at Heidi Klum’s “Hookers and Pimps” party in 2000. pic.twitter.com/r6f6qLCrdc
— joan kunze (@madameshawshank) August 6, 2019
The unsealed documents allege repeatedly that Guifrre was trafficked to Prince Andrew by Maxwell, but the claim was dismissed by a U.S. Judge in the past and omitted out from the record.
Despite Buckingham palace’s statement, Prince Andrew’s friendship with Epstein was again on the front pages of Britain’s papers on the morning of Aug. 12.
Attorney General William Barr has pledged on Monday that the DOJ will investigate any conspirators and achieve justice for the victims who cannot face Epstein in court anymore.
NEW: Attorney General Bill Barr says he was “appalled” and “angry” at the failure to “adequately secure” Jeffrey Epstein.
“We are now learning of serious irregularities at this facility that are deeply concerning and demand a thorough investigation.” https://t.co/NPRWFgssFd pic.twitter.com/zZy1Su9za2
— ABC News (@ABC) August 12, 2019
“I was appalled, and indeed the whole department was, and, frankly, angry,” Barr said, speaking at an event in New Orleans on Aug. 12. He said it was a “failure to adequately secure this prisoner.”
“We are now learning of serious irregularities at this facility that are deeply concerning and demand a thorough investigation. The FBI and the Office of Inspector General are doing just that,” Barr added.
“We will get to the bottom of what happened and there will be accountability. But let me assure you this case will continue on against anyone who was complicit with Epstein. Any co-conspirators should not rest easy. The victims deserve justice, and they will get it,” he added.
