Jennifer Araoz, 32, accused Jeffrey Epstein of “forcefully raping” her when she was 15.
She filed the lawsuit Wednesday morning against British woman Ghislaine Maxwell, the alleged recruiter or “madam” of Epstein, and another three unidentified people who allegedly conspired with Epstein’s crimes.
Epstein accuser Jennifer Araoz has filed a lawsuit against his estate, Ghislaine Maxwell and three household staff. The complaint alleges that the staffers and Maxwell conspired “to make possible and otherwise facilitate the sexual abuse and rape.” https://t.co/uqlGvUxayG
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) August 14, 2019
Several women have accused Maxwell, 57, of working in Epstein’s alleged sex traffick ring, saying that she recruited them or coordinated logistics for them, for example, to go to Epstein’s home.
Epstein’s former staff and associates described Maxwell as his chief recruiter in documents that were unsealed hours before Epstein’s alleged suicide.
Araoz alleged that she was sexually assaulted multiple times by Epstein when she was 14 and 15 years old. She first exposed her alleged abuse on July 10 on the Today show, filing papers the same day with the New York state court to sue Epstein, reported NBC News.
The complaint filed on the morning of Aug. 14 accuses Maxwell and other staffers of having “conspired with each other to make possible and otherwise facilitate the sexual abuse and rape of Plaintiff.”
Epstein accuser Jennifer Araoz files lawsuit against billionaire pedophile’s estate, his ‘madam’ Ghislaine Maxwell and three household staff https://t.co/Jbr7pRlvkr
— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) August 14, 2019
“Today is my first step towards reclaiming my power,” said Araoz after the suit was filed “Jeffrey Epstein and his network of enablers stole from me. They robbed me of my youth, my identity, my innocence, my self-worth. For too long, they escaped accountability. I am here today because I intend to change that.”
The suit is one of the first filed against Epstein’s estate following his death on Saturday.
She said in an interview with NBC last month that she was approached to be recruited outside the New York City school where she studied to spend time with Epstein, and give him massages when she was 14.
Araoz said she was forcefully raped at Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse when she was 15 years old in 2002.
“In your mind, did you use the word ‘rape’? Did you recognize it then as rape?” @savannahguthrie asks Jeffrey Epstein accuser Jennifer Araoz pic.twitter.com/jFCjnVRwpa
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) July 10, 2019
Maxwell has consistently and strongly rejected all allegations of misconduct albeit not having released any statements.
U.S. Attorney general, William Barr said on Monday that “any co-conspirators should not rest easy. Victims deserve justice and will get it.”
In a development in the case, The U.S. Justice Department said that two guards that were appointed to watch Epstein have been placed on leave and the Warden has been temporarily reassigned.
Virginia Roberts poses for a photo with Prince Andrew as #GhislaineMaxwell smiles in the background. Roberts reports that she was lent out to Prince Andrew when she was a teenage sex slave for Palm Beach millionaire #JeffreyEpstein and his partner, Maxwell. pic.twitter.com/clYsov0uqQ
— Marie (@Cuprikorn66) August 9, 2019
New from me: Newly unsealed court documents cast new light on the role of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s best friend, madam and, allegedly, fellow abuser. She called some of Epstein’s girls her “children”; she called one her “slave” https://t.co/RPqqvgwcYv
— Matthew Schneier (@MatthewSchneier) August 10, 2019
