Ghislaine Maxwell appears before NH judge

Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, stood immediately before the federal judge on Thursday afternoon and surrendered her right to a court hearing in New Hampshire, paving the way for her move to New York, where she is supposed to be indefinitely held.

Maxwell was arrested on Thursday morning on multiple charges of sexual abuse, including a conspiracy to engage minors in sexual activity.

The lawyers are likely to force Maxwell to stay behind bars because she has a “serious motive to run,” according to a memo. The paper also revealed that Maxwell had three visas, access to more than $20 million and financial ties, as well as “serious” flight risks.

Epstein ‘s ex partner and convicted madam is taken into detention at 8:30 a.m. The FBI confirmed this to Fox News in Bradford, N.H. She reportedly had been living in Paris , France, until her capture.

William F. Sweeney Jr., director of the F.B.I. office in New York, said the agents had been “discreetly keeping track” on Maxwell’s whereabouts, and had recently discovered that she had relocated to a “beautiful house,” a 156-acre property that she reportedly compensated in cash.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Audrey Strauss said the prosecution will pursue Maxwell’s detention.

Maxwell, the daughter of late British publishing magnate Robert Maxwell, was charged in civil court filings with facilitating a sex-trafficking scheme that took girls — some as young as 14—to Epstein’s Manhattan home, even though she had not been officially charged with any criminal activity until Thursday.

Although there have been claims that many people have also “facilitated” Epstein’s suspected sexual harassment, the primary attention has been on Maxwell.

According to unsealed court records, the prosecutors charged her with one count of attempting to entice minors to travel to participate in illicit sex, one count of inducing minors to travel to engage in illegal sex, one count of planning to deliver minors to engage in unlawful sexual conduct, and two counts of perjury.

When sentenced, Maxwell will face up to 35 years in jail.

Between 1994-1997, prosecutors allege that Maxwell “supported, encouraged, and led to Jeffrey Epstein’s exploitation of underage girls by, among other items, helping Epstein hire, marry, and eventually rape victims reported to Maxwell and Epstein to be under the age of 18.”

He added, “However, in an attempt to hide her offences, Maxwell has consistently lied when asked about her actions, even in relation to some of the minor victims … While providing testimony under oath in 2016.

Investigators have clarified how they suspected that Maxwell forced young girls into Epstein ‘s toxic world of prostitution and violence.

They claimed that Maxwell had first tried to be a friend of the young girls, asking them about their lives, their families, and their school. She would also take minors shopping or filming to make them feel comfortable around her and Epstein.

He would also attempt to “normalize sexual harassment” by joking about sex, undressing in front of the women, being there while the underage victim was undressed, and would also be in the room during intercourse with Epstein and the children.

Maxwell would also use himself as a kind of teaching guide, reportedly explaining to Epstein what he wanted the girls to say to him, according to an indictment against her.

Investigators stated that Epstein even promised to pay for tuition for the girls and that “Maxwell persuaded those women to accept Epstein ‘s assistance.”

“As a result, the victims were made to feel indebted and believed that Maxwell and Epstein were trying to help them,” the prosecution read.

The investigators also claimed that Maxwell was actively involved in the sexual abuse of minor victims.

Investigators alleged that the crimes took place in Epstein’s multi-story Manhattan house, Palm Beach, Fla., farm, Santa Fe, N.M., property, and Maxwell ‘s private London residence.

Jennifer Araoz, a woman who claimed that Epstein and Maxwell had sexually abused her, said Maxwell ‘s arrest “means there can be some justice for the survivors.”

“I’ve been terrified of Epstein and his ring for years. Maxwell was the core of the sex-trafficking ring, “she said in an e-mail message.” Now that the trap has been removed, I know I can’t be affected any more.

Maxwell, 58, met Epstein more than 10 years ago and was a part of his close inner circle until his prison-cell suicide on August 10 , 2019.

In a 2003 essay on Vanity Fair, Epstein referred to Maxwell as his “best mate.”

“Day after day, I’ve been hoping for reports that Maxwell will be charged and held responsible for her acts,” Araoz said. “Her conviction is a step in this direction, because it also shows that the justice system has not forgotten about us.”

Attorneys have suspected Maxwell of lying under oath at a 2016 deposition in a complaint regarding her part in Epstein’s supposed sex ring. When Maxwell was asked whether Epstein had a scheme to hire underage girls for sexual exploitation, she responded, “I don’t know what you’re thinking regarding.”

Epstein, 66, was facing sex-trafficking charges at the time of his death last year and was pending trial in a lawsuit that, if sentenced, may have put him behind bars for several years.

In May, Maxwell was denied a critical motion to postpone the deposition of a civil suit filed against her on the basis that her sworn testimony might incriminate her if a criminal prosecution had been brought against her in the future.

“I’m requiring her not to respond to (written questions) and not to have her interview,” Judge Debra Freeman said in her decision. “Not indefinitely, but at least long enough to let us know if the appeals process is going to proceed.”

While Maxwell faced several litigation against her for her role in Epstein’s suspected illegal acts, the May decision only deals with the case brought by Annie Farmer.

Maxwell ‘s counsel, Laura Menninger, begged the federal judge to postpone Maxwell’s deposition.

“The United States of America. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York has openly and consistently announced its continuing criminal prosecution into Epstein’s suspected co-conspirators on the same issue as (Farmer) claims in this lawsuit, “Menninger wrote to the court.

Confident Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, arrested on several counts of sexual assault
She added: “The failure to remain, in particular the remain of Ms. Maxwell’s deposition, until [the] conclusion of the criminal investigation could impede the right of her Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination, prolong the disclosure of wrongdoing, open the defensive argument to litigation in advance of the court, or otherwise impede the criminal case.”

Farmer alleged that both Epstein and Maxwell had sexually assaulted her at Epstein ‘s New Mexico ranch, seeking restitution from Maxwell and Epstein’s $634 million estate.

There have been a variety of prominent faces related to Epstein, including Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew and Harvard Law professor emeritus, and former Epstein partner Alan Dershowitz, both of whom have fought back on allegations that they have participated in sexual activities with women.