Playing victim will not work, Ghislaine
ONCE the darling of New York and London’s social scene, for the past several years Ghislaine Maxwell’s life could not have been more different.
Following allegations of procuring girls for her paedo boyfriend, Jeffrey Epstein, the British socialite did not just become a recluse, she took active measures never to be found.
But last week the 58-year-old, the daughter of disgraced media tycoon Robert Maxwell, had the door to her palatial New Hampshire hideout kicked down by the FBI.
After walking her out in handcuffs, the Feds explained how for seven months, she had lived a life of luxury after she “slithered away to a gorgeous property”.
Today she finds herself in a grim Brooklyn detention cell.
Maxwell has been charged with grooming three unnamed girls, all under the age of 18, in London, New York, Florida and New Mexico between 1994 and 1997.
Prosecutors have claimed she took part in the sexual abuse carried out by Epstein, and she encouraged girls to travel to meet the financier and engage in sex acts with him.
Maxwell is also accused of lying in 2016 depositions while being sued by victim Virginia Giuffre that she’d never groomed or had sex with underage girls herself.
She previously denied any wrongdoing. Within moments of her arrest questions were being asked about whether she would choose to co-operate with prosecutors providing information on the men connected to Epstein, who committed suicide last August.
They, of course, include Prince Andrew who Maxwell introduced to the late Wall Street moneyman in the late 1990s.
Her arrest places the Duke of York, who has denied any wrongdoing, under more pressure having so far failed to speak with the FBI about his friendship with Epstein.
Although Andrew has been told he is wanted for questioning purely as a witness, it must still be of concern what, when facing up to 35 years in prison if convicted, Maxwell could say.
Of course, she is innocent until proven guilty.
But by numerous victims’ court testimony, her alleged role in Epstein’s sick world of abuse has attracted comparisons to Myra Hindley’s role to Ian Brady – acting as the girl’s friend before turning abuser.
Maxwell, prosecutors claim, discussed sexual topics with the girls and sometimes undressed in front of them to “normalise” the abuse.
Acting district attorney Audrey Strauss said: “She pretended to be a woman [the victims] could trust, all the while they were setting them up to be abused by Epstein and in some cases by Maxwell herself.”
If true, it was like the childless socialite acted motherly to comfort the girls groomed for Epstein to allow him to abuse them.
Yet despite the allegations, according to her friends, it is Maxwell we should feel sorry for. “A damaged, broken girl” was one pal’s assessment, adding Epstein mercilessly “brainwashed, controlled” her.
Brainwashed? Controlled? Surely these are words that should only describe the real victims here, the children Maxwell is accused of grooming for Epstein’s sex-trafficking ring over decades.
Her friends now claim she was scared of Epstein, fearful of him. Really? With all her connections and €22million in the bank, she found it so hard to break away?
Or was it the case Maxwell’s real love was for powerful, rich men – not least her father and Prince Andrew.
Her friends claim she was scared of Epstein. Really?