FBI swoops on Epstein’s friend accused of helping recruit and groom young girls
PRINCE Andrew was under mounting pressure last night to speak with the FBI following the dramatic arrest of Jeffrey Epstein’s former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.
Hours after agents swooped on the British socialite in her remote bolthole in New Hampshire, lead prosecutors said: “We would welcome Prince Andrew coming in to talk to us to have the benefit of his statement.”
Maxwell, 58, appeared by video link yesterday accused of enticing underage girls on behalf of Epstein to travel for sex; taking part in subsequent sexual abuse and perjury.
Now the Prince’s friendship with Maxwell is set to come under greater scrutiny. The pair met in the mid-1990s and she was once reported by the New York Post to be Andrew’s “sweetheart” after they were seen enjoying a “lovely-dovey lunch date” in Manhattan.
Following her arrest, Bill Sweeney, FBI assistant director in charge, described Maxwell as “one of the villains” among Epstein’s circle of sexual abuse.
The Prince is friend of Maxwell
He said: “We’ve been discreetly keeping tabs on Maxwell’s whereabouts as we work this investigation.
“More recently we learned she’d slithered away to a gorgeous property in New Hampshire, continuing to live a life of privilege while her victims live with the trauma inflicted upon them years ago.”
Sweeney added: “We allege that from at least 1994 through at least 1997, Ms Maxwell assisted Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse of minor girls by helping to recruit, entice, groom and abuse children under the age of 18.
“She befriended the innocent, attempted to normalise sexual abuse and worked to put victims at ease, aware the entire time of the abuse that would follow.”
Her indictment alleges that she groomed three unnamed girls, all under the age of 18, in London, New York, Florida and New Mexico between 1994 and 1997; took part in the sexual abuse; encouraged under-age girls to travel to meet Epstein and engage in sex acts with him. Finally, it is alleged Maxwell lied in 2016 depositions – while being sued by Virginia Giuffre Roberts – when she said she had never groomed or had sex with underage girls herself.
It is Virginia Giuffre Roberts, 36, who alleges she had sex with Prince Andrew in London after a night out with Epstein and Maxwell.
The Duke vehemently denies having ever met his accuser, who was 17 at the time of the alleged encounter in 2001.
Disgraced financier Epstein, 66, was convicted of procuring an underage girl for prostitution in Florida in 2008.
Last year, Epstein was arrested in New York on charges of trafficking minors, but was found hanged in prison while awaiting trial.
Following his suicide the FBI placed the paedophile’s relationship with Maxwell at the heart of their investigation.
The daughter of disgraced media tycoon Robert Maxwell – who died in 1991 – will now be interviewed and asked to answer questions about her friendship with Epstein and her associates – who include Prince Andrew.
Acting US Attorney Audrey Strauss yesterday reiterated prosecutors’ desire to interview the royal, adding that they would not comment further on Andrew in relation to the investigation. “Our doors remain open, and we would like to hear from him and have the benefit of his statement.” A source close to the Prince said: “The Duke’s team remains bewildered given that we have twice communicated with the Department of Justice in the last month and, to date, we have had no response.” Last night Gloria Allred, who represents several victims of Epstein, said: “The arrest of Ghislaine Maxwell is a major development and demonstrates that the criminal investigation is serious and that it continues.
“It is long overdue for Prince Andrew to stop making excuses and to stop playing the victim. He should contact the FBI and agree to appear for an interview.”
While the Duke of York belatedly stopped contact with the paedophile after he was photographed in 2010 walking with him in Central Park, New York, he has admitted he kept up his friendship with Maxwell.
They were once so close Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, was reported to have become worried she was exerting a harmful influence on him, although it was Fergie who is said to have first introduced them.
While now not as close as they once were, during his car crash interview with the BBC last November the Duke admitted he had seen Maxwell in the spring or summer of last year.
It came at a time when she had not been seen in public for years.
During his Newsnight appearance, Andrew said their meeting was
before Epstein’s arrest on sex trafficking charges in July 2019 and they did not discuss the billionaire.
The Duke said: “There wasn’t anything to discuss about him because he wasn’t in the news.”
Epstein and Maxwell met in New York, where she had set up home following the death of her father.
She became a central figure on the New York social scene and businessman-turned US President Donald Trump was pictured with Epstein.
Such was the importance of the role she played in the Duke’s life that it was even claimed he once asked the Queen’s permission to take her on an official work trip. It was refused.
Andrew was widely criticised after he appeared with Maxwell at a pimps and prostitutes theme party thrown by the model Heidi Klum.
Last night a spokesperson for the Duke declined to comment.