Warning: This story contains graphic and distressing content.
As President Donald Trump struggles to contain the fallout over his ties to the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, lawmakers on Capitol Hill and officials within his own administration are turning to Ghislaine Maxwell, the financier’s longtime co-conspirator and sometime girlfriend.
Unlike Epstein, Maxwell is still, potentially, able to talk.
And everyone knows right where to find her: in federal prison.
Just this week, Justice Department officials traveled to the facility in Florida where she is serving out a 20-year sentence, and House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer issued her a subpoena compelling her testimony.
Epstein exploded back into the national conversation this month after the Justice Department issued a memo suggesting there was no reason to release any more federal records about him because there was no evidence he kept a so-called “client list” or blackmailed any prominent figures.
It is widely known that Epstein sexually abused a long succession of young women and girls, many of whom were underage and some of whom were, allegedly, as young as 11 and 12. He and Maxwell were also known to socialize with executives, presidents, royals and other wealthy elites.
What is less known is who participated in the abuse, or knew about it and did nothing.
Trump and officials in his administration, such as Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, had repeatedly made promises to release the so-called “Epstein files.” Now that they have backed off, some of Trump’s supporters have been left fuming.
Maxwell could be the key to members of the public finally getting the answers they seek. Here’s why.
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Who is Ghislaine Maxwell?
First things first: In English, her name is most commonly pronounced “GEE-lane.”
Maxwell, 63, was born in France to British publishing magnate Robert Maxwell, who was found dead in the Atlantic Ocean under somewhat mysterious circumstances in 1991. It turned out Robert’s companies had been having financial problems and he was using his workers’ pensions to keep lenders at bay.
Robert Maxwell doted on his youngest daughter; the yacht he is believed to have fallen from was called the Lady Ghislaine. She grew up in a 50-room mansion named Headington Hill Hall.
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By the time of her father’s death, Ghislaine Maxwell had already been dispatched to New York City to help save a struggling New York Daily News, which he owned. She opted to stay in the city long-term, according to the BBC, finding London uncomfortable in the wake of her late father’s pension scandal.
Maxwell repeatedly defended him, telling Vanity Fair in 1992, “He wasn’t a crook.”
She appears to have met Epstein around the same time that she settled into the New York social scene.
How was she involved with Jeffrey Epstein?
When they met, Epstein was becoming very wealthy, and Maxwell was used to being very wealthy. She and Epstein were frequently photographed together over the years, from the 1990s through the 2000s, attending parties with other rich and famous individuals of all stripes.
Maxwell, described as a former girlfriend and current “best friend” in a 2003 Vanity Fair profile of Epstein, is noted for organizing much of his life. The information we have about Maxwell and Epstein comes from lawsuits, particularly a defamation suit brought against Maxwell by Virginia Giuffre, who accused them of sexual abuse. Giuffre testified that Maxwell recruited her at age 16 to work for Epstein, where she was forced into sexual activities with Epstein and his high-powered friends. Maxwell was accused of following the same pattern of abuse in various locations, and victims testified at her trial, revealing the extent of her involvement in Epstein’s crimes. Maxwell was found guilty in December 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Carolyn said she ceased at age 18 when she “became too old.” Initially, Maxwell touched her breasts and other body parts and commented that she had a great body for Epstein and his associates. Prosecutors mentioned that Maxwell normalized the behavior by discussing sex, undressing in front of the victims, and encouraging the use of sex toys. Maxwell also persuaded the victims to accept offers like travel and education from Epstein, creating the impression that they were genuinely being helped. We are dedicated to delivering unwavering, evidence-based journalism that everyone deserves. Your support has been invaluable in getting us to where we are today, and we are truly grateful for readers like you. As we forge ahead, especially in these challenging times, we need your support more than ever. We sincerely hope you will once again join us on this journey. text in a different way:
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