Ghislaine Maxwell is accused of sex trafficking in underage girls - News Updates

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Maxwell was Jeffrey Epstein's close friend and ex-partner, the late financier and convicted paedophile.



Donald Trump has sent his support to Ghislaine Maxwell, saying he wants her well, as she faces charges of recruiting girls for Jeffrey Epstein for sexual abuse.

Maxwell, a close friend of the late financier and convicted paedophile Epstein, is behind bars awaiting trial on charges including a conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex.

Mr. Trump was among several well-known people socially connected to Epstein and he said of Maxwell during his news conference on Tuesday: "I wish her well, frankly.

"I've met her many times over the years, especially since I was living in Palm Beach and I guess they were living in Palm Beach ... But whatever it is I wish her well.

"I don't know about Prince Andrew's situation, I just don't know, I'm not aware of that."


Maxwell faces up to 35 years in prison if it is proved that she was recruiting adolescent girls-including one as young as 14-for sexual abuse by Epstein between 1994 and 1997.

She is also accused of lying in depositions-sworn out-of-court testimonies-in a 2016 civil case.

Prince Andrew has known Maxwell, a British socialite and daughter of media tycoon Robert Maxwell, since her university days.

In 1999, it was Maxwell who introduced Epstein to Prince Andrew and it was because of her that Epstein spent time at royal properties, including Windsor Castle and Sandringham.


Maxwell, 58, is also one of the main figures mentioned in the allegations made by Virginia Giuffre Roberts against Prince Andrew, who claims that she was introduced to and subsequently had sex with the Prince when she was 17 years old and a minor under US law.

In August last year Epstein killed himself in jail, several weeks after being charged with sex trafficking.

He had pleaded guilty in 2008 to separate charges in Florida for procurement of a person under the age of 18 for prostitution and for felony prostitution. He served in a county jail for 13 months, most of it on work release.