2020: Ghislaine Maxwell Arrested in New Hampshire

On July 2, 2020, FBI agents arrested Ghislaine Maxwell at a secluded property she had purchased in Bradford, New Hampshire. The arrest came nearly a year after Epstein’s death on August 10, 2019, and followed months during which Maxwell’s whereabouts had been repeatedly questioned in public and by courts.

The Arrest

Maxwell had largely disappeared from public view after Epstein’s arrest in July 2019. She was believed to be moving between properties and locations to avoid legal attention. Her Bradford, New Hampshire property — purchased through a limited liability company under a different name — was identified by federal investigators as her location.

The arrest was conducted by FBI and SDNY investigators in the early morning.

The Charges

Maxwell was charged with six federal counts:

• Conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts
• Enticement of a minor
• Conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity
• Transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity
• Sex trafficking conspiracy
• Sex trafficking of a minor

Bail Proceedings

Maxwell appeared in court and the government sought detention, arguing she was a flight risk with dual US-UK citizenship, multiple passports, and access to substantial resources. The court initially denied bail and Maxwell remained detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

Significance

The arrest represented the first criminal accountability for any named individual associated with Epstein and was welcomed by victim advocates who had feared that no meaningful prosecution would ever follow Epstein’s death.