The investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and his sex crimes looks set to shift its focus following his death to his alleged co-conspirators, in a move that threatens to implicate some of the world’s richest, most powerful men.
Ghislaine Maxwell, the socialite daughter of late media tycoon Robert, is one of those who may find her dealings with the disgraced financier in the spotlight after he was found hanged in his prison cell at Metropolitan Correctional Center on Saturday morning.
Maxwell, 58, described as the ‘madam of the house’ by a former housekeeper at Epstein’s mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, has always denied any wrongdoing but reports now suggest she may even be ready to co-operate with the authorities.
Prosecutors may also target the witnesses who were set to testify against Epstein now that ‘they don’t need them’, The New York Post reports.
One source said: ‘They were getting a deal to testify against Epstein.’
According to Miami Herald reporter Julie K. Brown prosecutors ‘will likely refocus their probe on Maxwell, Sarah Kellen Vickers, Adriana Ross and Lesley Groff’.
They have all been accused of helping to run Epstein’s operation and Brown adds: ‘Another woman, Nadia Marcinkova, was accused of sexually abusing some of the underage girls.’
While Epstein, left, was the only person charged the Manhattan U.S. Attorney pledged to ‘stand for victims’ following Epstein’s death on Saturday morning. Socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, right, is one of those who may find herself in the spotlight
Maxwell, 58, left, described as the ‘madam of the house’ by a former housekeeper at Epstein’s mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, has always denied any wrongdoing but reports now suggest she may even be ready to co-operate with the authorities
Brown also told MSNBC there are still ‘thousands and thousands of more documents that are probably going to be released’.
She added: ‘There are so many threads of information and evidence and testimony and witnesses that are contained in those documents that he has a lot to work with there.’
Epstein’s accusers may also be able to pursue civil cases against his estate, including his $77 million mansion in New York City and his Palm Beach home.
Epstein’s hanging came just 24 hours after more than 2,000 pages of documents detailing the lurid allegations of his sexual abuse of underage girls were unsealed to the public.
And while his death means his accusers can never bring him to justice in the courts, prosecutors may now go after his associates following a pledge from Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman to ‘stand for victims’.
In a statement shortly after Epstein, 66, was found hanging Berman made a pointed reference to the conspiracy charge included in his indictment.
He said: ‘To those brave young women who have already come forward and to the many others who have yet to do so, let me reiterate that we remain committed to standing for you, and our investigation of the conduct charged in the Indictment – which included a conspiracy count – remains ongoing.’
And while Epstein was the only person charged in that indictment court papers did reference three unnamed employees allegedly involved in scheduling victims and paying them after massages escalated to sexual acts.
Virginia Roberts Giuffre, Epstein’s former ‘sex slave’ who claims she was loaned out to Prince Andrew, alleged in a a document newly released by a US court that Miss Maxwell took part in sex sessions as well.
Giuffre alleged in a 2016 deposition that she was a teenager when she was forced to have sex with George Mitchell, a former Senate Majority leader who represented Maine from 1980-95, former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson as well the Duke of York.
Both Richardson and Mitchell have denied the allegations. The Prince has always denied any wrongdoing and in a 2015 court application, a judge threw out Guiffre’s allegations that she had sex with the Prince.
Buckingham Palace also issued on the record statements in January 2015, stating: ‘Any suggestion of impropriety with underage minors is categorically untrue.’
But experts say Maxwell is still the ‘target number one’ for prosecutors.
Giuffre’s attorney, Sigrid McCawley, said in a statement that ‘the reckoning of accountability begun by the voices of brave and truthful victims should not end’ with Epstein’s death.
Leslie Groff’s., left, lawyer said she never knowingly booked travel for anyone under the age of 18, and had no knowledge of the alleged illegal activity whatsoever. Sarah Kellen, right, was accused of making massage appointments for Epstein and pressuring young girls into not talking to police who said they were ‘intimidated and frightened by her’
Nada Marcinkova was one of Epstein’s victims as well as an enabler according to interviews with victims back in 2005. Multiple girls also state that Epstein made them engage in sexual acts with Marcinkova
Adriana Ross, pictured with Epstein in 2005, was named in his 2008 sweetheart deal as a ‘potential co-conspirator’
Thomas Volscho, an associate professor of sociology at the City University of New York who is writing a book about the Epstein case, said: ‘They are going to want to hold somebody to account and there is going to be enormous pressure on Maxwell as she has been accused of being heavily involved with Epstein.
‘I would imagine she is petrified’.
One of Epstein’s allged victims, Jennifer Araoz, said: ‘I hope the authorities will pursue and prosecute his accomplices and enablers, and ensure redress for his victims.’
Her attorney, Kimberly Lerner, added: ‘There’s a whole network that enabled him and allowed this to happen. It’s time that everyone who was a part of this be held accountable.’
Epstein’s accusers may also be able to pursue civil cases against his estate. His Upper East Side New York apartment is pictured
Epstein had been accused of arranging to have sex with dozens of underage girls at his residences in New York City and Florida between 2002 and 2005, and was facing a possible jail sentence of up to 45 years. His home in Florida is pictured
Epstein, who once counted Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump among his friends, had been under arrest since July 6.
He had been accused of arranging to have sex with dozens of underage girls at his residences in New York City and Florida between 2002 and 2005, and was facing a possible jail sentence of up to 45 years.
Epstein, who was jailed for prostituting minors in a separate sex case in Florida in 2008, had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
He escaped with a light sentence in the Florida case after cutting a deal with prosecutors and spent 18 months in prison.