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Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Who is Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend who is in federal spotlight again?
Ghislaine Maxwell, at the centre of national attention again despite being sentenced to 20 years in jail, represents much more than the image of a fallen socialite. Once a fixture of elite parties in New York and London, she was convicted three years ago for aiding Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse of underage girls. This week, Todd Blanche, the US Deputy Attorney General, met with her for several hours over two days. What emerged from those conversations is unknown, but Blanche later wrote on social media that the Justice Department 'will share additional information about what we learned at the appropriate time.' His visit comes amid renewed political pressure over the federal government's handling of the Epstein case — a pressure intensified by President Donald Trump's refusal to answer questions about the disgraced financier. Maxwell's attorney, David Oscar Markus, said there were no discussions with the government about a presidential pardon, but added: 'The President this morning said he had the power to do so. We hope he exercises that power in the right and just way.' Maxwell, 63, was born into British privilege as the youngest daughter of Robert Maxwell, the Czech-born media tycoon whose empire included The Daily Mirror and publisher Macmillan. After her father died in 1991 under mysterious circumstances, falling from his yacht, Ghislaine relocated to New York City. In the US, Maxwell entered elite social circles and was seen at major public events. She attended Chelsea Clinton's wedding and was photographed in 2000 with Donald Trump, Melania Trump, and Epstein. According to CNN, she was also seen at the Clinton Global Initiative summit, though Chelsea Clinton's spokesperson, Bari Lurie, said Maxwell was invited because she was dating a friend of Clinton's. She was photographed at a memorial service soon after, seated beside a man who would come to define her public legacy: Jeffrey Epstein. Their relationship was at times romantic, though she later worked for him in various roles, managing his household staff and personal affairs. As investigators would later allege, her proximity to Epstein extended far beyond domestic management. According to federal prosecutors, between 1994 and 2004, Maxwell helped Epstein groom and traffic girls as young as 14. Court documents and trial testimony portrayed her as a recruiter, someone who could set victims at ease by offering the reassurance of an approving adult woman. The abuse, prosecutors said, occurred in a well-oiled system: Maxwell would invite girls on shopping trips, pay for travel, and promise educational assistance. She would undress in front of the girls, discuss sexual topics, and normalize the idea of giving Epstein massages that turned sexual. She sometimes participated. In exchange, the victims were paid in cash and, in some cases, pressured to bring in more girls. Maxwell's attorneys claimed that her accusers' memories had been shaped and distorted by lawyers pursuing civil suits. But in December 2021, a jury convicted her on multiple federal charges, including sex trafficking and conspiracy. She was sentenced in 2022. Maxwell has long insisted she had no knowledge that Epstein, who died by suicide in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting trial, was sexually abusing minors. Virginia Giuffre, one of the most vocal Epstein survivors, said she was recruited by Maxwell as a teenager while working at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. Giuffre later sued Maxwell for defamation after Maxwell dismissed her claims as 'obvious lies.' The case was settled in Giuffre's favor. Giuffre also filed a lawsuit against Prince Andrew of Britain, alleging he had sexually abused her at Epstein's homes. He denied the charges, but settled the suit in 2022. Maxwell is currently appealing her conviction to the US Supreme Court, arguing that a 2008 non-prosecution deal Epstein struck with Florida prosecutors should have shielded her from federal charges. The Justice Department has urged the Court to reject that claim. Despite her incarceration, Maxwell remains a person of interest to federal investigators and to members of Congress. The House Oversight Committee voted this week to subpoena her for a deposition. Blanche, in a statement posted to social media, left open the possibility that Maxwell could assist in identifying others who may have committed crimes against Epstein's victims. 'If Ghislaine Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims,' he said, 'the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say.' Her attorney, Markus, said only that Maxwell would 'always testify truthfully.' Maxwell did not take the stand during her own trial, but she has given two long depositions in previous civil cases. In them, she dismissed the idea that Epstein's homes were filled with minors. 'As far as I'm concerned, everyone who came to his house was an adult professional person,' she said at the time. The testimony of four women proved damning, and Maxwell was ultimately convicted on five of six charges. (With input from New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, AP)
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Ghislaine Maxwell: From British heiress to convicted sex offender – net worth, Epstein ties and more
Source: X Once a fixture of elite social circles in London and New York, Ghislaine Maxwell now serves a 20-year prison sentence for her role in Jeffrey Epstein 's sex-trafficking network. Her life has spanned from the lavish halls of Oxford and royal palaces to a 6-by-9-foot prison cell, as one of the most enigmatic and controversial figures linked to the Epstein scandal. Born into privilege Ghislaine Maxwell was born on December 25, 1961, into one of Britain's most influential families. Her father, Robert Maxwell, was a Czech-born British media mogul and Member of Parliament who built a publishing empire that included the Daily Mirror and Macmillan. Her mother, Betty, was a French scholar and Holocaust researcher. Ghislaine was the youngest of nine siblings and reportedly her father's favorite. Educated at Marlborough College, Ghislaine went on to study modern history and languages at Balliol College, Oxford University. Fluent in several languages, she was often described as poised, intelligent, and deeply ambitious. Beginning of an end On November 5, 1991, Robert Maxwell was found dead, floating near his yacht, the Lady Ghislaine, off the Canary Islands. His death was officially ruled accidental, but conspiracy theories persist. After his death, it was revealed that Robert Maxwell had looted hundreds of millions of pounds from his companies' pension funds. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Nvidia's AI Strategy Is Clear - But Is Wall Street Paying Attention? Seeking Alpha Read More Undo His empire collapsed under debt, and the family's fortune was largely wiped out. Source: X Though devastated by the loss of her father, Ghislaine relocated permanently to New York City. There, she rebranded herself as a socialite and entrepreneur, eventually crossing paths with Jeffrey Epstein, a financier whose private wealth and connections would come to define the darkest chapter of her life. Romantic relationships Despite growing up in the shadow of her powerful father, Ghislaine Maxwell carved out a highly public personal life, often linked to influential men across business, aristocracy, and tech. Count Gianfranco Cicogna (1980s) In the 1980s, Ghislaine was linked to Count Gianfranco Cicogna, a member of Italian aristocracy and heir to a considerable fortune. Their relationship was well-documented in society pages in the UK, where she was a known presence on the party circuit. Jeffrey Epstein (Early 1990s–2000s) By the early 1990s, Maxwell had become closely involved with Jeffrey Epstein. According to The New York Times, 'she was Epstein's best friend, former girlfriend, and confidante.' Though they were no longer romantically involved after the late 1990s, they continued to work and travel together extensively. Court filings later accused her of recruiting and grooming underage girls for Epstein's sexual abuse network. Source: X Ted Waitt (2004–2010) Following the public distancing from Epstein, Maxwell dated Ted Waitt, founder of Gateway Inc., a PC company. Waitt was a billionaire and philanthropist, and the two were considered a power couple in the sustainability and oceanic conservation space. In 2012, Waitt's foundation gave $10 million to The Scripps Institution of Oceanography, around the time Maxwell founded her own nonprofit, The TerraMar Project. Their relationship quietly ended before 2011, and Maxwell retreated further from public view. Scott Borgerson: The secret husband Among the most enigmatic figures linked to Ghislaine Maxwell in her later years was Scott Borgerson, a tech entrepreneur and former CEO of the Boston-based shipping analytics firm CargoMetrics. Maxwell and Borgerson reportedly met in 2013 through professional and philanthropic circles in Boston, and quickly developed a private relationship. Despite the growing legal scrutiny Maxwell faced due to her ties with Jeffrey Epstein, the couple managed to stay out of the public eye for several years, eventually settling into a home in the upscale seaside town of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts. Their relationship remained a mystery until Maxwell's July 2020 bail hearing, when her legal team revealed that she was secretly married to Borgerson. The revelation stunned court observers and the public alike, not only because of Maxwell's sudden marital status but also because of how closely it intertwined with her legal circumstances. Court filings noted that Maxwell had transferred ownership of a 156-acre New Hampshire estate, where she was ultimately arrested by the FBI, to a company tied to Borgerson. Borgerson, in an effort to support her bail application, submitted a letter to the court that painted a starkly different picture of Maxwell than the one dominating headlines: 'I have never witnessed anything close to inappropriate with Ghislaine. Quite to the contrary, the Ghislaine I know is a wonderful and loving person,' he wrote. Despite his public support, Borgerson largely retreated from view following Maxwell's arrest and subsequent criminal trial. In 2021, The Daily Mail reported that Borgerson had ended the relationship and was seen with another woman, although no formal divorce has been publicly confirmed. His name no longer appears in legal filings on her behalf, and his whereabouts, as well as the current state of their marriage, remain unclear. Net worth Maxwell's net worth has long been shrouded in secrecy. Although she was born into a fortune, most of Robert Maxwell's empire collapsed in debt. During her bail hearings, Judge Alison Nathan stated Maxwell was a "flight risk" due to "opaque" finances and "undisclosed assets." Court records revealed that between 2007 and 2011, over $20 million was transferred to her from Epstein-controlled offshore accounts. These funds came from various sources, including the sale of properties, like a Manhattan townhouse valued at $15 million. Despite these transactions, her defense insisted she had no hidden wealth. In her 2020 bail application, she claimed assets worth just under $4 million, a figure prosecutors challenged.
Edmonton Journal
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Edmonton Oilers free-agent signing Andrew Mangiapane looks to fill top-six spot
It used to be that the twain never met in the hated Battle of Alberta, where the motto was Once an Oiler, Always an Oiler and Go Flames Go, but now it's pretty routine that players wear both jerseys at some time in their career. Article content Mike Smith, Derek Ryan, Brett Kulak, of recent vintage. Article content And now we bring you Andrew Mangiapane, who may have been Mathew Tkachuk Lite in OilerNation when it came to pests you disliked in his six full seasons with Calgary, but now he's bringing those traits to Edmonton after the 29-year-old winger signed his two-year free-agent deal for a $3.6 million AAV. Article content Article content All good, but that's not just why the Oilers, used most of the Viktor Arvidsson $4 million AAV they moved on to Boston to bring in Mangiapane, whom they figure (also hope) is a better fit in the top six, specifically with Leon Draisaitl, than Arvidsson was in his one season here after signing his UFA deal last July. Article content Mangiapane 'checks a lot of boxes': Bowman Article content 'Starting offensively, he's got the ability to play in our top 6 and has experience playing left and right-wing, so there's flexibility there, whether he's going to play with (Connor) McDavid or Draisaitl. We can try him on both lines,' said Bowman. Article content Article content Article content Of course, they said the same about Arvidsson (flexibility) when he signed a year ago, if we want to play devil's advocate, and it just didn't work. But Mangiapane is younger and harder to play against (sandpaper). Article content Article content 'We don't know which centre Andrew will mesh the best with, but we know it'll be one of those two. We definitely see him on our top two lines, and we know he can play on the powerplay (second unit most likely),' said Bowman. Article content 'He checks a lot of boxes with our group,' said Bowman, well aware Draisaitl had Vasily Podkolzin on LW for much of the season, and a revolving set of right-wingers. Article content Podkolzin, who did yeoman grunt work digging pucks out along the boards to keep plays going, could move back in the lineup, and maybe Trent Frederic gets a look on RW, if he's not tried as 3C, with Adam Henrique a swing guy at C and wing. Article content 'I expect the sixth top-six forward to come from internally. We had Podkolzin there and Kasperi Kapanen (RW) for stretches, and I expect (farmhand) Matt Savoie to be on the team and play a role. We've also got (Czech-born) David Tomasek (Swedish Hockey League scoring champion) coming in. I wouldn't expect to add (signing) another top-six player,' said Bowman.
Calgary Herald
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Edmonton Oilers free-agent signing Andrew Mangiapane looks to fill top-six spot
It used to be that the twain never met in the hated Battle of Alberta, where the motto was Once an Oiler, Always an Oiler and Go Flames Go, but now it's pretty routine that players wear both jerseys at some time in their career. Article content Mike Smith, Derek Ryan, Brett Kulak, of recent vintage. Article content And now we bring you Andrew Mangiapane, who may have been Mathew Tkachuk Lite in OilerNation when it came to pests you disliked in his six full seasons with Calgary, but now he's bringing those traits to Edmonton after the 29-year-old winger signed his two-year free-agent deal for a $3.6 million AAV. Article content Article content All good, but that's not just why the Oilers, used most of the Viktor Arvidsson $4 million AAV they moved on to Boston to bring in Mangiapane, whom they figure (also hope) is a better fit in the top six, specifically with Leon Draisaitl, than Arvidsson was in his one season here after signing his UFA deal last July. Article content Mangiapane 'checks a lot of boxes': Bowman Article content 'Starting offensively, he's got the ability to play in our top 6 and has experience playing left and right-wing, so there's flexibility there, whether he's going to play with (Connor) McDavid or Draisaitl. We can try him on both lines,' said Bowman. Article content Article content Article content Of course, they said the same about Arvidsson (flexibility) when he signed a year ago, if we want to play devil's advocate, and it just didn't work. But Mangiapane is younger and harder to play against (sandpaper). Article content Article content 'We don't know which centre Andrew will mesh the best with, but we know it'll be one of those two. We definitely see him on our top two lines, and we know he can play on the powerplay (second unit most likely),' said Bowman. Article content 'He checks a lot of boxes with our group,' said Bowman, well aware Draisaitl had Vasily Podkolzin on LW for much of the season, and a revolving set of right-wingers. Article content Podkolzin, who did yeoman grunt work digging pucks out along the boards to keep plays going, could move back in the lineup, and maybe Trent Frederic gets a look on RW, if he's not tried as 3C, with Adam Henrique a swing guy at C and wing. Article content 'I expect the sixth top-six forward to come from internally. We had Podkolzin there and Kasperi Kapanen (RW) for stretches, and I expect (farmhand) Matt Savoie to be on the team and play a role. We've also got (Czech-born) David Tomasek (Swedish Hockey League scoring champion) coming in. I wouldn't expect to add (signing) another top-six player,' said Bowman.
Ottawa Citizen
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Edmonton Oilers free-agent signing Andrew Mangiapane looks to fill top-six spot
It used to be that the twain never met in the hated Battle of Alberta, where the motto was Once an Oiler, Always an Oiler and Go Flames Go, but now it's pretty routine that players wear both jerseys at some time in their career. Article content Mike Smith, Derek Ryan, Brett Kulak, of recent vintage. Article content And now we bring you Andrew Mangiapane, who may have been Mathew Tkachuk Lite in OilerNation when it came to pests you disliked in his six full seasons with Calgary, but now he's bringing those traits to Edmonton after the 29-year-old winger signed his two-year free-agent deal for a $3.6 million AAV. Article content Article content All good, but that's not just why the Oilers, used most of the Viktor Arvidsson $4 million AAV they moved on to Boston to bring in Mangiapane, whom they figure (also hope) is a better fit in the top six, specifically with Leon Draisaitl, than Arvidsson was in his one season here after signing his UFA deal last July. Article content Mangiapane 'checks a lot of boxes': Bowman Article content 'Starting offensively, he's got the ability to play in our top 6 and has experience playing left and right-wing, so there's flexibility there, whether he's going to play with (Connor) McDavid or Draisaitl. We can try him on both lines,' said Bowman. Article content Article content Article content Of course, they said the same about Arvidsson (flexibility) when he signed a year ago, if we want to play devil's advocate, and it just didn't work. But Mangiapane is younger and harder to play against (sandpaper). Article content Article content 'We don't know which centre Andrew will mesh the best with, but we know it'll be one of those two. We definitely see him on our top two lines, and we know he can play on the powerplay (second unit most likely),' said Bowman. Article content 'He checks a lot of boxes with our group,' said Bowman, well aware Draisaitl had Vasily Podkolzin on LW for much of the season, and a revolving set of right-wingers. Article content Podkolzin, who did yeoman grunt work digging pucks out along the boards to keep plays going, could move back in the lineup, and maybe Trent Frederic gets a look on RW, if he's not tried as 3C, with Adam Henrique a swing guy at C and wing. Article content 'I expect the sixth top-six forward to come from internally. We had Podkolzin there and Kasperi Kapanen (RW) for stretches, and I expect (farmhand) Matt Savoie to be on the team and play a role. We've also got (Czech-born) David Tomasek (Swedish Hockey League scoring champion) coming in. I wouldn't expect to add (signing) another top-six player,' said Bowman.
