French prosecutors probing Jeffrey Epstein over rape and abuse of children in Paris widen probe to include Ghislaine Maxwell to see if British socialite was involved in his offending
Ghislaine Maxwell is under investigation by French authorities over allegations that she was involved in convicted-paedophile Jeffrey Epstein's offending in the country.
Investigators are looking into claims that Epstein - who had a £7million Paris apartment - raped and abused minors in the French capital.
It has now been revealed that Maxwell is also being probed by prosecutors who 'received information from US investigators'.
A source told The Mirror: 'Both Epstein and Maxwell have a long history and many connections to France.
'As detectives dug further into allegations against him and after receiving information from US investigators, they launched their own probe into Maxwell. It is ongoing.'
Maxwell, who was accused of being Epstein's 'madam,' has French, British and American citizenship and was born in a well-off area on the fringes of Paris.
French model agent Jean-Luc Brunel is said to be a close friend of Maxwell's - with the pair both appearing in Epstein's contact book and on the flight logs of his private jets.
Ghislaine Maxwell is under investigation by French authorities over allegations that she was involved in convicted-paedophile Jeffrey Epstein's offending in the country. French model agent Jean-Luc Brunel (pictured with Maxwell) is said to be a close friend of Maxwell's - with the pair both appearing in Epstein's contact book and on the flight logs of his private jets
Brunel has previously denied allegations that he procured and raped underage girls. He has been accused of giving three French girls - all aged 12 - to Epstein on the paedophile's birthday.
He said: 'I strongly deny having committed any illicit act or any wrongdoing in the course of my work as a scouter or model agencies manager.'
Ghislaine Maxwell first met Epstein in the 1990s and they struck up a relationship.
Investigators are looking into claims that Epstein (pictured) - who had a £7million Paris apartment - raped and abused minors in the French capital
The disgraced American financier was found dead in his New York prison cell on August 10, 2019, as he awaited his trial on sex trafficking charges.
Maxwell has been accused of abusing and grooming three female minors and was arrested in July by the FBI.
Prior to that, it was understood that she was hiding out in France. Under French law anyone born on French soil is safe from extradition to another country, regardless of the alleged crime.
In June it was reported that she moved into a flat on on Avenue Matignon, in Paris's 8th Arrondissement, a wealthy part of the city dotted with upmarket retail shops.
The property was short five-minute drive from Epstein's £7million pad on Avenue Foch.
A source told The Sun at the time: 'Ghislaine is moving locations every month to keep private investigators off her tail and is staying at the residences of trusted colleagues and contacts.
'She wants to remain in France for as long as she can to take advantage of extradition laws and has a huge network of contacts willing to keep her hidden.'
It was this week revealed that Maxwell's family has launched a campaign to get her out of jail, claiming she's lost considerable weight and her human rights were violated.
Operation GGO, a campaign to 'get Ghislaine out' from her Brooklyn prison cell, comes after she previously sought release this summer on a $5million (£3.4million) bail related to sex trafficking charges.
It has now been revealed that Maxwell (pictured with Epstein) is also being probed by prosecutors who 'received information from US investigators'
She maintained her innocence, but the Manhattan judge deemed her a flight risk considering she had evaded capture for nearly a year.
Brian Basham, a family friend and a PR professional, has set out to free Maxwell from the 'cruel' and 'vindictive' treatment she's allegedly received at the hands of US authorities.
Basham alleged that the heiress has lost 25lbs since she was placed in custody because guards won't accommodate her vegan diet, The Telegraph reports.
When Maxwell complained, Basham told The Telegraph, prison officials simply removed her scales to stop her from recording her weight.
'She has lost 25lbs in jail but when she complained they took away her weighing machine so she could not weigh herself,' he told the newspaper.
Pictured: The Metropolitan Detention Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York where Maxwell has been held since this summer
Ghislaine Maxwell has reportedly lost 25lbs while in cusotdy because she's not being fed vegan meals with 'proper nutrition'
Basham also alleged that prison officials forced Maxwell to wear clothes made from paper and banned her from wearing bras over fears she's a suicide risk.
The concerns echoed those of Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell last year while awaiting trial.
Epstein, a New York financier whose reputation was marred with allegations of child molestation, was indicted on sex trafficking and conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking charges.
He was repeatedly accused of the vile act throughout his adult life and pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution in Florida in 2008.
He was awaiting trial at the Metropolitan Correctional Center jail in New York City when he committed suicide by hanging inside his jail cell in August 2019.
Epstein's death rocked the country and was a shocking blow for a number of his victims who had come forward.
