GHISLAINE Maxwell, the former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein and a former friend of Prince Andrew has been arrested in the United States.
The FBI took her into custody this morning and she is due to appear in a federal court later.
A now-public court filing, filed by the Manhattan District Attorney, says Maxwell "assisted, facilitated and contributed to Jeffrey Epstein's abuse of minor girls by, among other things, helping Epstein to recruit, groom, and ultimately abuse" girls under the age of 18.
Maxwell faces six charges. These include conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts; enticing a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts; conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity; and transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
There are also two counts of perjury.
Maxwell has been absent from the public eye since Epstein was arrested last June on charges of sex trafficking.
Her lawyers have fought away allegations that she was involved in Epstein's abuse of dozens of young girls for years by denying them in civil lawsuits.
She has made no public comment about the scandal or about Epstein's death last August.
Maxwell allegedly introduced Prince Andrew to Virginia Giuffre Roberts, one of Epstein's victims, when Virginia was 17.
Virginia claims she had sex with the royal that night in London after a night of partying that had been facilitated by Maxwell, the daughter of the late, disgraced London newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell.
Prince Andrew has always denied having any form of sexual contact with Virginia.
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