Ghislaine Maxwell offers to give up British & French citizenship in desperate bid to secure bail

In a surprise move, the long-time associate and close friend of the deceased paedophile, Jeffrey Epstein, has offered to relinquish her UK and French citizenship in an attempt to secure bail.  

Ghislaine Maxwell is accused of enabling, and in some cases participating, in convicted sex offender, Epstein’s, sexual abuse of three under-age girls in the 1990s.

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She also faces two counts of perjury for allegedly making false statements in civil depositions dating back to 2016.

Maxwell was arrested at her secluded mansion in New Hampshire in July 2020 and is expected to stand trial later this year, most likely in the summer.

She is currently incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York.

A high-level socialite before her dramatic downfall, Maxwell is the daughter of notorious former media owner, MP and fraudster, Robert Maxwell.

Maxwell senior, who is widely suspected to have spied for Israel, died under mysterious circumstances in November 1991.

Ghislaine Maxwell allegedly introduced Epstein to a dizzying array of wealthy and powerful figures, notably Prince Andrew.

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Epstein allegedly committed suicide in prison in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, more than a decade after his conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.

In court filings released on Wednesday (February 24), Maxwell’s lawyers tried to get her released on bail for the third time.

Maxwell’s lawyers assert she is willing to renounce her British and French citizenships “to eliminate any opportunity for her to seek refuge in those countries”.

Maxwell’s defense attorney, Bobbi Sternheim, filed the following statement with the court: "Citizenship is a precious and priceless asset. Ms. Maxwell's decision to give up citizenship from the county of her birth [France] and the country of her upbringing [UK] demonstrates her earnestness to abide by the conditions of her release and underscores that she has no intention to flee and reflects her deep need to communicate freely with counsel to prepare for her defense".

In addition, the lawyers propose Maxwell’s and her husband’s assets be placed in a “monitored account” to prevent the funds from being used in any potential escape attempt.

Last December, Maxwell’s second bid for release was rejected by U.S. District Judge, Alison Nathan, partly on the grounds of her “extensive financial resources and foreign ties”.

It remains to be seen if Maxwell’s dramatic gesture to renounce two of her nationalities – and by extension potential places of refuge - will sway the US judiciary this time around.

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