Vicky WardVerified account

There has been much speculation about Ghislaine Maxwell and her current whereabouts, even prior to Epstein's suicide this weekend. In the wake of his death, the spotlight will focus even more intensely on her and the extent of her involvement in Epstein's activities.

Ghislaine Maxwell was the perfect front—and perfect foil—for Jeffrey Epstein. She was aristocratic and, unlike him, very well educated. They had once dated, but she was promoted from girlfriend to “friend” when it was over. She remained frequently by his side.

Jeffrey Epstein paid for Ghislaine to have the kind of lifestyle she had grown up with and to which she was accustomed. The question is: What did she do for him in return?

In 2002, when I was reporting on Epstein for Vanity Fair, I spoke to two sisters—Annie and Maria Farmer, who have both gone on the record about how Epstein allegedly molested Annie when she was just 16. They say that what happened would not have happened without Ghislaine.

Ghislaine told the girls’ mother she would be there as chaperone during the time Annie Farmer spent with Epstein. Ghislaine was incredibly convincing. The mother had thought her daughters would be safe under Epstein’s roof. Clearly, they—and so many other young girls—were not.

With Epstein’s death, his victims are denied the chance at justice that would come from a criminal trial. Civil trials are still possible. But it is as yet uncertain what will come next.

I spoke to a lawyer for one of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims earlier today. Right now, they’re in a holding pattern. There are numerous questions: Did Jeffrey Epstein have a will? If so, under what jurisdiction does that will fall? These answers will come, but we don’t have them yet.