Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, accused of molesting underage teen girls, arrested on sex trafficking charges
- Jeffrey Epstein expected to be arraigned in court on charges that he molested dozens of underage girls in New York and in Florida
Wealthy financier and registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was arrested in New York on new sex-trafficking charges involving allegations that date to the early 2000s, according to law enforcement officials.
Epstein, a wealthy hedge fund manager who once counted as friends former US president Bill Clinton, Britain’s Prince Andrew, and US President Donald Trump, was taken into federal custody and is expected to appear Monday in Manhattan federal court, three law enforcement officials said.
One of the officials said Epstein was accused of paying underage girls for massages and molesting them at his homes in Florida and New York.
The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the pending case.
A message was sent to Epstein’s defence lawyer seeking comment.
Epstein’s arrest, first reported by The Daily Beast, comes amid renewed scrutiny of a once-secret plea deal that ended a federal investigation against him.