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TYCOON 'FUNDED'

Jeffrey Epstein was ‘bankrolled by “pimp” Ghislaine’s father Robert Maxwell’

INVESTIGATORS have sworn testimony claiming that Jeffrey Epstein was secretly bankrolled by Robert Maxwell – the father of alleged pimp Ghislaine.

Sex trafficker Epstein – who killed himself in jail last year – mysteriously amassed a huge fortune despite only managing the wealth of a handful of exclusive clients.

The origin of paedophile Jeffrey Epstein's fortune has been a mystery
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The origin of paedophile Jeffrey Epstein's fortune has been a mysteryCredit: AP:Associated Press
Sworn testimony claims Epstein was bankrolled by Robert Maxwell. father of his associate Ghislaine Maxwell
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Sworn testimony claims Epstein was bankrolled by Robert Maxwell. father of his associate Ghislaine MaxwellCredit: Rex Features

Now an insider has told The Sun that he had been initially funded by tycoon Maxwell, who swindled a pension fund before he was found dead in 1991.

Frenchman Jean-Luc Brunel, a model scout pal of Epstein, is said to have disclosed Maxwell’s involvement to friends almost 20 years ago.

The claim has since been passed onto US lawyers investigating Epstein’s crimes and those of his alleged co-conspirators, in the form of sworn testimony.

A former close associate of Brunel told The Sun: “He was having a conversation with some acquaintances in New York City around 2002.

“Jean-Luc was telling them how Ghislaine’s father Robert Maxwell was one of the reasons why Jeffrey Epstein had money.

“He said Maxwell had been one of Epstein’s early investment clients. I assumed that Maxwell had invested in Epstein, who then used that money to make his own.

“Jean-Luc also started talking about a book featuring Robert Maxwell and wanted to get hold of a copy straight away.”

Former Wall Street trader Epstein rose to prominence in the financial world in the 1980s, founding his own money management firm.

The company was formed to manage the assets of clients with more than $1billion and included Victoria’s Secret boss Les Wexner.

Ghislaine Maxwell holding a framed photograph of her late father in 1991
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Ghislaine Maxwell holding a framed photograph of her late father in 1991 Credit: Getty Images - Getty
Court sketch of Ghislaine, who was arrested in July and charged with grooming minors
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Court sketch of Ghislaine, who was arrested in July and charged with grooming minorsCredit: Reuters

Czech-born businessman Maxwell built a publishing empire after moving to Britain following the Second World War.

But in 1991 his body was discovered floating in the Atlantic Ocean, after he toppled off yacht The Lady Ghislaine, named after his daughter.

It later emerged that the fraudster had stolen hundreds of millions of pounds from his own company’s pension funds.

His daughter Ghislaine fled to New York City after his death and soon began dating Epstein.

It has never been revealed how they knew each other or met.

Epstein committed suicide in prison last year aged 66, before he could go on trial over claims that he ran a child sex trafficking operation.

Ghislaine, 58, was arrested in July and charged with grooming girls as young as 14 for Epstein.

She is currently locked up in a New York jail and facing 35 years behind bars.

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Her close pal Prince Andrew, 60, has been engulfed in the scandal following allegations that he slept with Epstein sex slave Virginia Roberts when she was a teenager.

The duke vehemently denies any accusations of wrongdoing.

Met Police is willing to help US prosecutors probing Prince Andrew's links to Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein

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