Ghislaine Maxwell ‘has tapes of two prominent US politicians having sex with minors’ and boasted of ‘owning’ powerful people, according to a former friend.

The ex-jewel robber, who used the pseudonym William Steel, said they ‘forced’ him to watch the footage as they wanted to convince him of their ‘power’.

He also claimed to have seen clips of ‘celebrities’ and ‘world figures’ having ‘threesomes, even orgies’ with minors.

It follows Maxwell, 58, being arrested last Thursday on charges she helped lure at least three girls – one as young as 14 – to be sexually abused by Epstein, who was accused of victimising dozens of girls and women over many years.