Introduction to the Controversy
Not long after it was first reported that Ghislaine Maxwell was moved to one of the cushiest federal detention facilities in the country, a private Facebook group dedicated to current and former federal prison staffers erupted in shock and outrage.
The Prison Facility
The federal prison camp in Bryan, Texas, is one of seven minimum security, dormitory-style federal security facilities that do not typically hold inmates like Maxwell, 63, who are convicted of sex crimes and serving lengthy sentences.
Reaction from Prison Staffers
“As a retired BOP employee, this makes me sick,” wrote one person on the “Bureau of Prisons staff and retirees” Facebook page.
“Since when are sex offenders allowed at the camp?” another wrote. “I don’t care who she snitched on, she’s a damn human trafficker."
Political Backlash
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., blasted the Justice Department’s meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell and called for bipartisan support to release the Epstein files.
President Donald Trump dismissed calls to release the Epstein files as a “hoax,” saying that his relationship with sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein was “old history” that had dissolved over a disagreement over hired help.
Concerns Over Prison Transfer
Vito Maraviglia, a retired federal prison special investigative agent, said in an interview that in his 27 years on the job he doesn’t recall an instance in which a sex offender was moved to a prison camp. Placing Maxwell there meant it would be easier for her to escape or for someone on the outside to target her on the camp’s grounds, Maraviglia said.
“The logic to me is not there,” he added. “It doesn’t pass the smell test.”
Criticism from Former Officials
Robert Hood, a former Bureau of Prisons chief of internal affairs, said in an email to NBC News that Maxwell’s transfer to the camp in Bryan is a “travesty of justice.”
“To relocate a sex offender serving 20 years to a country club setting is offensive to victims and others serving similar crimes,” wrote Hood, who also served as warden at the ADX Florence “supermax” prison in Colorado.
Background on Ghislaine Maxwell
Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for recruiting and grooming teenage girls to be sexually abused by her confidant, Jeffrey Epstein. Her case has gained renewed attention in recent weeks as a growing chorus of critics, mainly right-wing influencers and Trump supporters, have criticized the administration’s decision not to release all federal files related to Epstein.
The Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas
Josh Lepird, regional vice president for the federal prison officers’ union that includes Maxwell’s new home, said in an interview that any inmate would want to serve their time at the prison camp in Bryan.
“You ever hear of the old ‘Club Fed’ they used to talk about? This is one of those places,” said Lepird. “It’s really a great place to do your time if you’re an inmate.”
Inmates held at the facility have more programs available to them, Lepird said, including one that involves training service dogs for people with disabilities. They also have the freedom to roam its grounds, which are surrounded by a small fence and not razor wire or walls.
Risks and Concerns
The risk of escape is among the reasons why sex offenders and others who committed violent crimes are not placed at camps like the one in Bryan, according to current and former federal prison staffers.
As NBC News has previously reported, Bureau of Prisons rules require sex offenders to be held in at least a low-level security prison like FCI Tallahassee, unless they receive a waiver. Only the administrator of BOP’s Designation and Sentence Computation Center can make that decision, according to the waiver policy.
Reaction from the Union Official
Lepird, the union official, said he found it “very odd” that an inmate like Maxwell was moved there.
“The best I can say is there is some kind of cooperating involved,” he surmised.
Conclusion
The transfer of Ghislaine Maxwell to a minimum-security prison camp in Bryan, Texas, has drawn criticism from current and former federal prison staffers, as well as politicians. The move has raised questions about the decision-making process behind Maxwell’s transfer and the potential risks and consequences of housing a sex offender in a facility with relatively low security.
FAQs
Q: Why was Ghislaine Maxwell transferred to a minimum-security prison camp in Bryan, Texas?
A: The reasons behind Maxwell’s transfer are not entirely clear, but it has been suggested that her cooperation with authorities may have played a role.
Q: What are the concerns about housing sex offenders in minimum-security prison camps?
A: The risk of escape and the potential for sex offenders to target others are among the concerns raised by current and former federal prison staffers.
Q: What is the typical protocol for housing sex offenders in federal prisons?
A: According to Bureau of Prisons rules, sex offenders are typically required to be held in at least a low-level security prison, unless they receive a waiver.
Q: How has the public reacted to Maxwell’s transfer?
A: The transfer has drawn criticism from some, including politicians and current and former federal prison staffers, who have expressed concerns about the decision and the potential consequences.
