Introduction to Ghislaine Maxwell’s Transfer
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.
Reaction from Federal Prison Staffers
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. “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."
Review of the Facebook Group
NBC News reviewed screenshots of the page, which were provided by one of the group’s members. The Facebook group is open only to those who pass an extensive vetting process to ensure they are, in fact, current or former BOP staffers, according to the member who has knowledge of how it is administered.
President Trump’s Response
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, President Trump said he was not aware that Maxwell had been moved to the Texas camp until after it occurred. "I didn’t know about it at all," he said. "No, I read about it just like you did." Trump then claimed that transfers like Maxwell’s were common. "It’s not a very uncommon thing," he said.
Criticism from Former Federal Prison Special Investigative Agent
But 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.”
Reaction from Former Bureau of Prisons Chief of Internal Affairs
Robert Hood, a former Bureau of Prisons chief of internal affairs, said in an email 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.
Maxwell’s Case and Transfer
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. Maxwell had been locked up in a low-security facility in Tallahassee, Florida, that housed men and women. But she was moved to the all-women, minimum-security federal prison camp in Texas last week after she and her lawyer answered questions from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche for nine hours over two days.
Description of 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.
Concerns and Questions
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 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. 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 the federal prison camp in Bryan, Texas, has drawn criticism from current and former federal prison staffers, who question the decision to move a sex offender to a minimum-security facility. The move has also raised concerns about the risk of escape and the potential for Maxwell to be targeted by someone on the outside. As the controversy surrounding Maxwell’s case continues to unfold, it remains to be seen what the next steps will be and how the situation will be resolved.
FAQs
Q: Why was Ghislaine Maxwell transferred to the federal prison camp in Bryan, Texas?
A: The exact reason for Maxwell’s transfer is not clear, but it is believed to be related to her cooperation with authorities.
Q: What is the federal prison camp in Bryan, Texas, like?
A: The prison camp is a minimum-security facility that offers more programs and freedom to inmates compared to higher-security prisons.
Q: Is it common for sex offenders to be transferred to prison camps like the one in Bryan, Texas?
A: No, it is not common for sex offenders to be transferred to prison camps like the one in Bryan, Texas, as they typically require a higher level of security.
Q: What has been the reaction to Maxwell’s transfer?
A: The transfer has drawn criticism from current and former federal prison staffers, who question the decision to move a sex offender to a minimum-security facility.
