Staff from the US House oversight and judiciary committees visited the Texas prison where Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, is serving her sentence, according to Democratic lawmakers.
Visit to Bryan Prison Camp
In a statement, Democratic Representatives Robert Garcia and Jamie Raskin said staff traveled to the minimum-security federal prison camp in Bryan, Texas, on Tuesday to seek answers about Maxwell's transfer there and allegations of preferential treatment.
According to the lawmakers, prison staff provided an extensive tour of the grounds and programming. However, they claimed that Bureau of Prisons leadership repeatedly shut down their lines of questioning or could not provide basic information about central concerns, including Maxwell's treatment, allegations of sexual assault, and retaliation against whistleblowers.
Bureau of Prisons Response
A Bureau of Prisons spokesperson said they facilitated an extensive and transparent visit for congressional staffers from two committees and both sides of the aisle. Each topic was addressed to the extent possible, but staff cannot provide statements about ongoing investigations, personnel actions, or litigation.
"The BOP went to great lengths to accommodate this visit and spent hours responding to questions," the spokesperson added, emphasizing commitment to transparency and working with congressional partners.
Maxwell's Sentence and Transfer
Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Epstein's sex-trafficking scheme. Last summer, she was transferred from a federal prison in Florida to the Bryan camp, which houses about 635 female inmates. The move came after she was interviewed by then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche about the Epstein case, amid pressure on the Trump administration for transparency.
The transfer sparked backlash, especially from Democrats, who noted that convicted sex offenders are typically placed in low-security prisons, not minimum-security facilities.
Congressional Concerns
Garcia told CNN that the warden said Maxwell is the only convicted sex offender among over 600 women at the facility and could not explain why she was moved there. Staff were not granted access to Maxwell during the visit.
"Uniformly, all the staff came back with the same conclusion: this is a park-like campus, and Ghislaine Maxwell should not be there," Garcia said. Blanche has defended the transfer, citing safety concerns due to threats against Maxwell.
Allegations of Favorable Treatment
The visit follows a November letter from Raskin to Donald Trump, citing whistleblower information that Maxwell received favorable treatment, including custom-prepared meals, computer access for guests, and a puppy. The BOP said allegations of misconduct are taken seriously and investigated internally.
In January, Raskin and Garcia sent another letter to then-Attorney General Pam Bondi, requesting a visit and interview with the warden. They cited over a dozen whistleblowers reporting that Maxwell used a laptop without supervision, kept more possessions than other inmates, received bottled water, and accessed staff-only areas to watch TV alone.
Maxwell's Lawyer Rejects Claims
Maxwell's lawyer, David O Markus, rejected the allegations in January, stating, "The rule of law matters most when it protects the least popular defendant. Humane treatment isn't special treatment, and political prison tours don't move the country forward."
