Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite and former associate of Jeffrey Epstein, has told friends and family that she is “much much happier” at the Texas prison camp to which she was transferred in August. In emails obtained by NBC News, Maxwell described her new surroundings as akin to “Alice in Wonderland’s looking glass” and said she felt “safe”.
The 63-year-old, who is serving a 20-year sentence for her role in a sex-trafficking scheme with Epstein, praised the minimum-security Bryan Federal Prison Camp for its cleanliness and orderly running. “The institution is run in an orderly fashion which makes for a safer more comfortable environment for all people concerned, inmates and guards alike,” she wrote. She also noted that the food was “legions better” than at her previous prison in Tallahassee, and singled out warden Tanisha Hall as a “true professional”.
Her transfer came days after she met Justice Department officials for two days in July as part of the investigation into the so-called Epstein files. Former prison staff described the move as “unheard of” and suggestive of “special preference”. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, has written to warden Hall demanding answers about claims of VIP treatment, including private meetings with mysterious visitors and meal delivery to her dormitory, as well as alleged retaliation against inmates who spoke out.
Maxwell’s lawyer, David Oscar Markus, condemned the publication of her private emails, calling it “tabloid behaviour, not responsible reporting”. Her brother, Ian Maxwell, also said the messages were “personal and private by their very nature”. The prison camp, dubbed “club fed” for its relatively relaxed conditions, also houses Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes and reality television star Jen Shah.
The controversy comes amid wider scrutiny of the Epstein files, which have dogged the second Trump administration. A Justice Department memo released in July stated that Epstein died by suicide in 2019 and that no further investigation was warranted. Attorney General Pam Bondi has informed President Donald Trump that his name appears in the documents, though a mention does not imply wrongdoing, and the president has never been formally accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.
