Ghislaine Maxwell moved from Florida prison to lower-security facility
Andrew Goudsward
and
Luc Cohen
, Reuters
Ghislaine Maxwell pictured in September 2013 in New York City.
Photo:
AFP / Getty Images
Ghislaine Maxwell has been transferred from a Florida prison to a lower-security facility in Texas to continue serving her 20-year sentence for helping the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse underage girls, the US Bureau of Prisons said on Friday.
Maxwell's move from FCI Tallahassee, a low-security prison, to the Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas, comes a week after she
met with Deputy US Attorney General Todd Blanche
, who said he wanted to speak with her about anyone else who may have been involved in Epstein's crimes.
Maxwell's lawyer David Markus confirmed she was moved but said he had no other comment. Spokespeople for the Department of Justice did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The BOP classifies prison camps such as Bryan as minimum security institutions, the lowest of five security levels in the federal system. Such facilities have limited or no perimeter fencing. Low security facilities such as FCI Tallahassee have double-fenced perimeters and higher staff-to-inmate ratios than camps, according to the bureau.
Asked why Maxwell was transferred, BOP spokesperson Donald Murphy said he could not comment on the specifics of any incarcerated individual's prison assignment, but that the BOP determines where inmates are sent based on factors including "the level of security and supervision the inmate requires."
-
Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
15 hours ago
- RNZ News
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' ex Gina Huynh, who dropped out of his case as 'Victim-3', writes letter to judge pushing for his release
By Elizabeth Wagmeister , Cindy Von Quednow for CNN Sean "Diddy" Combs. File photo Photo: AFP/ NurPhoto / Image Press Agency An ex-girlfriend of Sean "Diddy" Combs who was supposed to testify against him in his criminal case , but mysteriously dropped out days before the trial began has written a letter to the judge pushing for Combs' release on bail. Virginia Huynh, who goes by "Gina," was part of the prosecution's case against Combs, initially anonymously referred to as "Victim-3." But before the trial began, prosecutors alerted the court while "Victim-3" was under subpoena to testify, they had lost touch with her and her attorney, and "she may not show up". Now, in their latest attempt to get Combs released on bail ahead of his sentencing, Combs' defence has included a letter from "Victim-3," who for the first time has identified herself by name. In the letter, Huynh wrote to the judge she does not believe Combs is a danger to the community and he is a committed family man "who has not been violent in many years". Huynh's letter was included as an exhibit in the defence's latest filing, their reply to the prosecution's opposition to releasing Combs on bail ahead of his sentencing, which is set for 3 October. Combs was convicted by a jury last month on two charges of transpiration to engage in prostitution but acquitted on more serious charges which would have put him behind bars for decades or for life: racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. In the letter, Huynh said she has known Combs for years, both professionally and personally. She acknowledged her relationship with the disgraced mogul "was not always perfect," but "he was willing to acknowledge his mistakes and make better decisions in the future." "By the time our relationship ended, he embodied an energy of love, patience and gentleness that was markedly different from his past behaviour. To my knowledge, he has not been violent for many years, and he has been committed to being a father first," the letter stated. "I am writing because I do not view Mr. Combs as a danger to me or to the community." During the trial, Combs' former assistant George Kaplan testified he once saw Combs throwing apples at Huynh at his home in Miami. Cassie Ventura, the case's star witness and another former girlfriend of Combs, testified Combs was unfaithful to her by dating Gina throughout their 11-year relationship. CNN has reached out to Huynh and to the US District Court for the Southern District of New York for comment. Combs' defence has asked the court to release him on bail on a $50 million bond. They have argued he is not a danger to the community and is not a flight risk. Last week, they also filed a motion, asking the judge to completely acquit him or give him a new trial, arguing he was unfairly prosecuted based on the Mann Act, calling his conviction "unconstitutional". "This conviction stands alone, but it should not stand at all," Combs' attorney Alexandra Shapiro wrote in the 62-page memorandum. Other witnesses in the case, including Ventura, previously wrote letters to the judge, pleading for him to remain incarcerated, telling the court they would fear for their safety if he were released from jail ahead of his sentencing. Combs was physically violent on numerous occasions with Ventura, and photographic and video evidence of her being assaulted was shown to the jury throughout the trial, including 2016 hotel surveillance footage of Combs beating Ventura, which was first released by CNN. In his decision to deny Combs bail immediately after the verdict, the judge cited Combs' admitted pattern of violence in his relationships. - CNN
RNZ News
20 hours ago
- RNZ News
Hamas says it will allow aid for hostages if Israel halts airstrikes
By Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Jaida Taha , Reuters A woman carries a plastic container at Mustafa Hafez school, sheltering Palestinians displaced by the war, after the school was hit during an Israeli strike in Gaza City. (File photo) Photo: AFP / Omar Al-Qattaa Hamas said it was prepared to coordinate with the Red Cross to deliver aid to hostages it holds in Gaza, if Israel meets certain conditions, after a video it released showing an emaciated captive drew sharp criticism from Western powers. Hamas said any coordination with the Red Cross is contingent upon Israel permanently opening humanitarian corridors and halting airstrikes during the distribution of aid. According to Israeli officials, 50 hostages now remain in Gaza, only 20 of whom are believed to be alive. Hamas, thus far, has barred humanitarian organizations from having any kind of access to the hostages and families have little or no details of their conditions. On Saturday, Hamas released its second video in two days of Israeli hostage Evyatar David . In it, David, skeletally thin, is shown digging a hole that, he says in the video, is for his own grave. The arm of the individual holding the camera, which can be seen in the frame, is a regular width. The video of David drew criticism from Western powers and horrified Israelis. France, Germany, the UK and the US were among countries to express outrage and Israel's foreign ministry announced that the UN Security Council will hold a special session on Tuesday morning on the issue of the situation of the hostages in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had asked the Red Cross to give humanitarian assistance to the hostages during a conversation with the head of the Swiss-based ICRC's local delegation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: AFP A statement from The Hostages Families Forum, which represents relatives of those being held in Gaza, said Hamas' comments about the hostages cannot hide that it "has been holding innocent people in impossible conditions for over 660 days," and demanded their immediate release. "Until their release," said the statement, "Hamas has the obligation to provide them with everything they need. Hamas kidnapped them and they must care for them. Every hostage who dies will be on Hamas's hands." Six more people died of starvation or malnutrition in Gaza over the past 24 hours, its health ministry said on Sunday as Israel said it allowed a delivery of fuel to the enclave, in the throes of a humanitarian disaster after almost two years of war. The new deaths raised the toll of those dying from what international humanitarian agencies say may be an unfolding famine to 175, including 93 children, since the war began, the ministry said. Egypt's state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV said two trucks carrying 107 tons of diesel were set to enter Gaza, months after Israel severely restricted aid access to the enclave before easing it somewhat as starvation began to spread. COGAT, the Israeli military agency that coordinates aid, said later in the day that four tankers of U.N. fuel had entered to help in operations of hospitals, bakeries, public kitchens and other essential services. There was no immediate confirmation whether the two diesel fuel trucks had entered Gaza from Egypt. Gaza's health ministry has said fuel shortages have severely impaired hospital services, forcing doctors to focus on treating only critically ill or injured patients. Fuel shipments have been rare since March, when Israel restricted the flow of aid into the enclave in what it said was pressure on Hamas militants to free the remaining hostages they took in their October 2023 attack on Israel. Israel blames Hamas for the suffering in Gaza but, in response to a rising international uproar, it announced steps last week to let more aid reach the population, including pausing fighting for part of the day in some areas, approving air drops and announcing protected routes for aid convoys. U.N. agencies say airdrops are insufficient and that Israel must let in far more aid by land and open up access to the territory to prevent starvation among its 2.2 million people, most of whom are displaced amidst vast swathes of rubble. COGAT said that during the past week over 23,000 tons of humanitarian aid in 1,200 trucks had entered Gaza but that hundreds of the trucks had yet to be driven to aid distribution hubs by U.N. and other international organisations. Meanwhile, Belgium's air force dropped the first in a series of its aid packages into Gaza on Sunday in a joint operation with Jordan, the Belgian defence ministry said. France on Friday started to air-drop 40 tons of humanitarian aid. The Hamas-run Gaza government media office said on Sunday that nearly 1600 aid trucks had arrived since Israel eased restrictions late in July. However, witnesses and Hamas sources said many of those trucks have been looted by desperate displaced people and armed gangs. More than 700 trucks of fuel entered the Gaza Strip in January and February during a ceasefire before Israel broke it in March in a dispute over terms for extending it and resumed its major offensive. Palestinian local health authorities said at least 80 people had been killed by Israeli gunfire and airstrikes across the coastal enclave on Sunday. Deaths included persons trying to make their way to aid distribution points in southern and central areas of Gaza, Palestinian medics said. Among those killed was a staff member of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, which said an Israeli strike at its headquarters in Khan Younis in southern Gaza ignited a fire on the first floor of the building. The Gaza war began when Hamas killed more than 1200 people and took 251 hostage in a cross-border attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, according to Israeli figures. Israel's air and ground war in densely populated Gaza has since killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to enclave health officials. - Reuters
RNZ News
21 hours ago
- RNZ News
Trump trade tariff decision came 'blunt and late', Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the 15 percent trade tariff is "not what he wanted". Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii The decision by US President Donald Trumo to hit New Zealand exporters with a 15 percent tariff came "blunt and late", the Prime Minster says. Speaking to Morning Report, Christopher Luxon said the tariff, which had been expected to be at 10 percent, being at a higher percentage was "not what New Zealand wanted". "We disagree with tariffs," Luxon said, "the president is pretty fixed on his views and unlikely to change." "The decision came pretty blunt and late." Despite this, top diplomat Vangelis Vitalis was flying to Washington in the wake of the announcement, with Trade Minister Todd McClay intending to visit in coming days too. Luxon said prior to the announcement New Zealand had "really constructive" conversations with the US about trade, and the decision had been made close to the announcement. Despite the higher tariff, Luxon said the government had "played it well". "We continue to register our disappointment about the decision, we've also done it since April." He believed New Zealand exporters were "nimble and agile" and there was still huge demand for New Zealand products and services globally. But the opposition, said the 15 percent tariff was a "slap in the face" for exporters. Labour's trade spokesperson Damien O'Connor told Morning Report , it was a major fail for the government and noted other leaders managed to cut deals that kept tariffs at lower rates. "This is a disadvantage relative to our competitors," he said. "There is a strong demand for our beef in the US, but this will start to squeeze the market." O'Connor said New Zealand would be competing head-to-head with other countries like Australia, Argentina and Uruguay who all had 10 percent tariffs. "That's going to be tough... That's going to hurt." Kate Acland, chairperson of Beef and Lamb New Zealand agreed competing countries having a lower tariff rate would hurt New Zealand. "I think the key is we're on a different rate to many of our competitors," she told Morning Report , "this is more than $300 million additional hit if it can't be passed on to the consumers." "It will have an impact, this is quite significant." Acland said New Zealand was "one of the good guys" who played by the rules when it came to trade, but perhaps the reason for the higher tariff was that it didn't have much to bring to the negotiating table. "There's quite a queue to negotiate over there, I think the strategy was right, it'd hard to know what we could have done. Kate Acland, chairperson of Beef and Lamb New Zealand said the US needed New Zealand meat exports. Photo: © Clare Toia-Bailey / "Going over there now is the right thing to do." Acland said there was a global shortage of protein, particularly beef, so the US did need New Zealand meat exports. "They need that lean beef so we do have a good story to tell there on the beef side. She believed exporters would be okay, but it did put them at disadvantage. Felicity Roxburgh, director of the International Business Forum agreed New Zealand was now at a disadvantage. She told Morning Report , exporters had done a really good job t absorbing the cost so far, but only time would tell what the impact of 15 percent would be. "We can't invent new markets overnight as an exporter it takes time to invest... There not endless headroom to pass the price to consumers." She said she welcomed Vitalis heading to Washington to try and press New Zealand's case. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
