Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, is transferred to a prison camp in Texas
The federal Bureau of Prisons said Friday that Maxwell had been transferred to Bryan, Texas, but did not explain the circumstances. Her attorney confirmed the move but also declined to discuss the reasons for it.
Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. She had been held at a low-security prison in Tallahassee, Fla., until her transfer to the prison camp in Texas, where other inmates include Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes and Jen Shah of 'The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.'
Minimum-security federal prison camps house inmates the Bureau of Prisons considers to be the lowest security risk. Some don't even have fences.
The prison camps were originally designed with low security to make operations easier and to allow inmates tasked with performing work at the prison, such as landscaping and maintenance, to avoid repeatedly checking in and out of a main prison facility.
Maxwell's case has been the subject of heightened public focus since an outcry over the Justice Department's statement last month saying that it would not be releasing any additional documents from the Epstein sex trafficking investigation.
Since then, administration officials have tried to cast themselves as promoting transparency in the case, including by requesting from courts the unsealing of grand jury transcripts.
Maxwell was interviewed at a Florida courthouse over two days last week by Deputy Atty. Gen. Todd Blanche.
The House Oversight Committee has separately said that it wants to speak with Maxwell. Her lawyers said this week that she would be open to an interview but only if the panel were to give her immunity from prosecution for anything she said.
Tucker writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Michael Balsamo contributed to this report.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Poll Shows Widespread Disapproval and Suspicion of Trump's Handling of Epstein Files
Americans are overwhelmingly skeptical of Donald Trump's handling of information related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. In a new UMass Amherst national poll, 70 percent of respondents said Trump is not handling the Epstein case well, while only 18 percent said he is. Among respondents who were aware of Epstein, the deceased billionaire and convicted sex offender, 63 percent agreed that the Trump administration 'is hiding important information' about the case. Of those who said the administration is hiding information, a staggering 81 percent blamed Trump for it. Others in Trump's orbit also received blame, including Attorney General Pam Bondi (59 percent), FBI Director Kash Patel (49 percent), and House Speaker Mike Johnson (47 percent). Just 16 percent blamed Democrats in Congress. The president's overall approval rating also took a dive to 38 percent, down six points since April. This new data seems to back up reports that Trump has lost significant ground with his MAGA base over the Epstein issue. He came to power in part because his followers believed he would root out corruption and the deep state. But as news continues to break about his years-long friendship with Epstein amid reports that Trump is named multiple times in the files, the president's credibility is fading. Fifty-nine percent of poll respondents aware of Epstein said they believe he and Trump were 'once good friends.' Trump isn't helping himself either. He complained last week that Epstein 'stole' one of his victims from her job at Trump's Mar-a-Lago property. And the Bureau of Prisons under Trump recently transferred Epstein's longtime partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, to a lower-security facility after she met with Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche. Her move to a less strict prison has drawn scrutiny, considering Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. When asked about what Maxwell and Blanche discussed, Trump said he thought Blanche 'just wants to make sure that innocent people aren't hurt' in case the Epstein documents are released. The administration, seeking to quell discontent and citing 'abundant public interest,' has asked two judges to release grand jury testimony from hearings to indict of Maxwell and Epstein on sex trafficking charges. But the administration is still facing pressure to release other documents the Justice Department possesses related to the case. Despite the administration's claims that no list of Epstein clients exists, 70 percent of poll respondents said they believe there is such a list. Attorney General Pam Bondi released a memo last month announcing that following an 'exhaustive review,' DOJ officials decided there was not evidence of an 'incriminating 'client list.'' That's despite Bondi herself saying in February that the list was 'sitting on my desk right now to review' when asked about it on Fox News. Trump, growing frustrated with his supporters criticizing him over Epstein, lashed out in a post on Truth Social last month: '[Democrats'] new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this 'bullshit,' hook, line, and sinker… Let those weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work,' he wrote. 'Don't even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don't want their support anymore.' Tatishe Nteta, director of the UMass Poll, tells Rolling Stone, 'What was once a discussion held on the fringes of American politics has in recent weeks become center stage, with stories concerning Epstein garnering immense coverage in newspapers and cable news programs. Americans have been paying attention as a whopping 96 percent of Americans have read, seen, or heard something about Jeffrey Epstein.' He adds, 'Given the widespread belief that President Trump has mishandled the release of information in this case and that the Trump administration is hiding information pertaining to the Epstein case, this controversy has the potential to do untold damage to the MAGA movement and a Republican Party already facing an uphill battle in the 2025 and 2026 midterm elections.' A Republican strategist familiar with Trump's political operation told NBC News last week that the Epstein issue could harm Republicans at the polls in 2026. 'This is a major problem and could hurt turnout in the midterms,' the strategist said. 'It signals betrayal to those who believed the president would expose the deep state. His team made promises, then doubled down.' 'For the base that believes the deep state is real and that Epstein was part of it, this feels like the ultimate knife in the back,' the strategist added. More from Rolling Stone Texas Democrats Flee State to Block Trump and Republicans' Gerrymandering Plan Trump Is Very Mad at Charlamagne Tha God for Talking About Epstein Campaign Promise Broken? Trump Has No Plans to Mandate IVF Coverage Best of Rolling Stone The Useful Idiots New Guide to the Most Stoned Moments of the 2020 Presidential Campaign Anatomy of a Fake News Scandal The Radical Crusade of Mike Pence
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Trump Is Very Mad at Charlamagne Tha God for Talking About Epstein
Donald Trump is angry and lashing out at radio host and author Charlamagne Tha God after the host spoke on Fox News about the Jeffrey Epstein scandal and speculated it would cause a Republican Party 'coup.' Trump lashed out, calling Charlamagne a 'a Low IQ individual' who 'has no idea what words are coming out of his mouth, and knows nothing about me or what I have done' in a Truth Social post very early Sunday morning. (In case you were wondering whether Trump is racist when slinging his 'low IQ' insult, here is a list of other people he has recently called 'low IQ': Vice President Kamala Harris, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Rep. Al Green.) 'I think traditional conservatives are going to take the Republican Party back,' Charlamagne said in an interview with the president's daughter-in-law on her Fox News program, My View with Lara Trump. 'I think there's a political coup going on right now in the Republican Party that people aren't paying attention to. I think this Epstein thing is going to be a way for traditional conservatives to take their party back, I really do. 'They know this is the issue that has gotten the base riled up,' he said. 'The MAGA base isn't letting this issue go, and for the first time, they know they can probably take their party back and not piss off the MAGA base.' Charlamagne also told Lara Trump that he would vote again for Kamala Harris if given the chance. 'The very wonderful and talented Lara Trump, whose show is a big ratings success, put racist sleazebag Charlamagne 'The God' (Why is he allowed to use the word 'GOD' when describing himself? Can anyone imagine the uproar there would be if I used that nickname?)' Trump wrote. Trump has been in hot water with his base since the FBI and DOJ concluded in a memo last month that 'no further disclosure' of the Epstein files 'would be appropriate or warranted.' Trump and members of his administration had previously suggested they would release the contents of the files, including details about the billionaire sex trafficker's death by suicide in prison. Along with the memo, the administration released surveillance footage from outside Epstein's cell around the time of his death, but one minute was suspiciously missing. Since the memo's release, new details have emerged about the president's close friendship with Epstein as well as information that Trump himself is named in the files. Trump even said last week that Epstein 'stole' one of his victims from Mar-a-Lago, Trump's resort and spa, where she worked. Raising even more suspicion, the DOJ has been meeting with Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell and made the unprecedented move of transferring her to a minimum security facility while she serves a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. Meanwhile, the Republican speaker of the house sent lawmakers home for a recess to avoid a vote on releasing the files, even though the speaker himself has called for the files to be made public. Last month, the House voted to block their release. Charlamagne also said that he hasn't seen significant changes for the better since Trump took office. 'Right now people are hurting!' he said. 'He campaigned on immediate change. Day one change.' 'And you don't think you've felt any change?' Lara Trump asked. 'No,' Charlamagne said. More from Rolling Stone Poll Shows Widespread Disapproval and Suspicion of Trump's Handling of Epstein Files Texas Democrats Flee State to Block Trump and Republicans' Gerrymandering Plan Campaign Promise Broken? Trump Has No Plans to Mandate IVF Coverage Best of Rolling Stone The Useful Idiots New Guide to the Most Stoned Moments of the 2020 Presidential Campaign Anatomy of a Fake News Scandal The Radical Crusade of Mike Pence
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
GOP lawmakers caution Trump, Bondi on Maxwell pardon
Republican lawmakers are cautioning President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to be very careful about granting a pardon to Ghislaine Maxwell, the Jeffrey Epstein confidante, or commuting her 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. Republican senators are waving the caution flag after Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Maxwell in Florida recently to gather more information on what she knows about Epstein's illicit activities. The meeting came while Trump and Bondi were under pressure from MAGA-aligned activists to order the Justice Department to release all of its files related to Epstein. GOP lawmakers say that Trump and Bondi need to proceed carefully on any decision to pardon Maxwell or lighten her sentence for sexually exploiting teenage girls. They worry it could be seen as rewarding her for making statements to distance the president from Epstein's activities, or further fuel conspiracy theories about a government cover-up to protect powerful people who were in Epstein's orbit. 'It's ridiculous that he would consider shortening a sentence for somebody who aided and abetted sexual trafficking as she did,' said a Republican senator who requested anonymity to comment on the sensitive topic. 'She's trafficking underage children. I can't imagine anything she could say could nullify her heinous crimes,' the senator added. The senator said Maxwell has incentive to 'lie' to reduce her sentence. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said that Maxwell has lied under oath before, citing the perjury charge that was filed against her for making false statements during a civil deposition in 2016. 'They ended up dropping the perjury charge against her but we know she's a liar because even though they dropped that charge — because it was a lesser charge — she demonstrated that she lied,' he said. 'What will a demonstrated liar do if they know that they can get a break? Lie more?' 'I don't think that her testimony is worth the paper it's written on because she's a liar,' he said. 'She also exploited young girls.' 'I think she's not a trustworthy witness,' he added. 'She has a vested interest in lying so she can get relieved of some amount of her 20-year sentence.' Blanche, the No. 2-ranking official at the Justice Department, met with Maxwell on July 24 and July 25 to discuss Epstein's crimes and other individuals who may have been involved in them. He wrote on social media that 'no one is above the law — and no lead is off limits.' Maxwell has told House lawmakers that if she were to receive clemency, she would testify 'openly and honestly' before Congress about Epstein, according to a letter her attorney David Markus sent to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Markus told ABC News that Maxwell did not ask Blanche for a pardon but confirmed that she is seeking 'relief' from her prison sentence. Maxwell's attorneys are asking the Supreme Court to overturn her 2021 conviction. Prison officials confirmed on Friday that they moved Maxwell from a federal prison in Florida to a lower-security federal prison camp in Texas, where inmates are allowed to move around relatively freely. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said she has 'no idea what to expect out' of the conversations between Maxwell and the Department of Justice but questioned if she could provide any new evidence that would merit a pardon or a significant reduction of her sentence. 'Just because she comes and gives testimony doesn't necessarily mean [she] should be given any kind of a pardon, I don't think. There's a lot more that has to be looked at,' she said. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said the president and the attorney general would need to come up with a strong explanation for pardoning Maxwell or commuting her sentence. 'I honestly think it would be difficult' to grant Maxwell a pardon or sentence reduction, he said. 'But, once again, it's a prerogative that every president has on a federal crime.' 'If these are federal crimes, the president has the ability' to offer a pardon or approve clemency, he said. 'Every executive officer has to make up their own mind and then they have to be able to justify how they did it, and why they did it.' Rounds, a former governor, said pardons and paroles can be a good thing, but the executive, whether the president or a governor, has 'to know the reason why you're giving a pardon. If Maxwell gets a lighter sentence, Trump 'would have to explain why,' he said. 'On a political basis, you just simply have to explain your actions and justify your actions,' he added. Rounds observed the difficulty of justifying leniency toward Maxwell is 'probably one of the reasons it would be difficult to do in the first place.' Trump told Newsmax on Friday that he hasn't been asked to grant Maxwell a pardon, but he noted he has the power to do so. 'I'm allowed to do it, but nobody's asked me to do it,' he said. 'I know nothing about the case.' Trump said he thought that Blanche, his former defense attorney, was meeting with Maxwell 'to make sure that innocent people aren't hurt' if the Justice Department releases the Epstein files. The president has faced backlash from activists in his MAGA base after the Justice Department and the FBI announced in an unsigned memo last month that it would not release additional information and denied the existence of an Epstein client list, even though Bondi said in February that the list was sitting on her desk. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Bondi and her deputy told Trump in May that his name was in the Epstein files. Democrats have sought to use the Epstein controversy against Republicans and Trump. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) has demanded an all-senators briefing on the Epstein files and criticized Blanche for meeting with Maxwell. 'There is every reason to fear that Donald Trump could offer Ghislaine Maxwell a pardon in exchange for silence, or even worse, phony exoneration,' Schumer said on the Senate floor. 'Let me be clear: Trump is sending his personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, to try and execute a corrupt cover-up, potentially offering leniency to a woman who also abused the victims,' he said. 'Enough. Enough. Enough with the hiding. Enough with the excuses. And enough with the cover-up.' Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) last week expressed skepticism that a pardon for Maxwell is on the table. Asked if Trump should rule out pardon, Thune said, 'That's up to him but it looks to me like she's going to spend a good, long time in jail.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
