Ghislaine Maxwell: Imprisoned Epstein confidante given paper clothes and denied bedsheets over suicide fears
Ghislaine Maxwell, a confidante of Jeffery Epstein who was arrested by the FBI last week, has reportedly been given paper clothes and denied bedsheets during her incarceration over fears she may try to kill herself.
The Justice Department claims it has implemented strict safety protocols to ensure that Ms Maxwell remains alive. Federal officials not associated with the Bureau of Prisons are enacting measures to ensure Ms Maxwell does not kill herself and that other prisoners do not kill her.
The intense security surrounding Ms Maxwell is a response to the criticism the Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons and federal investigators took following the death of Epstein while incarcerated in New York City.
Epstein allegedly killed himself while incarcerated in a federal jail in Manhattan last year after being arrested on sex trafficking charges. Since then, conspiracy theories have spread regarding the disgraced financier's death. At the time of his apparent suicide, he was one of the highest profile prisoners on the planet.
Attorney General William Barr said Epstein's death was the result of a "perfect storm of screw ups" by the federal agencies.
Ms Maxwell was arrested last week on six counts of sex trafficking charges involving minors that allege she lured girls in to be sexually abused by Epstein. In addition to her part in Epstein's sex trafficking ring, she was formerly his girlfriend and - like Epstein - has been a fixture among the US and British ruling class for at least two decades. Their friends included Donald Trump, Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew. The Duke of York has denied allegations by Virginia Giuffre that he had sex with her when she was 17.
Ms Maxwell has been described as Epstein's "chief enabler" by some of Epstein's victims.
According to the Associated Press, while she is in prison, she will not be allowed to be alone. A roommate has been placed in her cell and she is being monitored at all times.
Ed Gavin, a former New York City Department of Corrections deputy warden, appeared on Tucker Carlson's Fox News show and argued that Ms Maxwell should be moved to Rikers Island for her own safety.
"I don't think the feds can handle these prisoners, such high-profile prisoners like Maxwell or Epstein," Mr Gavin said. "If I were William Barr, what I would do is, I would seek to obtain a substitute jail order and I would try to have Ms Maxwell placed on Rikers Island with the New York City Department of Corrections."
Mr Gavin said the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where Ms Maxwell is currently being held, was "notorious for the sexual abuse of female inmates".
Ms Maxwell has not entered a plea, but has consistently maintained her innocence in the past.
Read more
Ghislaine Maxwell hires lawyer who helped prosecute gangster El Chapo
