WASHINGTON, DC – Donald Trump has a well-documented decades long relationship with federal inmate number 02879-509, a British socialite and child sex trafficker named Ghislaine Maxwell.

On July 2, 2020, the FBI tracked Ms. Maxwell to a secluded home in New Hampshire and arrested her. She was subsequently charged, convicted, and began serving a 20-year sentence for multiple counts of child sex trafficking in June of 2022. Now she is reported to be actively seeking a potential pardon or commutation of her sentence from the president.

Since the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell case was first investigated twenty years ago, it has centered on predators in power and the ability of the wealthy and well-connected to sexually abuse over 80 young women while avoiding accountability and escaping justice.

Now, after his previous requests for information were ignored for months and stonewalled by the Trump Administration, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) is asking an independent watchdog at the U.S. Department of Justice to open an investigation into the unprecedented favorable treatment of federal inmate number 02879-509, who, despite being a sex offender who is just a few years into her sentence, has been transferred from a Federal Correctional Institution in Tallahassee, Florida, to the minimum security Federal Prison Camp Bryan – better known as ‘Club Fed’ in Bryan, Texas.

The mysterious transfer came just days after extensive meetings with President Trump’s Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who previously represented Trump as his personal lawyer.

Senator Reed wants the public to know: “who requested that Ms. Maxwell be transferred to a prison camp; identifying which officials granted approval; and specifying which rules or procedures were waived or invoked to effectuate the transfer.” Reed is also asking the IG’s office to determine “whether any DOJ officials played any role in, or engaged in any communication with BOP regarding, Ms. Maxwell’s security designation and custody classification.”

This month, DOJ officials requested that a Federal judge in New York release grand jury testimony from investigations into both Maxwell and Epstein. But the release of these materials would only amount to a fraction of the 300 gigabytes of Epstein-related material that DOJ and FBI officials themselves have previously stated they have in their possession, but have not yet been made publicly available.

Last month, Congress enacted legislation requiring that DOJ release all unclassified documents, records, and communications related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell by December 19.

This is not the first time the media has reported on favorable behind the scenes treatment factoring into the Epstein case.

After making a controversial deal in 2008 with the then-U.S. attorney in Miami -- who went on to become a cabinet member of President Donald Trump’s first Administration – Jeffrey Epstein was convicted and sentenced in Florida on state prostitution charges even though federal prosecutors in South Florida had enough evidence to fill a 53-page federal indictment on sex trafficking charges and other crimes. Epstein served just 13 months before he was released. He was arrested again in 2019 on sex-trafficking charges.

Full text of Reed’s letter to the Acting Inspector General follows:

Mr. Don R. Berthiaume, Acting Inspector General

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20530

Dear Acting Inspector General Berthiaume:

I write to request that you open an investigation into the favorable treatment of convicted child sex trafficker and sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell, including her transfer to a minimum security prison camp, following her meeting with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on July 24.

On August 6 and October 23, I wrote to Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director William Marshall seeking a formal explanation for Ms. Maxwell’s transfer along with any justifying documentation. Those letters are enclosed. He has yet to respond to the questions I raised in these letters. But on September 16, FBI Director Kash Patel testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee that BOP made the decision to transfer Ms. Maxwell.

Given the highly unusual circumstances surrounding Ms. Maxwell’s transfer and the enactment of a bipartisan law championed by victims of Ms. Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein requiring disclosure of information regarding their criminal conduct, I ask that you open an investigation covering the following issues, among others:

1. Identifying officials at the Department of Justice (DOJ), BOP, or elsewhere, who requested that Ms. Maxwell be transferred to a prison camp; identifying which officials granted approval; and specifying which rules or procedures were waived or invoked to effectuate the transfer.

2. Determining whether any DOJ officials played any role in, or engaged in any communication with BOP regarding, Ms. Maxwell’s security designation and custody classification.

3. Determining whether, in connection with her meeting with Mr. Blanche or otherwise, any inducements, incentives, or conditions were offered to Ms. Maxwell concerning her treatment or her sentence. If so, specify what was required of Ms. Maxwell in return.

4. Determining how frequently BOP independently exercises discretion to redesignate and reclassify inmates convicted of the same crimes as Ms. Maxwell in manner that results in a lower security level, and what role DOJ typically plays in BOP’s exercise of this discretion.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

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