Representatives Robert Garcia and Jamie Raskin have requested a congressional inspection of Bryan Federal Prison Camp, where Ghislaine Maxwell is incarcerated, citing whistleblower reports of preferential treatment and alleged sexual abuse by staff. The lawmakers say Attorney General Pam Bondi quietly authorized Maxwell's transfer to the lower-security facility and that the DOJ and BOP have not substantively responded to access requests. The letter details specific claims of special privileges for Maxwell and allegations of retaliation against those who report misconduct. A congressional delegation plans to visit next month and has asked the DOJ Inspector General to join.
House Democrats Demand Visit to Prison Holding Ghislaine Maxwell Amid Preferential‑Treatment and Abuse Allegations
House Democrats request prison visit where Maxwell is held
Two senior House Democrats have formally asked the Department of Justice to allow a congressional inspection of Bryan Federal Prison Camp (FPC Bryan) in Texas, where Ghislaine Maxwell is serving her sentence. In a letter shared with The New York Times, Representatives Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said they received whistleblower reports alleging both special treatment for Maxwell and widespread sexual misconduct and retaliation at the facility.
Lawmakers' Request and Context
The lawmakers noted that Attorney General Pam Bondi quietly authorized Maxwell's transfer to the lower-security camp last year. Democrats have criticized the move, arguing it may have limited Maxwell's ability to provide information. The Department of Justice and the Trump administration have denied that former President Trump was involved in Epstein-related crimes; the letter from Garcia and Raskin frames the transfer as one factor raising oversight concerns.
Allegations of Preferential Treatment
Garcia and Raskin allege Maxwell received unusually favorable conditions compared with other inmates, describing a pattern they call "selective five-star treatment." Among the reported privileges are unsupervised laptop access, retention of more personal and legal possessions than typical inmates, and access to staff-only areas to watch television alone. The members contend these privileges are "astonishing and unprecedented" and may have originated at senior levels.
Whistleblower Claims of Sexual Abuse and Retaliation
Since the Judiciary Committee first sought to visit FPC Bryan, the lawmakers say they have received whistleblower reports alleging "widespread sexual abuse and misconduct" by staff. The letter cites accusations naming a supervising medical professional, a senior law enforcement officer, and a prison chaplain among alleged perpetrators. Some whistleblowers say victims who reported abuse were transferred to higher-security facilities or forced to continue working alongside accused staff.
"Indeed, FPC Bryan whistleblowers report a regime of silence, fear, intimidation, and retaliation at the institution that permeates daily life at the camp and prevents individuals from coming forward with misconduct," Garcia and Raskin wrote.
Oversight Request and Next Steps
The lawmakers said the DOJ and the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) "have refused even to substantively respond" to the Judiciary Committee's requests for access, making a congressional oversight visit "urgently necessary." Garcia and Raskin said a congressional delegation plans to visit the prison next month and requested that the DOJ Inspector General's Office accompany and brief the group during the inspection.
The Hill reported that it contacted the Department of Justice and the BOP’s Bryan office for comment; this article reflects the claims made in the lawmakers' letter and whistleblower reports, which are allegations that have not been independently verified in this report.
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