Maxwell complains about conditions in prison

NEW YORK — The reaction of federal prison officials to Jeffrey Epstein’s suicide last year is to blame for onerous conditions a British socialite faces in jail while awaiting trial on charges that she procured teenage girls for Epstein to abuse a quarter-century ago, her lawyers said Tuesday.

Through the lawyers, Ghislaine Maxwell, 58, asked a judge to help improve her treatment in a Brooklyn federal lockup, saying “uniquely onerous conditions” limit her computer access and frustrate her ability to provide for a trial scheduled for next July.

They said she should be housed in the general population at the Metropolitan Detention Center rather than under restrictions that would limit her time outside her cell to three hours a day.

“As a result of what occurred with Mr. Epstein, Ms. Maxwell is being treated worse than other similarly situated pretrial detainees, which significantly impacts her ability to prepare a defence and be ready for trial,” the lawyers wrote.

They said she is watched around-the-clock by security cameras and multiple prison guards, including individuals who do not seem to be usual staff workers.

“These prison guards constantly observe Ms. Maxwell and take notes on her every activity, including her phone conversations with defence counsel,” they said. “Until recently, Ms. Maxwell was subjected to suicide watch protocols, including being woken up every few hours during the night and being forced to wear special clothing.”