Ghislaine Maxwell becomes first New York City inmate to get in-person visit from lawyer since pandemic began, reports say
British socialite has been detained in solitary confinement without bail since early July
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Ghislaine Maxwell is the first prisoner in the city of New York to be visited by a lawyer since the start of the pandemic.
The British socialite received the visit ahead of inmates who have been waiting far longer in federal facilities in both Manhattan and Brooklyn, where she is detained.
She is charged with abetting Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse of young girls.
Covid-19 social distancing and lockdown rules have prevented visits for close to six months, but the New York Daily News reports that two of her attorneys visited her on Friday.
Attorney Sean Hecker, who is involved in a legal case over visits and conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Centre, where Ms Maxwell is being held, told TV channel CNBC he knows that it is the first visit.
“It is outrageous that the first in-person visit would be granted to a well-heeled British socialite who the president of the United States stated that he wished well,” said Mr Hecker.
“It only serves to confirm that our government doesn’t understand that they operate two different systems of justice, one for the well-heeled and well-connected, and one for everyone else.”
Mr Hecker said federal officials have been discussing one-hour visits from one lawyer for inmates at the jail, but Ms Maxwell had a three-hour visit from two of her legal team.
The US Bureau of Prisons says it does not comment on specific inmate’s conditions of confinement or visits but that pandemic protocols remain in place.
A statement clarifies: “While in general legal visits are suspended, case-by-case accommodations will be accomplished at the local level and confidential legal calls will be allowed in order to ensure inmates maintain access to counsel. We are facilitating attorney client-visitation, as well as judicial proceedings, via video conference, primarily at our detention centres.”
Ms Maxwell has pleaded not guilty to charges of recruiting and grooming underage girls, as young as 14 years old, to be abused by Epstein. She has been held without bail in solitary confinement since the beginning of July.
The Independent has asked the Bureau of Prisons for comment.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments