Ghislane Maxwell’s brother claims New York prison stay ‘amounts to torture’

An insider close to Ghislane Maxwell says the former socialite and Jeffrey Epstein co-conspirator is struggling with life behind bars and prison’s “basically inedible” food.

The prison life of disgraced British socialite Ghislane Maxwell “amounts to torture”, according to new claims by her brother.

Speaking with the BBC, Maxwell’s brother Ian criticised the facility, calling the conditions “degrading”, saying the food served to his sister each day is “basically inedible”, and claiming his sister had been “in effective isolation” since she arrived at the facility in July 2020.

“There is no natural light, she is under 24-hour round-the-clock surveillance with 10 cameras, including one that moves and tracks her movements,” Mr Maxwell said.

Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Picture: Getty

59-year-old Maxwell, who is facing multiple charges relating to child trafficking and the abuse of minors is currently housed at New York’s infamous Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, where her former boyfriend and alleged criminal partner Jeffrey Epstein was housed before taking his own life.

Mr Maxwell also claimed the water being given to his sister was “brown” and said the strict conditions were effecting her eyesight, ability to concentrate, and had not allowed her sister to adequately prepare for her upcoming trial.

Despite the tribulations of prison life, Mr Maxwell said his sister was “resolute” in fighting the charges made against her.

Jeffrey Epstein’s Manhattan mansion has sold for almost $64 million. Picture: Kevin Hagen/Getty

Ms Maxwell is set to stand trial in July, but is still seeking bail. Two earlier requests for bail have been denied, with the French, UK and US passport holder being deemed a flight risk.

Lawyer Gloria Allred, who is defending multiple alleged victims of Maxwell and Epstein, said bail should be “out of the question”.

“I know Miss Maxwell is probably suffering in jail, nobody likes being in jail, nobody likes having their freedom restricted, but I really think bail should be out of the question, it would be very upsetting to the victims,” she said.

The condemnation of Maxwell’s living conditions come as it was revealed Jeffrey Epstein’s Manhattan mansion had sold for just under $64 million.

Ghislane Maxwell’s brother has complained about his sister’s priso stay. Picture: Laura Cavanaugh / Getty / AFP

Mr Epstein originally purchased the Upper East Side property for $25 million in 1998, and over the years hosted some of the most powerful men in the world, including Prince Andrew and former US president Bill Clinton.

When searched by police following claims of child abuse, law enforcement found hundreds of nude photographs of children as well as a number of bizarre objects including a taxidermied poodle.

Cash from the sale of the property will be put towards a compensation fund for Epstein’s victims. Further funds are expected to come from the sale of Mr Epstein’s Palm Beach estate, which is near Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Largo estate. The question of selling Mr Epstein’s international properties – including homes in New Mexico, Paris, and the island of Little St James – are still in question.