Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) is turning up the heat on the Epstein scandal, launching a new investigation into why convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell was quietly moved to a cushy, low-security prison — a transfer that appears to break federal rules.
Maxwell, who’s serving 20 years for sexually abusing and trafficking girls with Jeffrey Epstein, was recently sent to one of the Bureau of Prisons’ least restrictive facilities. That type of prison is meant for non-violent, first-time offenders or inmates close to release — not someone convicted of exploiting children.
“Sexual predators shouldn’t be afforded preferential treatment,” Reed said.
On Friday, Reed sent a formal letter to BOP Director William Marshall demanding answers. He’s asking whether the transfer was made at the request of Donald Trump or any of his former officials.
“Earlier this week, BOP transferred Ms. Maxwell to… the least restrictive facility operated by BOP,” Reed wrote, stressing that such a move would have required high-level approval. “A serious felon can be transferred to a minimum-security prison camp only after the personal approval by the Chief of the BOP’s Designation and Sentence Computation Center, who ultimately reports to you.”
Making things more suspicious, Trump’s former personal lawyer — Todd Blanche — met with Maxwell just days before the transfer. Blanche now holds a top job at the Department of Justice.
Reed isn’t buying that this is routine. “Ms. Maxwell’s victims and the taxpayers are owed an explanation of why BOP undertook this highly unusual transfer,” he said.
The senator is now openly questioning whether political pressure is being used to reclassify a convicted predator as a low-risk inmate — and if protecting Trump’s reputation is being prioritized over public safety.
“These circumstances raise serious questions… about whether BOP is being politically pressured into reclassifying a violent felon as a low security risk against all evidence,” Reed warned.
Epstein died in federal custody in 2019, awaiting trial during Trump’s first term — with then-Attorney General Bill Barr overseeing the Justice Department at the time.
Trump had once promised to release all government records tied to Epstein — but never did. Reports suggest his name appears repeatedly in the files. He has also refused to rule out a pardon for Maxwell.
Reed has given BOP a deadline: respond by August 20 — and come clean about why Maxwell got a deal no one else would.
