Ghislaine Maxwell’s Lawyer Says She Was ‘Physically Abused’ By Guard In New York Jail

In a letter to the federal judge overseeing Maxwell’s case, reported by Associated Press, attorney Bobbi Sternheim claimed her client was “physically abused” during a routine search and was “threatened with disciplinary action” when she said she would report the incident. 

Sternheim said Maxwell was days later “ordered” to scrub bathroom walls as punishment and her requests to have the event recorded were denied.

Sternheim said Maxwell was suffering under the prison’s strict 24/7 surveillance and oversight, reportedly in place after Maxwell’s former partner Epstein died by suicide in prison. 

Sternheim said Maxwell has been physically searched around 1,400 times in the seven months she has been in the jail and has a flashlight pointed at her cell every 15 minutes between 6:30a.m. and 9:30p.m.

“She is withering to a shell of her former self—losing weight, losing hair, and losing her ability to concentrate,” Sternheim wrote in a letter. 

“In addition to the many difficulties impacting her review of electronic discovery materials, the over-management and stress are impacting her stamina and effectiveness in preparing her defense and conferring with counsel,” her lawyer said.