What is document EFTA00030487?

This is an internal DOJ email chain from November 2020 between federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York. The emails discuss drafting an update letter to Judge Alison Nathan regarding Ghislaine Maxwell's detention conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn.

Who is mentioned in this document?

The document mentions Judge Alison J. Nathan (the presiding judge), Ghislaine Maxwell (the defendant), Nicole McFarland and Sophia Papapetru (MDC officials), and references Prince Andrew. The prosecutors' names are redacted but they worked at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.

What does this document reveal?

The document reveals the behind-the-scenes coordination between federal prosecutors and MDC officials regarding Maxwell's complaints about her detention conditions. It shows Maxwell was claiming staff photographed her cell, that a COVID-positive employee was still working, and that her attorney believed constant surveillance was causing her mental health to deteriorate. This provides insight into the government's process for verifying and responding to defendant complaints before court filings.

Why was Ghislaine Maxwell under such strict surveillance?

Maxwell was placed under heightened surveillance following Jeffrey Epstein's death by suicide in August 2019 while awaiting trial at a federal facility. Prosecutors and prison officials were determined to prevent a similar outcome. Maxwell was monitored 24 hours a day, searched multiple times daily, and awakened every 15 minutes to check if she was breathing.

What happened with Maxwell's complaints about jail conditions?

Maxwell's attorneys filed numerous complaints with Judge Nathan about 'uniquely onerous' conditions, comparing her treatment to that of convicted terrorists. The Bureau of Prisons defended its practices as necessary for her safety. Judge Nathan ordered the government to provide 90-day status updates on Maxwell's conditions but denied requests to summon the warden for direct questioning.

What is document EFTA00030487?

This is an internal DOJ email chain from November 2020 between federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York. The emails discuss drafting an update letter to Judge Alison Nathan regarding Ghislaine Maxwell's detention conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn.

Who is mentioned in this document?

The document mentions Judge Alison J. Nathan (the presiding judge), Ghislaine Maxwell (the defendant), Nicole McFarland and Sophia Papapetru (MDC officials), and references Prince Andrew. The prosecutors' names are redacted but they worked at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.

What does this document reveal?

The document reveals the behind-the-scenes coordination between federal prosecutors and MDC officials regarding Maxwell's complaints about her detention conditions. It shows Maxwell was claiming staff photographed her cell, that a COVID-positive employee was still working, and that her attorney believed constant surveillance was causing her mental health to deteriorate. This provides insight into the government's process for verifying and responding to defendant complaints before court filings.

Why was Ghislaine Maxwell under such strict surveillance?

Maxwell was placed under heightened surveillance following Jeffrey Epstein's death by suicide in August 2019 while awaiting trial at a federal facility. Prosecutors and prison officials were determined to prevent a similar outcome. Maxwell was monitored 24 hours a day, searched multiple times daily, and awakened every 15 minutes to check if she was breathing.

What happened with Maxwell's complaints about jail conditions?

Maxwell's attorneys filed numerous complaints with Judge Nathan about 'uniquely onerous' conditions, comparing her treatment to that of convicted terrorists. The Bureau of Prisons defended its practices as necessary for her safety. Judge Nathan ordered the government to provide 90-day status updates on Maxwell's conditions but denied requests to summon the warden for direct questioning.

EFTA00030487 - EFTA00030488

An internal DOJ email from November 23, 2020, between federal prosecutors discussing a letter to Judge Alison Nathan about Ghislaine Maxwell's detention conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC).

This document reveals internal communications between Assistant United States Attorneys in the Southern District of New York regarding Ghislaine Maxwell's pretrial detention. The prosecutors are coordinating their response to Maxwell's complaints about MDC conditions, including alleged COVID-19 exposure from a staff member and guards entering her cell to photograph it. The email chain shows the government was verifying Maxwell's claims before filing an official letter with the court, and references concerns from Maxwell's attorney about her deteriorating mental health due to constant surveillance.

Key Highlights

•Prosecutors asked MDC officials to verify Maxwell's claim that a COVID-positive staff member was still working at the facility
•Maxwell reported that a guard entered her cell while she was inside and photographed it
•Maxwell's attorney reported her mental health was 'deteriorating significantly' due to constant surveillance
•Maxwell complained of being awakened multiple times per night by lights shining in her eyes
•The document shows coordination between prosecutors and MDC staff (Nicole McFarland, Sophia Papapetru) on Maxwell's detention conditions

Frequently Asked Questions

Books for Further Reading

Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story

Julie K. Brown

Investigative journalism that broke the Epstein case open

Filthy Rich: The Jeffrey Epstein Story

James Patterson

Bestselling account of Epstein's crimes and network

The Spider: Inside the Tangled Web of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell

Document Information

Bates Range

EFTA00030487 - EFTA00030488

Pages

Document Content

Page 1 - EFTA00030487

From: Cc a (USANYS)' <SI To: Subject: RE: Questions re Maxwell Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2020 15:50:24 +0000 Attachments: 2020-11-23_GM_Ietter update_re_MDC_conditions_v2.docx Good morning, Attached is the final version of the letter to Judge Nathan This is the final version that we plan to file. Please let me know ASAP if anything in this letter is inaccurate. Thanks very much, Assistant United States Attorney Southern District of New York 1 St. Andrew's Plaza New York. NY 10007 From: (USANYS) Sent: Sunday, November 22, 2020 6:34 PM To: Cc: (USANYS) < Subject: RE: Questions re Maxwell Attached please find a draft update letter to Jud e Nathan. Please let me know b the end of the da tomorrow (11/23) if Also, if you could please get me responses to the two questions in my below email tomorrow, I'd be very grateful. Happy to have a call if that would be useful. Assistant United States Attorney Southern District of New York 1 St. Andrew's Plaza EFTA00030487

Page 2 - EFTA00030488

New York, NY 10007 From: Sent: Friday, November 20, 2020 2:34 PM To: Nicole McFarland c ).; Sophia Papapetru sca , Cc: (USANYS) Subject: Questions re Maxwell I just got a call froa and we discussed a number of issues regarding Maxwell. The two issues I wanted to follow up with you about are below: • Maxwell is reporting that a staff member named o. was part of the group that included a COVID positive individual but-is still working at the MDC. Would you please check on that for me? • Maxwell reported that a staff member entered her cell while she was inside it and took photographs of her cell today. Anything you can share with me about the purpose of that? More generall indicated that she believes Maxwell's mental health is deteriorating significantly because of the constant survei ance she is experiencing. She reports being awoken in the night by a light shining into her eyes multiple times a night, being searched more frequently than other inmates, and having a camera constantly pointed at her in a way that other inmates do not experience. Our office of course defers to BOP on decisions regarding what is necessary for safety and security, but I wanted to pass along the concern. Thanks, Assistant United States Attorney Southern District of New York I St. Andrew's Plaza New York NY 10007 EFTA00030488