Inmates Report Transfer After Speaking About Ghislaine Maxwell at Texas Prison

Inmates at Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas said they were transferred to a higher-security federal detention center in Houston after speaking to news outlets about Ghislaine Maxwell and her treatment at the minimum-security facility. Several prisoners told CNN they were moved immediately after giving interviews about the convicted sex offender, who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.

Others reported being screamed at and berated by the warden after complaining about Maxwell's alleged favorable treatment at the camp known as Club Fed. One inmate who had been serving a sentence for financial crimes said she was called in after speaking with a reporter last August.

She said the warden asked what she was thinking, told her that her phone had been ringing all weekend, and stated that the inmate had ruined her weekend and should not have talked to reporters. The inmate said the warden rolled her eyes, flipped her hair back and declared it was too late for apologies before leaving.

She was transferred to the Houston facility, which holds male and female inmates of varying security levels, later that day. Prison incident reports cited disruptive conduct, mail abuse and contacting the public without authorization.

“Somebody in my dorm made a comment: 'You know, this is what happens when you bring a pedophile to a camp.' And the warden started screaming: 'Don't ever make that comment. I never want to hear you say that again.'”

Another inmate who did not want to be identified said she was also transferred to Houston after speaking with a reporter last September about Maxwell's arrival. She said the warden berated her in the main cafeteria in front of other prisoners despite her insistence that she had not shared negative information about Maxwell.

The inmate said the warden told her she was jeopardizing the safety of staff and interfering with an FBI investigation. Additional inmates from the Bryan camp arrived at the Houston facility over time and reported being moved for the same reason.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons faced public criticism last year after it was revealed that Maxwell had been transferred to the low-security camp. Minimum-security federal prison camps are designated for inmates the bureau considers to be the lowest security risk.

Maxwell is currently held at the Houston detention center. Inmates there have spoken with news outlets about conditions involving the prisoner, who is scheduled to remain behind bars until 2037.