Ghislaine Maxwell Seen Inside Her Prison Cell in Newly Released Epstein Files Footage
New footage included in the latest batch of Epstein-related files has revealed what life looked like for Ghislaine Maxwell inside her prison cell.
Maxwell, 64, was a close associate of convicted child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, who died in jail in 2019. His death was ruled a suicide, though speculation has continued for years, with some figures, including his brother Mark, insisting he was murdered before he could face trial on multiple charges.
The release of millions of documents tied to Epstein’s case has triggered renewed attention worldwide. Among them is surveillance footage showing Maxwell during her early days in custody.
Footage verified by Channel 4 News reportedly includes a snippet taken from 10 hours of surveillance video recorded in July 2020, shortly after Maxwell was arrested. At the time, the FBI had located her at a $1 million home in New Hampshire, where she was taken into custody and transported to the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn. She was detained on July 2, 2020.
The video shows Maxwell wearing an orange prison jumpsuit inside a stark concrete cell, surrounded by white walls and a worn grey floor. In the footage, she is seen taking a sip of a drink, tidying her bed, and later lying down, yawning, and reading a book. A small crate sits beside her, containing items that appear to include another set of clothes.
At the time the footage was recorded, Maxwell was awaiting a bail decision. On July 14, 2020, she pleaded not guilty to all charges but was denied bail, facing a possible sentence of up to 35 years.
Later that year, on December 28, a judge rejected a $28.5 million bail package after determining Maxwell posed a flight risk. The proposal reportedly included allowing her to return home under armed guard supervision to prevent her from escaping.
During that period, her lawyers also claimed she was subjected to frequent checks. They said guards were performing invasive searches of her cell every 15 minutes to ensure she was still alive.
Maxwell was eventually convicted in 2021 on multiple charges, including conspiracy to transport minors for illegal sex acts and sex trafficking. She is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.
After her conviction, her living conditions reportedly changed again. She was held in a 10ft by 8ft cell shared with three other inmates at the Tallahassee Federal Correctional Institution in Florida.
In August 2025, Maxwell was moved to a low-security Bryan prison camp outside Houston, Texas. The move sparked backlash from her victims, who criticised what some described as a “cushy” transfer. The relocation reportedly came amid concerns she could be targeted or killed.
The developments have also fueled political attention. Republican House Oversight Chairman James Comer announced on January 21 that the committee planned to depose Maxwell.
‘I agree that we need to hear from Ghislaine Maxwell,’ Comer said. He added that a date had been set: February 9. However, Comer noted her legal team has indicated she will not cooperate.
“Our lawyers have been saying that she’s going to plead the fifth, but we have nailed down a date, February 9, where Ghislaine Maxwell will be deposed by this committee,” he said.
Comer added: ‘I hope she changes her mind, because I want to hear from her,’ while acknowledging her attorneys have “made it clear that she’s going to plead the fifth.”