Where is Ghislaine Maxwell? Why there are no pictures since her arrest

Since her arrest in early July, Ghislaine Maxwell has been away from the public eye leading many to wonder where the disgraced socialite is currently. Throughout her indictment, Maxwell pushed to be held in a luxury hotel rather than a federal lockup – a request that was never granted. 

Countless photos of Maxwell litter the internet, depicting her mingling with elite members of society & attending fashionable parties. Nowadays, we have access to only a few sketches in order to catch a glimpse of Ghislaine Maxwell. Her trial is still a year away, and it’s doubtful we’ll see any more of Maxwell during that time. Here’s why Ghislaine Maxwell won’t be seen for a while. 

Ghislaine Maxwell’s arrest 

On July 2, 2020, the FBI finally caught up to where Ghislaine Maxwell was hiding on a remote property in Bradford, New Hampshire aptly named “TuckedAway”. William Sweeney Jr. of the FBI stated, “We have been discreetly keeping tabs on Maxwell’s whereabouts, and more recently we learned she had slithered away to a gorgeous property in New Hampshire.”

At eight in the morning, FBI agents broke through the property’s locked outer gate and approached the house, announcing themselves and ordering Maxwell to open the door. Through a window, the agents saw Maxwell ignore the order, and retreat to a back room & shut the door. At half-past eight Maxwell was taken into custody without incident. 

No photos allowed 

Maxwell’s indictment on July 14 was her first appearance since her arrest. No mugshot of Maxwell has been released to the public, as mugshots can only be given to the media if it serves a legitimate legal purpose. Another reason is if police are seeking witnesses that know a suspect by their face rather than their name. 

A photo of Maxwell does appear in the indictment, however, no mug shot was used in order to avoid potentially influencing an impartial jury. The Department of Justice prevents a jury from seeing any material that could affect their idea of a defendant’s innocence or guilt. A photo is considered prejudicial material and is therefore governed by specific rules. For this reason, cameras are not allowed in courtrooms. 

Indictment & bail  

Maxwell faced a six-count federal indictment for her alleged involvement with Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking scheme. The charges included trafficking minors through multiple states. Prosecutors alleged Maxwell sought out underage girls and groomed them to perform sexual acts on Epstein. Maxwell was also accused of participating in the sexual abuse. 

Ghislaine Maxwell pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against her. Maxwell’s lawyers asked that she be let out on a $5 million bond and be allowed to stay in a luxury New York City hotel during the year she waits for trial. Prosecutors argued against allowing Maxwell bail, as she had already hidden financial resources of up to $20 million in U.S. & oversea accounts. 

Judge Alison Nathan denied Ghislaine Maxwell bail on the grounds she was too much of a flight risk, having various connections & resources at her disposal as well as French citizenship, a country that doesn’t have an extradition treaty with the U.S. 

Judge Nathan stated, “The combination of the seriousness of the crime, the potential length of the sentence, the strength of the government’s case at this stage, the defendant’s foreign connections, and the defendant’s substantial financial resources all create both motivation and opportunity to flee.” 

Where Ghislaine Maxwell is now 

Now Maxwell is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York where she will stay for the foreseeable future. During the indictment, Maxwell appeared in brown prison-issued clothes, although it was reported that she’s been dressed in paper garments while in her cell to avoid any suicide attempts. 

Prison life may prove to be exceedingly difficult for Maxwell due to her high-profile case, as well as the current danger of the spread of the coronavirus. Maxwell’s trial is scheduled for July 2021. If convicted, Ghislaine Maxwell could spend up to thirty-five years in prison.