Inside Ghislaine Maxwell's jail life as she seeks to overturn conviction

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As Jeffrey Epstein’s most notorious accomplice and former girlfriend is angling to have her felony conviction dropped, a have a look at Ghislaine Maxwell’s life behind bars might supply clues about her motivations exterior of jail.

Maxwell has reportedly rebranded herself whereas serving out her two-decades-long sentence for her involvement in Epstein’s intercourse crimes.

"I did a double take, as a result of I acknowledged her face instantly from the information," Jessica Watkins, a former Oath Keeper who was imprisoned in the identical low-security Florida facility as Maxwell, instructed the Daily Mail . "I used to be like, ‘Is that who I feel it's?’"

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Ghislaine Maxwell procured underage victims for Jeffrey Epstein. (Patrick McMullan)

Watkins was initially sentenced to eight.5 years in jail for her involvement within the assault on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Her sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump on his first day again in workplace earlier this yr.

"My pal who was with me was like, ‘I do not know - who's it?’" Watkins mentioned. "I caught her up on the scenario. Began asking round and it was undoubtedly her."

She and Maxwell would converse often — usually whereas the pair have been exercising within the open-air jail yard — with Maxwell solely mentioning her case once in a while, Watkins instructed the outlet.

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"We don’t discuss instances as inmates as a result of folks will suppose you’re a snitch," Watkins defined. "It’s an unstated rule amongst inmates. You don’t ask."

Nonetheless, Watkins reportedly might solely recall one time when Maxwell talked about Epstein.

"She did say that the DOJ had no real interest in her till after, her precise phrases have been till after Jeffrey, after which she paused for a second and mentioned ‘died,’" Watkins mentioned. "That was the one time he ever got here up."

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WATCH: President Donald Trump explains why he kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago Throughout the pair’s time collectively in jail, Watkins seen Maxwell "didn’t appear unduly anxious" whereas behind bars, including, "She appeared very comfy, very calm and approachable."

Her reportedly calm demeanor is sensible to former Palm Seaside County State Legal professional Dave Aronberg, who was elected into workplace six years after Epstein’s case concluded.

"The opposite inmates know who she is and why she’s behind bars," Aronberg instructed Fox Information Digital. "I’m positive a number of the opposite inmates have their arms out. They need the commissary cash. They need a free training from her, no matter she will present."

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A deposition that British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell gave in 2016 referring to her dealings with the late Jeffrey Epstein is pictured within the Manhattan borough of New York Metropolis, New York, U.S., October 22, 2020. (REUTERS/Carlo Allegri)

Whereas in jail, Maxwell provides authorized recommendation and lessons to her fellow inmates, usually serving to people entry the mandatory types associated to their case and dealing within the legislation library, in keeping with Watkins.

"She was very involved about peoples’ medical well-being," Watkins mentioned. "So she did have that sort aspect to her."

She additionally reportedly targeted her free time on studying books, engaged on her personal case or understanding — foregoing the jail’s tv privileges.

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Nonetheless, her work behind bars might point out an try to win over her fellow inmates’ favor whereas leveraging her academic background, in keeping with Aronberg.

"She had standing when she was not behind bars," Aronberg mentioned. "She took that into the jail facility together with her, and she or he is utilizing that."

Watkins additionally described how she and Maxwell discovered a friendship of their option to not partake in drug use whereas locked up.

"We prevented many of the inmates [because] they have been excessive on a regular basis, and we didn’t wish to be round that," Watkins instructed The Day by day Mail. "[Maxwell] would gravitate in the direction of individuals who have been additionally sober."

Watkins' legal professional didn't instantly reply to Fox Information Digital's request for remark.

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On this courtroom sketch, Ghislaine Maxwell confers together with her protection legal professional Jeffrey Pagliuca, proper, earlier than testimony begins in her sex-abuse trial, in New York, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. (AP Picture/Elizabeth Williams)

Maxwell’s reported choice to not use leisure medicine whereas in jail could possibly be a bigger transfer to stay out of bother whereas she makes a bid for freedom, in keeping with Aronberg.

"An inmate’s good conduct gained’t affect their potential to get a brand new trial," Aronberg instructed Fox Information Digital. "But it surely does affect their potential to get clemency."

Aronberg pointed to Maxwell’s two days of conferences with Deputy Legal professional Common Todd Blanche final week, as President Donald Trump commented on his potential at hand the convicted felony a pardon.

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"It is a convicted intercourse trafficker," Aronberg mentioned. "That is somebody who dedicated sexual assault on minors. That is somebody who's indicted for perjury. And but, she acquired a non-public viewers with the No. 2 individual on the DOJ. Had she been much less of a mannequin prisoner behind bars, maybe the administration would not be dashing to satisfy together with her and consider her in what she's saying."

Blanche spent almost two days at a federal courthouse in Tallahassee interviewing Maxwell, who answered questions "about 100 totally different folks," in keeping with her legal professional.

"She by no means invoked a privilege," David Oscar Markus instructed reporters on Thursday. "She by no means refused to reply a query, so we’re very happy with her."

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Jeffrey Epstein was going through federal intercourse trafficking prices stemming from years of abuse of minors. (Rick Friedman/Corbis)

The talks come as a Home committee subpoenaed Maxwell to testify in a congressional deposition over her data of the scope of Epstein’s crimes, whereas lawmakers proceed to demand the DOJ arms over recordsdata associated to the case.

Nonetheless, Aronberg urges warning from federal prosecutors when taking Maxwell’s phrases at face-value.

"If you happen to're a mannequin prisoner behind bars, then prosecutors usually tend to consider that you just actually are attempting to do the fitting factor, you are reformed and you're telling the reality this time round," Aronberg mentioned. "But it surely's onerous to disregard the truth that she is a liar."

On Monday, Maxwell’s authorized group submitted a quick asking the U.S. Supreme Courtroom to listen to her attraction of her federal sex trafficking conviction , citing the federal government’s "obligation to honor" an settlement struck by Epstein that ought to have shielded Maxwell from any felony prices.

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Federal prosecutors have argued the deal solely utilized in Florida, finally ruling out Maxwell’s case in New York.

"Nobody is above the legislation — not even the Southern District of New York," Markus mentioned in an announcement. "Our authorities made a deal, and it should honor it. The US can not promise immunity with one hand in Florida and prosecute with the opposite in New York."

Markus went on to appeal to Trump , who has beforehand mentioned he has the ability to pardon Maxwell however has "not thought of" doing so.

"President Trump constructed his legacy partially on the ability of a deal—and certainly he would agree that when the USA provides its phrase, it should stand by it," Markus mentioned. "We're interesting not solely to the Supreme Courtroom however to the President himself to acknowledge how profoundly unjust it's to scapegoat Ghislaine Maxwell for Epstein’s crimes, particularly when the federal government promised she wouldn't be prosecuted."

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The DOJ didn't instantly reply to Fox Information Digital’s request for remark.

Maxwell is at present serving a 20-year sentence for her position in Epstein’s scheme to sexually abuse quite a few younger women. She is anticipated to testify underneath oath on Aug. 11 at or close to the federal jail she is at present serving her sentence in.

"Jeffrey Epstein couldn't do what he did with out Ghislaine Maxwell," Aronberg mentioned. "She’s no sufferer. She is the satan’s confederate."

Julia Bonavita is a U.S. Author for Fox Information Digital and a Fox Flight Group drone pilot. You possibly can observe her at @juliabonavita13 on all platforms and ship story tricks to julia.bonavita@fox.com.