Attorney General Bondi says Ghislaine Maxwell 'will hopefully die in prison'

Bondi clashed with Democratic lawmakers over Maxwell's controversial prison transfer to a minimum security facility.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Attorney General Pam Bondi told members of Congress that Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of child sex trafficking and other offenses related to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, "will hopefully die in prison." Bondi faced heated questioning from Democratic Rep. Deborah Ross about who approved Maxwell's transfer from a low-security prison in Florida to a minimum-security camp in Texas. Bondi claimed she was not involved in the decision and tried to change the subject, at one point scolding Ross for not discussing a separate murder case in her home state.

Why it matters

The Epstein scandal and the treatment of his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell have been a major political controversy, with questions about whether Maxwell is receiving special treatment from the administration. Bondi's combative testimony highlights the partisan divisions over the case and the ongoing fallout from the Epstein investigation.

The details

Ghislaine Maxwell, who is 64 years old, was convicted in 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison for child sex trafficking and other offenses related to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Two weeks after a private meeting with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Maxwell was transferred from a low-security prison in Florida to a minimum-security camp in Texas, a move that has drawn scrutiny. During a House Judiciary Committee hearing, Rep. Deborah Ross pressed Bondi on who approved the transfer, but Bondi did not directly answer and instead tried to change the subject, at one point saying Maxwell "will hopefully die in prison."

  • In July 2020, Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested.
  • In 2021, Maxwell was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
  • Two weeks after a private meeting with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Maxwell was transferred from a low-security prison in Florida to a minimum-security camp in Texas.
  • On February 11, 2026, Attorney General Pam Bondi testified before the House Committee on the Judiciary.

The players

Pam Bondi

The Attorney General of the United States.

Ghislaine Maxwell

A 64-year-old woman who was convicted in 2021 of child sex trafficking and other offenses related to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

Todd Blanche

The Deputy Attorney General of the United States.

Deborah Ross

A Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina.

Iryna Zarutska

A woman who was the victim of a homicide in Charlotte, North Carolina in September.

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What they’re saying

“She should not be in that prison. She needs to be moved back to a maximum security prison as soon as possible.”

— Deborah Ross, U.S. Representative

“She will hopefully die in prison, hopefully will die in prison.”

— Pam Bondi, Attorney General

What’s next

The judge overseeing Ghislaine Maxwell's case will decide whether to allow her to remain in the minimum-security prison or order her transfer back to a higher-security facility.

The takeaway

The controversy over Ghislaine Maxwell's prison transfer highlights the ongoing political tensions and partisan divisions surrounding the Epstein scandal and the treatment of his co-conspirators. The heated exchange between Bondi and Rep. Ross underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability in the justice system's handling of high-profile cases involving powerful individuals.