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

Bondi clashes with Democrats over Maxwell's prison transfer and potential pardon

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Attorney General Pam Bondi told members of Congress that Ghislaine Maxwell "will hopefully die in prison" after being pressed on allegations that Maxwell was receiving special treatment, including a controversial transfer to a minimum security prison. Bondi faced heated questioning from Democratic Rep. Deborah Ross about who approved Maxwell's transfer and whether the president should pardon or commute her sentence, but Bondi did not directly answer the questions and instead changed the subject.

Why it matters

The case of Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's alleged co-conspirator in sex trafficking crimes, has been a source of controversy and scrutiny. Bondi's comments about Maxwell's fate in prison and her evasiveness in answering questions about the transfer and potential pardon have raised further questions about the administration's handling of the high-profile case.

The details

Maxwell, who is 64 years old, has been incarcerated since her arrest in July 2020 and would be in her mid-to-late 70s when her sentence ends. She was moved from FCI Tallahassee in Florida, a "low security" prison, to FPC Bryan in Texas, a "minimum security" camp, two weeks after a private meeting with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Rep. Deborah Ross pressed Bondi on who approved the transfer, but Bondi said she learned of it after the fact and that it was a question for the Bureau of Prisons. Bondi also scolded Ross for not discussing a separate homicide case in the congresswoman's home state.

  • Maxwell was arrested in July 2020.
  • Maxwell was moved to a minimum security prison two weeks after meeting with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

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 her involvement with Jeffrey Epstein.

Todd Blanche

The Deputy Attorney General of the United States and a former personal attorney to President Trump.

Deborah Ross

A Democratic Congresswoman from North Carolina who questioned Bondi about Maxwell's prison transfer and potential pardon.

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, Congresswoman (wondradio.com)

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

— Pam Bondi, Attorney General (wondradio.com)

What’s next

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

The takeaway

The case of Ghislaine Maxwell continues to raise questions about the administration's handling of high-profile cases involving alleged sex traffickers. Bondi's comments and evasiveness in answering questions have further fueled concerns about potential special treatment for Maxwell and the broader issues surrounding the Epstein investigation.