Maxwell, 60, is to be sentenced in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to the sexual abuse of a minor and other charges related to a massive conspiracy to mistreat young girls with wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein. He is currently being held in a federal detention facility in Brooklyn.
Attorney Bobby Sternheim said in the letter that Maxwell was abruptly removed from the general population, sent to solitary confinement, and on Friday placed on suicide watch without psychological evaluation and “without justification”.
“I met Ms. Maxwell today…” Sternheim said in the letter. “He’s not suicidal.”
CNN has contacted the Bureau of Prisons for comment on why Maxwell was placed on suicide watch.
It is unclear whether Maxwell was placed on suicide watch because of his affair with Epstein.
Sternheim said a psychologist evaluated Maxwell on Saturday morning and determined she was not suicidal. The lawyer argues that Maxwell is unable to properly prepare for the sentence. A spokesman for the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment.
“If Ms. Maxwell remains under observation of suicide, is restricted from reviewing legal material prior to sentencing, becomes sleep-deprived, and is denied sufficient time to meet and be counselled, we may formally Will proceed for adjournment on Monday.” Sternheim said.
Federal prosecutors in a court filing Wednesday asked a judge to sentence Maxwell to 30 to 55 years in prison, arguing that he “opted to sexually abuse several underage girls.” Maxwell’s lawyers asked a judge last week to sentence him to between 4.25 and 5.25 years in prison, saying his difficult childhood made him vulnerable to Epstein and that he would not face a harsher sentence because of his actions. should do.
His confidant and ex-girlfriend Maxwell was arrested a year later and has been in prison ever since. Prosecutors say Maxwell helped Epstein set up a scheme to woo young girls into sexual relationships between 1994 and 2004.
He was found guilty in December of five federal charges, including: sex trafficking of a minor, carrying a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and three related counts of conspiracy. However, he would only be sentenced in three cases when the judge presiding over his case agreed that the two conspiracies he faced were repeated.