London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Sep 20, 2026

Ghislaine Maxwell learning Russian in jail as she faces life behind bars

Ghislaine Maxwell learning Russian in jail as she faces life behind bars

GHISLAINE Maxwell is "learning Russian behind bars to keep sane" as she faces spending the rest of her life in jail for child sex trafficking.

Predator Maxwell, 60, has been given access to a laptop for a few hours every day to learn the language through a CD course, it is understood.

Child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell is "learning Russian behind bars to keep her sanity"


She already speaks French, Italian and Spanish, the Mail on Sunday reports.

Maxwell is now learning her fifth language to "maintain her sanity" as her lawyers file for a retrial weeks after a court found she procured, groomed and trafficked young girls for her ex-lover Jeffrey Epstein.

Her attorney's have requested her sex trafficking conviction be overturned after a juror failed to disclose he was sexually abused as a child before the trial.

The socialite is in solitary confinement on suicide watch in New York as she awaits sentencing later this year - with guards shining a torch into her cell every 15 minutes.

She is only allowed paper clothes, cannot have a pen nor paper and books are off limits.

But guards have allowed her to learn Russian via a CD for short periods of time every day.

A source told the paper: "It’s helping her to keep her mind focused. Studying is helping maintain her sanity."

Last month, Maxwell was found guilty of sex trafficking and grooming girls for paedophile Epstein to abuse, with the pair described as “partners in crime”.

The jury of six women and six men convicted her on five out of six counts as she was found not guilty of enticing a minor to engage in an illegal sex act after more than 40 hours of deliberation.

But prosecutors said earlier this month there were "incontrovertible grounds" for a new trial after comments made by juror Scotty David.

David, who sat during the three-week trial in New York, revealed he told the jury about his own abuse as a child during deliberations, potentially affecting the verdict.

David was the first of two jurors who revealed they had experienced sexual abuse themselves and the role that sharing it played in deliberations.

He first told DailyMail.com that he had not revealed this history during jury selection because it had not been asked on the juror questionnaire.

When it was pointed out that question 48 of 50 asked exactly that question, he told the publication he did not remember, but had answered all questions "honestly".

'PARTNERS IN CRIME'


In a letter filed in Federal Court earlier this month, US State Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, wrote: "In particular, the juror has described being a victim of sexual abuse.

"Assuming the accuracy of the reporting, the juror asserted that he 'flew through' the prospective juror questionnaire and does not recall being asked whether he had been a victim of sexual abuse, but stated that 'he would have answered honestly'."

The letter was signed off by all four prosecutors and asked for a hearing to be scheduled within the month.

Asked about Maxwell's conviction, David previously told the Independent: “For those who testified, for those who came forward and for those who haven’t come forward. I’m glad that Maxwell has been held accountable.

“This verdict shows that you can be found guilty no matter your status.”

Prosecutors, who have requested an inquiry into the juror's statements is conducted, will have until February 2 to respond to Maxwell's motion.

U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan last week scheduled Maxwell's sentencing hearing for June 28.

Last month, Maxwell was found guilty of sex trafficking and grooming girls for paedophile Epstein to abuse

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Addison Lee Founder Loses £20 Million UK Tax Tribunal Case
BrewDog Creditors Face Losses on About £190 Million of Debt
Harrods Seeks to Recover Abuse Compensation Costs From Mohamed Al Fayed’s Estate
Ed Davey Targets Reform UK as Liberal Democrat Conference Opens
Great Britain Retail Sales Rise 0.5% in August
NHS England Approves Life-Extending Treatment for Incurable Breast Cancer
Proposals to Limit NHS ADHD Diagnoses Draw Criticism From Patient Groups
Resolution Foundation Warns of Housing Cost Crunch for Low-Income UK Families
BBC Cash Reserves Fall to Decade Low as Annual Deficit Reaches £121 Million
Millisecond Software Error Triggered Major UK Air Traffic Control Disruption
Twenty Women Underwent Unnecessary Mastectomies During NHS Cancer Care
Sensitive UK Police Data Found Vulnerable to Access by Foreign Actors
British Steel Faces Renewed Pressure for a Long-Term Financial Plan
MPs Urge Government to End Thames Water Restructuring Talks With U.S. Hedge Funds
Andy Burnham Warns of Difficult UK Budget Choices as Inflation Returns to 3.1%
England Tightens School Food Standards With Restrictions on Deep-Fried and High-Sugar Foods
Oxfordshire Village Votes Symbolically to Leave UK Over Proposed Asylum Centre
Michael Marra Elected Leader of Scottish Labour
BBC Cash Reserves Fall Sharply as Financial Pressures Mount
George Osborne Calls for UK to Rejoin EU Customs Union
UK Explores Joining Canada-Led Global Defence Bank
Thirlwall Inquiry Highlights Management Failures Surrounding Lucy Letby Crimes
Parliamentary Committee Calls for New UK Law to Address AI Risks to Human Rights
UK Considers Giving Regional Mayors Greater Oversight of Water Companies
UK Opposition Presses Burnham for Stronger Response to Russian Security Threats
Reform UK Faces Scrutiny Over £72 Million in Donations as Political Finance Rules Tighten
Millisecond Software Failure Behind UK Air-Traffic Outage That Cancelled More Than 2,000 Flights
Bank of England Holds Interest Rate at 3.75% as Energy Prices Complicate Inflation Outlook
Burnham Warns of Difficult Choices in October Budget as UK Inflation Rises to 3.1%
Addison Lee Founder Loses £20.5 Million Non-Domicile Tax Case
BrewDog Creditors Face Heavy Losses After Collapse
Thirteenth Metropolitan Police Officer Dismissed Over Charing Cross Conduct
Oxfordshire Village Votes Symbolically to Leave UK Over Asylum Accommodation Plan
NHS Approves Life-Extending Treatment for Women With Incurable Breast Cancer
Software Defect Blamed for Major UK Air Traffic Disruption
Twenty Women Underwent Unnecessary Mastectomies at County Durham NHS Trust
British Steel Costs Taxpayers £1.3 Million a Day as MPs Demand Long-Term Plan
UK Parliament Advances Sovereign Grant Reform Setting Royal Funding at £99.9 Million
King Charles Urges Human-Centred Approach to Artificial Intelligence at Scotland Summit
House of Lords Begins Scrutiny of Voting-Age and Political Finance Reforms
UK Labour Market Shows Growing Divide Between Younger and Older Workers
Nearly Seven in 10 UK Small Businesses Delay or Cancel Growth Plans as Costs Rise
Andy Burnham Reaffirms UK Net-Zero Target Amid North Sea Energy Debate
UK Parliament Demands Credible Financial and Decarbonisation Plan for British Steel
MPs Urge Government to Reject Thames Water Rescue Deal and Prepare Special Administration
Bank of England Holds Rate at 3.75% as Energy Shock Raises Inflation Risks
TUC Calls for Social Energy Tariff Funded by Higher Taxes on Bank Profits
UK Parliament Enters Conference Recess After Advancing Sovereign Grant Legislation
King Charles Hosts Artificial Intelligence Leaders at Dumfries House Summit
Nearly Seven in Ten UK Small Businesses Delay or Cancel Growth Plans as Costs Rise
×