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Risk assessment must evolve to navigate digital asset M&A

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When a company acquires or merges with a digital asset business, they’re not just acquiring people, products, and intellectual property—they’re acquiring every onchain transaction that has ever occurred on that technology stack. These touchpoints could range from the mundane to high risk; from routine operational activity to exposure to sanctioned entities or opaque fund flows.

As traditional finance and digital asset markets continue to converge, mergers and acquisitions are gathering pace in both directions. Notable examples include Stripe’s $1.1 billion acquisition of crypto infrastructure company Bridge, and Ripple’s $1.25 billion purchase of prime brokerage Hidden Road. In 2024 alone, digital asset M&A volumes reached $15.8 billion, an incredible surge from just $1 billion in 2019.

In this converging market, digital footprints on the blockchain aren’t just background noise—they’re risk signals. Without proper onchain analysis, they can quickly become potential liabilities. Legacy frameworks, which focus on balance sheets, market position, leadership, and reputation factors, remain essential but don’t tell the whole story.

Without integrating traditional risk assessments with onchain data, businesses operate with an incomplete picture. This can be detrimental not just for the deal but also for wider trust and stability in the industry, especially when products are being developed at the nexus of fiat and crypto. That’s why today’s M&A deals require an evolved risk assessment.

### Onchain Data Is the Layer of Truth

Traditional risk assessments start with the fundamentals: order book depth, workforce structure and leadership stability, treasury and reserve transparency and reputation, as well as regulatory compliance—all central to traditional deal-making. However, this process alone is no longer sufficient for digital asset M&A.

Analyzing and understanding onchain data in combination with conventional methods is the only way to reveal certain risk pockets and operational red flags. In short, reconciling onchain insights with off-chain data is essential.

Consider this scenario: an assessment of a digital asset firm may pass standard reputational due diligence, with traditional compliance checks revealing no direct exposure to sanctioned jurisdictions or entities. These checks don’t account for the blockchain transactions’ decentralized or pseudonymous nature and may have no visibility into wallet transactions or previous DeFi activity.

Critical risks can be missed without integrating and analyzing onchain data. Historical transactions with high-risk wallets or protocols can indicate reputational and legal red flags. Mixers, for example, can be used as obfuscation tools to conceal the origin and destination of funds.

Further onchain analysis may uncover repeated treasury interactions with wallets tied to darknet marketplaces offering stolen data, money laundering services, or tools to conduct fraud. These onchain indicators represent more than compliance oversights; they introduce tangible reputational, financial, and legal risk, including potential penalties from regulators and other agencies.

This is just one example. Other onchain risk indicators can range from overexposure to a specific token to illiquid or highly concentrated positions, as seen with the collapse of crypto lender Celsius. Risks can also extend to unreliable technical infrastructure that could challenge future integrations.

Governance structure matters too. Onchain voting data can reveal which actors in an ecosystem truly direct and make decisions about the blockchain, further informing actual ownership and corporate structure.

### The Limits of Onchain Data Alone

Despite its apparent benefits, onchain data alone can miss critical off-chain exposures. In 2022, FTX appeared healthy. Blockchain data could have flagged certain risks like low liquidity in its token FTT, or the movement of large sums between FTX and Alameda Research. Still, it wouldn’t have revealed the core fraud—the commingling of customer funds by Sam Bankman-Fried and the false claim of solvency.

### Moving Toward a Hybrid, Holistic Approach

To understand the risks and opportunities in a digital asset M&A, off-chain data must supplement onchain risk signals to achieve a flexible and evolved risk management framework. This is the only way to adequately equip businesses to assess and identify risks originating from M&As.

Most importantly, this hybrid approach doesn’t replace legacy frameworks—it enhances them. A recent EY report found that 83% of institutional investors plan to increase allocations to digital assets. With that level of interest comes greater pressure to apply rigorous, fit-for-purpose oversight.

Data-first due diligence, combining onchain and off-chain signals, will be essential for assessing counterparties, managing integration, and safeguarding long-term value.

Trust remains the linchpin of successful M&A. Blockchain, with its immutable trails, is a powerful tool for building, confirming, and maintaining this trust. But this can only be achieved if the right data is being used and the right questions are being asked.

The future of finance depends on our ability to bridge old and new systems. That means evolving how we see and manage risks—meeting transparency with intelligence.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/tech/risk-assessment-must-evolve-to-navigate-digital-asset-ma/

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Beyond Meat (BYND) Stock: Earnings Report Looms After 77% Annual Decline

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**Beyond Meat Faces Mounting Pressure Ahead of Q3 Earnings Report**

Beyond Meat, Inc. (BYND) is set to announce its third-quarter earnings on November 11 after the closing bell. The plant-based protein maker is under increasing scrutiny, following a year marked by steep losses and declining sales.

**Analyst Expectations and Revenue Decline**

Analysts are forecasting Q3 revenue of $68.77 million—representing a 15.1% decline compared to last year’s third quarter. The company previously postponed this earnings report due to an impairment charge, further heightening investor concerns about its financial stability. Wall Street anticipates an adjusted loss of $0.43 per share for the quarter.

CEO Ethan Brown acknowledged “ongoing softness in the plant-based meat category” during Beyond Meat’s last quarterly update.

**Revenue Falls Across All Segments**

Last quarter presented a troubling outlook. Beyond Meat reported $74.96 million in revenue, missing analyst estimates by 8.6%. This marked a 19.6% year-over-year drop. U.S. retail sales took the hardest hit, falling 26.7% compared to the previous year. Domestic food service showed some resilience with 6.8% growth, but it wasn’t enough to offset declines elsewhere. In total, U.S. revenues dropped 20.4% to $43.96 million.

International markets mirrored these challenges, with retail revenues down 9.8% and food service falling 25.8%. For the first half of 2025, overall revenues declined 14.9% to $143.69 million. Beyond Meat has now missed Wall Street revenue expectations three times in the last two years.

Net losses reached $82.16 million for the first six months—an improvement on last year’s $88.84 million loss, but the company remains deeply unprofitable.

**Balance Sheet Raises Red Flags**

Beyond Meat’s financial position remains precarious. As of June, the company reported $103 million in cash against a stockholders’ deficit of $677 million. The current market cap stands at $552 million—a figure that appears optimistic given ongoing losses and negative equity.

The stock has dropped 77% over the last 12 months. However, shares rallied 25.6% in the month leading up to earnings, contrasting with the wider perishable food sector’s 3.6% decline over the same period. Analysts currently maintain a price target of $2.23 per share, while Beyond Meat stock trades at just $1.30.

Wall Street’s estimates have remained largely unchanged over the past 30 days.

**Industry Comparisons and Looking Ahead**

Other companies in the perishable foods space have fared better. Vital Farms posted 37.2% revenue growth, beating expectations by 3.7%. Pilgrim’s Pride grew revenue by 3.8% and topped estimates by 0.8%.

Beyond Meat has not issued full-year guidance for 2025. The company’s projected Q3 revenue is between $68 million and $73 million, another drop from Q3 2024’s $81 million.

The upcoming earnings call will be crucial for investors, as it will shed light on whether consumer demand for plant-based meat continues to weaken.
https://blockonomi.com/beyond-meat-bynd-stock-earnings-report-looms-after-77-annual-decline/

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Major privacy laws – including GDPR – could be downgraded to try and boost AI growth and cut red tape

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**European Proposal to Amend GDPR and Privacy Laws Expected Soon**

New developments suggest that anonymized data may no longer always be protected under current privacy regulations, marking a significant shift in European data protection policies.

According to documents obtained by Politico, the European Union is considering easing some privacy laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), to enhance European competitiveness and foster AI innovation. A major proposal, expected to be unveiled on November 19, 2025, could introduce a comprehensive ‘digital omnibus’ package aimed at simplifying technology laws across the region.

### Potential Changes to Data Privacy and AI Training

If passed, these changes might allow AI developers to process certain sensitive categories of data—such as political views, religion, and health information—for training purposes. Politico reports that pseudonymized data (data from which personally identifiable information has been removed) might no longer always be protected under GDPR. This could enable its broader use in AI training models.

Additionally, websites and apps could be granted wider legal grounds to track users beyond the usual consent requirements.

Despite these shifts, the proposed amendments are said to be “targeted” and technical, potentially leaving the core principles of GDPR intact. However, any modification to these relatively new and stringent privacy laws is likely to face significant political scrutiny.

### Opposition and Support Within Europe

Jan Philipp Albrecht, one of the architects of GDPR, has voiced strong concerns over the proposed changes, warning they could “[undermine] European standards dramatically.” He questioned whether this signals “the end of data protection and privacy as we have enshrined it in the EU treaty and fundamental rights charter.”

Several countries, including the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Austria, and Slovenia, have already expressed opposition to rewriting GDPR. On the other hand, Germany appears to support the proposed changes, while Finland has indicated openness to modifications that would boost European AI competitiveness.

### The Global Context

On a global scale, the EU’s strict data protection measures have been criticized for potentially holding Europe back in the race for AI development, especially compared to the rapid advancements seen in the United States and China.

European privacy regulators have previously delayed or blocked AI initiatives from major players like Meta, Google, and OpenAI to ensure compliance with existing laws. This ongoing tension highlights the delicate balance between innovation and privacy protection within the EU.

### What’s Next?

The European Commission has not yet made any official announcements regarding changes to GDPR or other privacy regulations. However, with expectations mounting for new proposals in the coming days, vigorous discussions are already underway—both in favor of and against potential reforms.

**Stay updated with TechRadar by clicking the Follow button!**
https://www.techradar.com/pro/major-privacy-laws-including-gdpr-could-be-downgraded-to-try-and-boost-ai-growth-and-cut-red-tape

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Strive (ASST) Stock: Insider Purchases $1.25 Million in Preferred Shares

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On November 5, 2025, Vivek Ramaswamy made a significant investment in Strive Inc., purchasing 15,625 shares of Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock at $80 per share for a total of $1.25 million. This transaction was part of Strive’s upsized underwritten public offering, as confirmed by a Form 4 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

### Strive’s Upsized IPO

Strive completed an upsized initial public offering (IPO) on the same day, raising approximately $160 million by selling 2 million shares of Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock at $80 each. This offering was larger than the initial plan, which targeted 1.25 million shares. The gross proceeds from the offering are earmarked for various corporate purposes, including acquisitions of Bitcoin and potential debt repayment. Settlement of the offering took place on November 10, 2025.

### Ramaswamy’s Holdings

Following this purchase, Vivek Ramaswamy’s total holdings in Strive have grown significantly. He now directly owns 113,877,916 Class B Common Stock shares, and an additional 28,378,826 Class B shares are held indirectly through his 2021 Irrevocable Trust. Combined, his direct and indirect holdings exceed 142 million Class B Common Stock shares, with the newly acquired preferred shares adding to his portfolio.

### Stock Performance and Market Activity

As of November 7, 2025, Strive’s stock (ticker: ASST) closed at $1.51, reflecting a market capitalization of roughly $141 million. The stock has delivered an impressive 208% year-to-date return.

Between November 6 and November 7, ASST’s price rose from $1.45 to $1.51, showing a 37.3% gain over two weeks despite some underperformance earlier in the quarter. Market activity has surged as well, with over 278,000 option contracts traded on November 7 alone, pushing the open interest to 3.48 million contracts. The stock’s 52-week trading range spans from $0.335 up to $13.42.

Strive’s shares experience notable volatility, trading with a beta of -0.71 and a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of -1.62 due to ongoing operational losses. Recent technical indicators place price support at $1.24 and resistance near $1.66.

### Corporate Developments

In addition to financial moves, Strive’s board has approved the removal of the maximum number of directors cap, effective December 31, 2025. This change lifts the previous limit of 11 directors, allowing the company greater flexibility in board appointments.

Ben Werkman has joined Strive as Chief Investment Officer, bringing experience from Swan Bitcoin, where he previously served. Werkman also founded a Bitcoin treasury advisory firm and has a background at KPMG. Under his leadership, Strive continues to pursue its Bitcoin-focused investment strategy, aiming to accumulate Bitcoin and enhance Bitcoin-per-share value. The company’s goal remains to outperform Bitcoin itself as a long-term investment benchmark.

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Vivek Ramaswamy’s recent investment and Strive’s strategic moves highlight the company’s commitment to growth in the Bitcoin sector amid robust market interest and evolving corporate governance.
https://blockonomi.com/strive-asst-stock-insider-purchases-1-25-million-in-preferred-shares/

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Tunisia vs Mauritania Prediction and Betting Tips | November 12th 2025

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Tunisia will square off against Mauritania in the first of three friendly games scheduled for this month on Wednesday. Following this match, the visitors will face Libya.

The Eagles of Carthage have been in good form recently, extending their winning streak across all competitions to four games last month. They defeated São Tomé and Príncipe in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and concluded their qualifying campaign with a 3-0 home triumph over Namibia three days later.

On the other hand, Al-Murabitun saw their unbeaten streak across all competitions end after five games in their previous outing, as they lost 4-0 to Senegal in their final World Cup qualifier last month. They also failed to score for the third consecutive match.

### Tunisia vs Mauritania Head-to-Head and Key Numbers

The two teams have faced each other 17 times in all competitions to date. Tunisia has remained unbeaten in these encounters, securing 13 wins. Their last meeting was during the group stage of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where the Eagles of Carthage recorded a comfortable 4-0 victory.

Interestingly, three of the last four meetings between the sides have seen over 2.5 goals scored. Mauritania have failed to find the net in six of their last seven games against Tunisia.

Notably, Tunisia’s only defeat across all competitions in 2025 came in a friendly match in June, a game in which they also failed to score. Meanwhile, Mauritania went winless in two friendlies last month, losing 2-1 to the Central African Republic and drawing 0-0 with Burkina Faso. The last two friendly meetings between Tunisia and Mauritania have produced under 2.5 goals.

### Tunisia vs Mauritania Prediction

The Eagles of Carthage enter this fixture on a four-game winning streak, having scored 13 goals without conceding. They are strong favorites to continue their dominant run. Tunisia has won three of their last four meetings with Mauritania, netting 12 goals and conceding just once.

Mauritania’s recent struggles in front of goal, failing to score in their last three matches, will be a concern. They also conceded four goals in their previous game, a heavy defeat not seen since their loss to Tunisia at the 2021 AFCON. Mauritania will be eager to improve on that record.

Given Tunisia’s strong recent home form and attacking prowess, they are expected to secure a comfortable home victory.

**Prediction: Tunisia 3-0 Mauritania**

### Tunisia vs Mauritania Betting Tips

– **Tip 1: Result** — Tunisia to win
– **Tip 2: Goals Over/Under 2.5 Goals** — Over 2.5 goals
– **Tip 3: Both Teams to Score** — No
– **Tip 4: At Least One Goal in the Second Half** — Yes
https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/tunisia-vs-mauritania-prediction-betting-tips-november-12th-2025

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GZDoom successor project UZDoom gets a first preview release

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After the GZDoom implosion, the remaining developers have split off to form UZDoom. The first preview release of UZDoom has now rolled out, featuring several essential improvements. This release serves as a direct follow-up to GZDoom 4.14.2, with UZDoom continuing the versioning from there, bumping it up to UZDoom 4.14.3.

As noted in the changelog, updating to this new version is considered *critical* due to multiple security fixes included in the update. Beyond security, UZDoom aims to address some historically contentious issues within the ZDoom community by adjusting several default settings to better reflect how Doom originally appeared. These changes also aim to simplify the user experience, which has become somewhat overwhelming with the numerous available options.

### Key Updates in UZDoom 4.14.3

– **Security Fixes:** Multiple security vulnerabilities have been patched, making this update highly recommended for all users.
– **New Game-Based Cursors:** Designed by Nash Muhandes, these cursors are more intuitive for pointing and clicking.
– **Balanced Defaults:** Default settings have been adjusted to strike a better balance between the vanilla Doom experience and modern enhancements.
– **Master Volume Adjustment:** The master volume has been lowered to prevent audio distortion and muffling, particularly with loud sounds like the Plasma Rifle.
– **Automap Color Option:** A new “Default” option allows the automap to automatically adjust colors based on the game being played.
– **Rocket Explosion Render Style:** Rocket explosions now use an additive render style by default, offering a visual style that fits better with other projectiles.
– **Mouse Sensitivity Improvements:** Mouse sensitivity in menus is reduced after short periods of inactivity to prevent accidental selection shifts.
– **Powerup Fade Control:** Added the `powerup_fade_scalar` cvar to let users control the strength of power-up fades (such as the Radiation Suit’s green tint).
– **ACS Support:** Added support for the `BUSY` script flag in ACS.

### Bug Fixes and Other Improvements

– Fixed audio issues where sound wouldn’t mute properly when the game lost focus, which could cause audio buildup, especially in multiplayer.
– Corrected master volume application for music at game startup.
– Fixed incorrect music tracks during Strife’s bad endings.
– Restored missing opening subtitles in Strife.
– Corrected the Iron Lich’s whirlwind damage target assignment.
– Fixed broken textured automap displays.
– Resolved mid-texture clipping issues when skewed.
– Fixed crashes related to VisualThinkers when loading saves.
– Corrected display problems with IQM models that use decoupled animations.
– Fixed gun flash effects for MBF21 weapons.
– Addressed a bug where `CreateTossable` items were not removed when their amount dropped to zero.
– Fixed JIT errors thrown by Quat’s Conjugate and Inverse functions.
– Made the `BrokenLines` class serializable.
– Ensured proper clearing of level data fields (such as sectors) when transitioning between levels.

You can also follow UZDoom on Bluesky to stay updated with future developments. Hopefully, this marks the beginning of many improvements and a long, successful life for UZDoom and the ZDoom community.

*Article sourced from GamingOnLinux.com.*

—

All posts on GamingOnLinux need to follow our community rules. Please use the Report Flag icon to notify us of any posts that violate these rules or contain illegal or harmful content. Readers can also contact us via email with any issues or concerns.
https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2025/11/gzdoom-successor-project-uzdoom-gets-a-first-preview-release/

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XRP Price Soars 12% After US Senate Vote

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The recent political relief in Washington has removed a key element of uncertainty that had been weighing on risk assets. As government operations resume, expectations are rising for improved liquidity flows and renewed spending confidence—factors that often translate into bullish momentum for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and XRP.

**XRP Price Analysis: Key Levels and Bullish Momentum**

On the 2-hour XRP/USDT chart, a strong breakout is evident, with XRP surging above the critical $2.45 resistance level (highlighted by the yellow line). This level has now flipped into support, indicating a robust short-term uptrend. The token is currently trading well above both the 200 SMA ($2.44) and the 21 EMA ($2.34), further confirming bullish momentum.

The Stochastic RSI stands near the overbought zone at 98.45, suggesting that while momentum is strong, a brief cooldown or consolidation may occur before the next upward leg. As long as XRP holds above $2.45, bulls may target the next resistance zone around $2.70. On the downside, support is found at $2.20—an area of previous consolidation and a key level for buyers to watch in case of a pullback.

**XRP Price Prediction: Political Calm and Renewed Risk Appetite**

The Senate’s recent decision is being viewed as a bullish macro trigger, one that could help stabilize financial markets as we head into mid-November. This political calm is boosting risk appetite, with traders positioning themselves ahead of fresh economic data releases and upcoming Federal Reserve communications. Both factors will likely shape the next major move for the crypto market.

Stay tuned as XRP continues to show strong momentum, and key macro events provide additional fuel for the ongoing bullish trend.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/tech/xrp-price-soars-12-after-us-senate-vote/

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Fire Country’s Bode Bids Yet Another Loved One Goodbye

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Bode Donovan just can’t catch a break. *Fire Country* Season 4 keeps throwing emotional curveballs his way. He first lost his father, Vince, then watched Gabriela, his ex, walk out of his life. Now, this week’s episode hits him with another gut punch. Bode has to say goodbye again, this time to someone who played a huge part in helping him get his life back on track.

### Audrey Parts Ways with Bode in *Fire Country*, Leaving Room for a Return

In *Fire Country* Season 4, Episode 4, fans are presented with one of the most emotional goodbyes yet between Bode (Max Thieriot) and Audrey (Leven Rambin). The episode kicks off with Manny confronting Bode about the pills found in his locker, a discovery he learned about from Audrey.

Bode has been going through a lot lately. He is still grieving his father, trying to prove himself, and constantly being watched by Battalion Chief Richards. Luckily, Manny stood up for him, and Bode was able to clear his name after passing a drug test.

Later, Bode swallowed his pride and apologized to Audrey, bringing a bit of peace between them. However, their reunion didn’t last long before it turned emotional.

### Audrey’s Struggles and the Difficult Decision

Audrey opened up about her own battles, admitting that even being around the pills stirred up old urges and reminded her how fragile her recovery still felt. She explained that coming back to Edgewater brought back tough memories and that her progress was starting to slip away.

“Us is not the problem. Nothing was ever broken there,” she said. “It’s just that staying clean feels so fragile right now. And I’m just scared that being fragile together would sink us. So I think we gotta get through this apart.”

Later, Audrey revealed she was transferring to Station 58, which meant she and Bode had to part ways—at least for now.

### A Glimmer of Hope for the Future

Before leaving, Audrey left Bode and fans with a spark of hope: “Win me back. We love a romantic comeback.”

This leaves room for the possibility that Audrey may return to the firehouse down the line.

### Bode’s Turning Point

Following Audrey’s exit, Bode took a big step in the right direction. He flushed the pills and made the decision to stay clean for good—a hopeful turn in his challenging journey.

*Fire Country* continues to deliver powerful storytelling, and Bode’s ongoing struggle reminds viewers that healing is rarely linear, but perseverance can lead to redemption.
https://www.comingsoon.net/guides/news/2059852-fire-country-season-4-bode-leone-donovan-audrey-leave-return

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Ghislaine Maxwell’s alleged prison perks spark Raskin probe into Trump administration

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Rep. Jamie Raskin sent a sharply worded six-page letter to President Donald Trump on Sunday following new information his committee received from a whistleblower. The whistleblower alleges that Ghislaine Maxwell is preparing a “commutation application” for the Trump administration and receiving preferential treatment while incarcerated.

Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, accused the Trump administration of allowing “a corrupt misuse of law-enforcement resources.” He demanded that Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche testify before the Judiciary Committee immediately to “answer for this corrupt misuse of law enforcement resources and potential exchange of favors for false testimony exonerating you and other Epstein accomplices.”

The letter serves as a follow-up to an August 12 letter that Raskin and other Democrats sent to the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Prisons regarding Maxwell’s transfer to Federal Prison Camp Bryan. This minimum-security facility, according to Raskin, represents an “apparent flagrant violation of BOP policies,” including one that explicitly prohibits the placement of sex offenders in such facilities.

Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for child sex trafficking and other offenses connected to Jeffrey Epstein, the former financier and convicted sex offender who died by suicide in jail in 2019.

Previously, Maxwell was held at FCI Tallahassee in Florida, a “low security” prison for men and women. FPC Bryan, where she was transferred, is a “minimum security” camp exclusively for women. The transfer followed Maxwell’s two-day meeting in July with Deputy Attorney General Blanche in Tallahassee. During this meeting, her attorney stated that they discussed “about 100 names” associated with Epstein, after the Trump administration promised to release additional information about the deceased sex offender.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/ghislaine-maxwells-alleged-prison-perks-spark-raskin-probe/story?id=127368629