A federal judge expressed frustration Friday that the holiday season could cause Olympic gold medalist Myriam Bedard to remain behind bars in Howard County for an extended period of time.
“Ms. Bedard is sitting in jail every one of these days whether it’s a working day or a holiday,” U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge James Bredar told attorneys.
Bedard, 37, a former Canadian biathlon champion, has been locked up in the Howard County Detention Center for a week, since U.S. marshals arrested her last Friday night at a Columbia hotel on charges of abducting her 12-year-old daughter, Maude.
Bedard, who has no prior criminal record, told the judge Friday she wants to be extradited to Canada.
The judge said he would consider releasing the Olympic champ by Wednesday if authorities had not transported her to Canada by then.
“The governments of Canada and the United States need to get moving,” he said.
Bredar’s comments came after Assistant U.S. Attorney Phil Jackson told the judge that extradition procedures could take more than a week because of the holidays.
Bedard’s arrest arises from a complaint lodged by her ex-husband Jean Pacquet, who alleged the Olympian had taken their daughter away from Quebec City without his permission and had no intention of returning.
Bedard, who has primary custody of her daughter, has been in the United States since Oct. 3. Her attorney said she was here meeting with politicians about her whistle-blowing role in Canada’s federal sponsorship scandal.
Her attorneys say the arrest is nothing more than a vindictive attack by her ex-husband.
“I’m happy that the end is near,” said Bedard’s attorney, Kevin McCants. “She’s going to be returning to Canada. The judge is providing oversight to make sure that the governments don’t just sit on her heels and let her sit there.”
