SDNY COURTHOUSE,
Nov 29 – Ghislaine
Maxwell,
charged with
sex
trafficking
and other
charges, faces
a November 29,
2021 trial today, after
the
November 23
final-final
pre trial conference,
vlog here.
On October 29
and again on November 12
Maxell
and the US
Attorney's
Office for the
Southern
District of
New York filed
a flurry of
motions in
limine,
heavily
redacted; the
Government
argued that
trial exhibits
are not public
and will be
withheld.
Inner City
Press opposed
and opposes
the continued
secrecy.
The
entire morning
of Day 1 was
devoted to
the final selection
of the jury.
Inner City
Press live
tweeted it here
(vlog on way in here;
podcast
midway through
here)
At 2 pm, the
government's
opening
statement.
Inner City Press
live tweeted
here.
Then
Maxwell's
opening, which
Inner City
Press live
tweeted here:
(podcast here)
Maxwell's lawyer Bobbi Sternheim: Ever
since Eve, women have been blamed for the evil
deeds of men. Ghislaine Maxwell is not Jeffrey
Epstein or any of the other men, moguls and
media giants who abuse women.
Sternheim: Epstein will be mentioned
throughout the trial. He is the elephant in
the room. He is consuming this entire
courtroom and the overflow courtrooms. You are
not here to judge Epstein. You are here to
determine if Ghislaine Maxwell committed these
crimes
Sternheim: We are proud to represent Ghislaine
Maxwell, me and Christian Everdell, Laura
Minninger & Jeffrey Pagliuca [pronounced
like "Lasagna," G silent]
Sternheim: These witnesses want a jackpot of
money. There are 4 accusers. They'll say
Ghislaine groomed them Sternheim: Memories
fade and become contaminated. [Get ready for
expert Elizabeth Loftus, who also testified
for Harvey Weinstein and others] Sternheim:
Jeffrey showed only what he wanted to show.
[Get ready for Maxwell's "halo effect"
expert(s)]
Sternheim: The Epstein Victims Fund did
not test the claimants' stories. They got
millions of dollars. Ghislaine Maxwell is on
trial because of her association with Epstein.
She is a scapegoat -- AUSA: Objection! Judge
Nathan: As stated, overruled.
Sternheim: Ghislaine is a stand-in for a
man who behaved badly-- AUSA: Objection! Judge
Nathan: Let me hear from counsel at the
sidebar. [Non-public whispering]
Sternheim returns from the sidebar and says:
"Ghislaine Maxwell can pilot a helicopter. Her
life of luxury is not a crime. You all said
you would not be biased by affluence or
opulence and your word is your bond.
Sternheim: In the 1990s Ghislaine met Jeff
Epstein
Sternheim: Epstein had made positive
traits. Attractiveness. He radiated what's
called a halo effect. Ghislaine became his
employee, to administer his real estate like
small boutique hotels. Like many New Yorkers,
he wintered in Palm Beach.
Sternheim: Houses require upkeep.
Epstein spent time with other women and
traveled with them without Ghislaine. The jets
were like a Hamptons Jitney in the air. Very
interesting people on them: politicians,
celebrities, even a former astronaut who
became a Senator
Sternheim: There will be Jane, Annie, Kate and
Carol. They will tell their stories only from
memory. But memory, as you will here, changes.
Sternheim: Consider the incentive of personal
monetary gain. These women were not initial
interviewed by investigators with experience
-- AUSA: Objection! Judge Nathan: Sustained.
Jury will disregard. Sternheim: You decide if
they are credible.
Sternheim: Epstein was a manipulator. He had
no children. He had no boss. But he attracted
these rich and famous people. Before his fall
from grace. He was a 21st Century James Bond.
His mystery has stirred interest and his
accusers have shaken the money tree
Sternheim: Epstein traveled with an entourage
but kept parts of his life locked up. Other
manipulators? Lawyers, media & money have
impacted the memories you'll hear. Civil
lawyers targeted clients and primed them.
[objection]
Judge Nathan: Just a moment. Grounds?
[Another whispered sidebar. Maxwell
drinks from a water bottle, straighten her
glasses: she does not go up to the bench with
Sternheim]
[In the 2d row: new US Attorney Damian
Williams, being whispered to by senior AUSA
Tom McKay
Sternheim is back: "For people to
receive money from the Epstein Fund, they
receive more if they cooperate with the
government. These witnesses have gotten money,
lots of money.
Sternheim: The Epstein Fund has many of the
same administrators as the 9/11 fund. But for
9/11, there was hard proof. Let's talk about
Jane. Yes, she was and is a talented singer
and Epstein, a patron of the arts and a
supporter of young talent, sponsored her
Sternheim: After Epstein died, when
money was on the line, Jane hired a lawyer and
became a client, they got in touch with the
government because it would help with her
monetary claim,
Sternheim: Jane is now on a soap opera. She
got $5 million from the Epstein fund. Consider
that. And this, about Annie - her sister is an
artist. She came to NY when she was 16 and met
Epstein. Ghislaine was not in the country.
Long sidebar. US Attorney Damian Williams has
left the courtroom. Sternheim: Annie will tell
you she stopped writing in her diary before
the events in NM. Annie is a 41 year old
psycho-therapist who only met Ghislaine once,
in NM. She promotes herself as a victim
Sternheim: She will say she's scarred.
But why did she keep the boots Epstein gave
her? They are well worn. She was awarded $1.5
million. Let's talk about Kate. She has
admitted she is ambitious. She was involved
with an older British gentleman.
Sternheim: She eagerly spent time with
Epstein. Her emails to Epstein continued a
relationship with him for over a decade. When
he was in jail she sent him pictures of
herself. Kate is a 44 year old former actress
and socialite from the UK. Sternheim: She came
on an entertainment visa but she is no longer
in the entertainment field. She got $3.25
million. She is also seeking assistance from
the government to help her get a visa, a
special visa for US witnesses.
Steinheim: The last accuser -- she had a
dangerous lifestyle, using drugs. This is
2002. Carolyn was introduced to Epstein by
Virginia Roberts, who was paid to recruit for
massages. This is for the trafficking charges
5 and 6. This had nothing to do with Ghislaine
Sternheim: She sued Epstein and his assistant,
but not Ghislaine. Ghislaine had not come up
in the interview in 2007. It was Carolyn who
groomed and trafficked for Epstein. But when
he died, her story changed to include
Ghislaine. She got $3.5 million minus $40k
Sternheim: We are not here to smear anyone,
just to test the government's proof. In NY the
age of consent is 17. For trafficking, the age
of consent is 18. But for Carolyn, the charges
will not be proven.
Sternheim: The government is trying to
stitch together four different story. But the
only common denominator is they got big
payouts. These are paper cut-outs. The charges
are not supported.
Sternheim: Jeffrey Epstein is not here.
Ghislaine is here. You have the power - find
Ghislaine not guilty. Judge Nathan: Thanks. 10
minute break then 1st US witness.
On
November 23
there was a
final final
pre-trial
conference and
Inner City
Press live
tweeted it here
(podcast
here)
Likewise,
Inner City
Press opposes
censorship by
the UN, which
after it asked
why UN
Sec-Gen
Antonio
Guterres' head
of Partnerships
Amir Dossal
was
on the board
of Maxwell's
Terramar Foundation
was roughed up
and banned
from the UN,
summary here,
Quinn
Emanuel lawyers'
letter Q&A
here.
Now this: a
petition,
submitted
Monday to the
United Nations
Working Group
on Arbitrary
Detention,
filed by
international
criminal
lawyers
François
Zimeray and
Jessica
Finelle on
behalf of
Maxwell’s
three sisters
and three
brothers, arguing to
Maxwell's
partners at
the UN that
Maxwell’s
“abnormally
rigorous”
lock-up
conditions at
the
Metropolitan
Detention
Center in
Brooklyn are
horrific,
and thus
unlawful and
discriminatory.
The petition asks
the UN to call
on the US
government to
release
Maxwell
pending trial
and to urge an
independent
investigation
into her
“arbitrary
detention.”
This
while the UN
active covers up its own
peacekepers
child rapes.
This is
ghoulish.
On November
15, Judge
Nathan held a
conference
about jury
selection, Inner
City Press
live tweeted here
(and podcast here)
On the
morning of
November 16,
Judge Nathan
questioned prospective
jurors; Inner
City Press
live tweeted here
(podcast here); Nov 16
afternoon here.
Late on
November 16 it
emerged
that Judge Ali
Nathan is
being
nominated for
elevation to
the Second
Circuit Court
of Appeals by
Senator Chuck Schumer.
She
said, "If I am
nominated
I...will
continue to do
my day job,
which means
presiding over
this trial
until
completion and
handling the
hundreds of
other civil
and criminal
matters on my
docket."
So
it
appears she would
complete the
Maxwell trial.
But any
sentencing?
Would she
follow 2d
Circuit Judge
Richard J.
Sullivan in
keeping some
SDNY cases? (As
noted,
Judge Sullivan
is still
rightly allowing
call-in lines
to in-person
cases, here).
On
November 17,
jury selection
continued with
questions of
seized phones,
jail
conditions,
and the death
of Epstein, Inner
City Press
live tweeted here
(podcast here)
On the
afternoon of
November 17,
it continued,
Inner
City Press
live tweeted here
(podcast here)
Jury
(pre)
selection
ended on the morning
of November
18, Inner City
Press live
tweeted here
With so much
of the case,
and so many of
the victims, far
from Epstein's
Manhattan
townhouse, in Florida,
the Caribbean,
New Mexico,
the UK and by
private jet in
Africa, the lack
amid COVID of
a listen-only
call-in line during
the trial
proper would
be all the
more unfortunate.
On October 29,
after the flurry of redacted
motions, Inner City Press
filed formal requests with
SDNY District Judge Alison J.
Nathan, on DocumentCloud here.
On
November 12, while Maxwell and
DOJ still redacting and a
notice that after 50 people,
no more would be admitted even
on November 15, Inner City
Press filed again. This time,
both letters were docketed -
appreciated - but denied,
letter on CourtListener here.
"ENDORSED LETTER
as to Ghislaine Maxwell
addressed to Judge Alison J.
Nathan from Matthew Russell
Lee, dated 10/29/2021, re:
timely opposition to blanket
requests to seal portions of
motions in limine, trial
exhibits, public access.
ENDORSEMENT: The Court
received the attached letters
via email. This District no
longer permits public access
by telephone for in-court
criminal proceedings,
including trials. The
memorandum can be found here.
The Courts public access
orders for all proceedings in
the case can be found here.
The Court has implemented a
procedure for docketing
filings with proposed
redactions and is ruling on
the proposals as expeditiously
as possible. See Dkt. No. 401.
SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge
Alison J. Nathan on
11/12/2021)."
Earlier on
November 12, Inner City Press
called in to, and reported on,
a January 6 case in the
District for the District of
Columbia - and even other
in-person criminal matters in
the SDNY. For November 15,
only 50 people will be allowed
in. Meanwhile, for example,
the Kyle Rittenhouse in
Wisconsin state court is on
YouTube. While engaged and
appreciative on the
Federal / SDNY beat,
we'll have more on this.
Here was from the
October 29 request: Re: US v.
Maxwell, 20-cr-330 (AJN),
timely opposition to blanket
requests to seal portions of
motions in limine, trial
exhibits, public access
Dear Judge
Nathan: On
behalf of Inner City Press and
in my personal capacity, I
have been covering the
above-captioned case. This
concerns in the first instance
the flurry of motions in
limine filed earlier this
evening, replete with
redactions justified by a
conclusory reference to Lugosch
v. Pyramid Co. of Onondaga,
435 F.3d 110 (2d Cir.
2006).
The
Government's Justifications
for redaction (Docket No. 399,
docketed at 10:06 pm on Friday
Oct 29) cites Lugosch then
says "The Government also
seeks sealing of trial
exhibits, which are not
public." Inner City Press
immediately opposes
this.
As one
example within this motions of
limine, the Government has
redacted the entirety of its
Argument X, even the title and
the page number. And as to
trial exhibits, see for
example Judge Jed S. Rakoff's
order in US v. Weigand,
20-cr-188 (JSR), here.
There,
Judge Rakoff ordered the US
Attorney's Office to make
trial exhibit available to the
public at large. While this
was done, belatedly, in US v.
Parnas, it was refused in the
current US v. Cole. It cannot
be refused in this
case. Also,
Inner City Press understands
that the listen-only call-in
telephone lines available so
far in the case, there may be
an attempt to discontinue
them. The Court should take
judicial notice of continuing
COVID-19 issues, including
people's understandable
concerns about congregating
even in so-called overflow
rooms. Be aware that the
District for the District of
Columbia still allows public
phone access to all criminal
proceedings, even those held
in-person. That should happen
here. The loss of First
Amendment freedoms, even for a
short period of time,
unquestionably constitutes
irreparable injury. Elrod
v. Burns, 427 U.S. 347,
373
(1976).
Inner City Press
will cover the trial, and all
the comes before and after it;
#CourtCaseCast and song I,
Song
2, Song
3, fifth song
and now Nov
27 song
On October 18 the
US Attorney's Office opposed
the request, saying the the
voir dire questions should be
asked by Judge Nathan, and
that there should only be
sidebars on "sensitive
questions such as those that
relate to sexual abuse and
media exposure." Full letter
on Patreon here.
In a
conference on October 21 on
that as scheduling issues,
Judge Nathan denied the
request to seal. Inner City
Press live tweeted it
here (podcast here)
On October 22 the
draft jury questionnaire was
unsealed and Inner City Press
has immediately published it
on its DocumentCloud here,
including "Have you or a
family member ever supported,
lobbied, petitioned,
protested, or worked in
any other manner for or
against any laws, regulations,
or organizations relating to
sex trafficking, sex crimes
against minors, sex abuse or
sexual harassment?" Photo here.
After the death of Jeffrey
Epstein in the MCC prison, on
July 2 Acting US Attorney for
the SDNY Audrey Strauss
announced and unsealed in
indictment of Maxwell on
charges including sex
trafficking and perjury.
Inner City Press went to her
press conference at the US
Attorney's Office and asked,
Doesn't charging Maxwell with
perjury undercut any ability
to use testimony from her
against other, bigger
wrong-doers? Periscope here
at 23:07.
Strauss
replied that it is not
impossible to use a perjurer's
testimony. But how often does
it work?
At 3:30 pm
on July 2 Maxwell appeared in
the U.S. District Court for
the District of New Hampsire,
before Magistriate Judge Andrea
K. Johnstone.
Inner City
Press live
tweeted it
here.
(Also
live tweeted
bail denial of
July 14, here.)
In
the July 3 media coverage of
Maxwell, media all of the
world used a video and stills
from it of Maxwell speaking in
front of a blue curtain, like
here.
What they
did not mention is something
Inner City Press has been
asking the UN about, as under
UNSG Antonio Guterres with his
own sexual exploitation issues
(exclusive video
and audio)
it got roughed up and banned
from the UN: Ghislaine Maxwell
had a ghoulish United Nations
press conference, under the
banner of the "Terramar
Project," here.
On July 5,
after some crowd-sourcing,
Inner City Press reported on
another Ghislaine Maxwell use
of the United Nations,
facilitated by Italy's
Permanent Representative to
the UN, UN official Nikhil
Seth and Amir Dossal,
who also let into the UN and
in one case took money from
convicted UN briber Ng Lap
Seng, and Patrick Ho of CEFC
China Energy, also linked to
UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres.
At the
Ghislaine Maxwell UN event,
the UN Deputy Secretary
General was directly involved.
List of (some of)
the participants on Patreon here.
Inner City
Press has published a phone of
Maxwell in the UN with Dossal,
here. But the connection runs
deeper: Dossal with "25 years
of UN involvement" was on
Terrarmar's board of
directors, one of only five
directors, only three not
related to Maxwell by blood
and name.
The directors:
Ghislaine Maxwell, Christine
Malina-Maxwell, Steven Haft,
Christine Dennison and... Amir
Dossal. Inner City Press is
publishing this full 990 on
Patreon here.
Dossal has
operated through the UN Office
of Partnership, with Antonio
Guterres and his deputy Amina
J. Mohammed, here.
And the links to
the world of UN bribery,
including Antonio Guterres
through the Gulbenkian
Foundation, runs deeper. More
to follow.
Antonio Guterres
claims he has zero tolerance
for sexual exploitation, but
covers it up and even
participate in it. He should
be forced to resign - and/or
have immunity waived.
Terramar
has been dissolved, even
though Maxwell's former
fundraiser / director of
development Brian Yurasits
still lists the URL on his
(protected) Twitter profile,
also here.
But now
Inner City Press has begun to
inquire into Ghislaine
Maxwell's other United Nations
connections, starting with
this photograph of another
day's (or at least another
outfit's) presentation in the
UN, here.
While co-conspirator Antonio
Guterres has had Inner City
Press banned from any entry
into the UN for two years and
a day, this appears to be in
the UN Economic and Social
Council (ECOSOC) chamber.
We'll have more on this, and
on Epstein and the UN. Watch
this site.
The case
is US v. Maxwell, 20-cr-330
(Nathan).
***
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