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Dec 16, 202112 min read

Ghislaine Maxwell Trial

Updated: Dec 30, 2021

DEC 16TH


Dec 16th Trial Notes


OK - Now Trial Day 11 of US v. #GhislaineMaxwell, Inner City Press is reporting on the case including 3 day (DC) hiatus and will now continue live tweeting the trial day(s), thread below


Judge Alison Nathan, who yesterday in DC forwarded her nomination to 2d Circuit Court of Appeals, takes the bench & just begins ruling on the filings that built up over the 3 day hiatus (request for call in line amid Omicron and all flight logs still UNacted on)


Judge Nathan: About Doctor Loftus' testimony. The US seeks to exclude 2 aspects, her testimony on leading questions and therapists' techniques. I have ruled that these are generally admissible. I deny the government's motion to preclude.


Maxwell's lawyer Bobbi Sternheim: I didn't think there was a need to make this part of the public record. [Talk, which we'll also anonymize, is about positive COVID test. But question: has the 3 day hiatus made a COVID impact on this trial more or less likely?]


Judge Nathan: I let a juror deliberate remotely... [That was in US v. Nejad, which Inner City Press also covered, in March 2020] Team Maxwell: Our first witness, Ms. Espinosa, has given us some photos of the soap opera of "Jane" [Maxwell doxing alert]


OK - it's on. Maxwell's lawyer: In October 1996, where were you living? Witness: I started out on the Upper East Side. Maxwell's lawyer: I was hired as a lawyer for Jeffrey Epstein's company.


Maxwell's lawyer: Would you recognize Ms. Maxwell today? Ms. Espinosa: She's over there, in what appears to be a PURPLE [or maroon : ) ] sweater. [Identification made] Maxwell's lawyer: Where else did you work? Ms. Espinosa: Sometimes at Ghislaine's residence.


Ms. Espinosa: Did did have other personal assistants come through, like Sarah Kellen and Emmy Tayler. Maxwell's lawyer: When did you see Sarah Kellen? Ms. Espinosa: More toward the end. Maxwell's lawyer: Can you describe the layout of the office on Madison Avenue?


Espinosa: You get off the elevator and there are the restrooms. Jeffrey's office was in the corner. I sat to the left of his assistant. My office was Ghislaine's office. We shared it. Maxwell's lawyer: Did you sign a non disclosure agreement? Espinosa: Yes.


Espinosa: Ghislaine ran the properties for Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell's lawyer: Where did she fall in importance? Espinosa: She was obviously very important to me. And to Jeffrey, given his personal residences.


Espinosa: Jeffrey acquired a Paris apartment, and then an island. It was called Little St. James but got renamed, Little Saint Jeff's. Maxwell's lawyer: Did you assist? Espinosa: There was construction. I furnished the house, in a resort style.


Espinosa: We shipped in sand -- Maxwell's lawyer: You shipped in sand to a tropical island? Espinosa: He wanted more sand on the beach. And palm trees. We even had a fire truck and fire men on the island.


Espinosa: Before Jeffrey would visit one of the residences, we would fly in the bread he liked. I think we did butter, too. Maxwell's lawyer: What about Emmy Tayler? Espinosa: She would take care of the dog, and carry Ghislaine's handbag.


Maxwell's lawyer: Did Ghislaine ever live with Jeffrey Epstein? Espinosa: No. Maxwell's lawyer: What about 44 Kinnerton Street in London? Espinosa: Yes, I've been there. 3 years ago. Maxwell's lawyer: Do you know who owned it? Espinosa: No.


Maxwell's lawyer: Did Jeffrey Epstein receive female visitors in his office? Espinosa: Yes. Maxwell's lawyer: Look at this docuemnt & call the person "Jane." Do you recall seeing her in the office? Espinosa: Yes Maxwell's lawyer: How old did she seem? Espinosa: 18


Maxwell's lawyer: Do you know if Jane traveled in Mr. Epstein's planes? Espinosa: I don't know. She moved to California to be on a soap opera. It's my favorite soap opera. I have headshots she sent me. [doxing alert]


Maxwell's lawyer: We want to introduce these headshots into the records under seal, at least temporarily. I have copies for the jurors. Can your read the envelope? Espinosa: It's from Jane to Cimberly [she pronounces her name Kimberly] It's headshots of the cast


Bingo. I am expecting this to come up on cross-examination. Agent A @REBELTROOP · Dec 16

Reminder: Epstein accuser Jennifer Araoz has publicly accused Ms Espinosa of enabling Epstein's abuse. https://nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jeffrey-epstein-accuser-names-four-women-his-web-enablers-n1063801…#GhislaineMaxwell



Espinosa: Ghislaine and Epstein at that time were behaving like a couple. All flirty. It seemed like Ghislaine moved on. I know she started dating -- Assistant US Attorney: Objection! Lack of foundation. Judge Nathan: Sustained.


Maxwell's lawyer: Who came to visit Jeffrey Epstein at the office? Espinosa: Gwendolyn Beck.... Shelly Lewis... She was British. Maxwell's lawyer: Moving on, when Ghislaine went to Florida, was it only Palm Beach? Espinosa: Miami too. She had a friend there.


Maxwell's lawyer: Do you know who Ted Waitt is? Espinosa: I learned. [Gateway co-founder] Judge Nathan: We'll stop here for the mid-morning break.


It's seems Ms. Espinosa was trying to position Emmy Tayler further down the food chain then her. Then again, Espinosa herself has been sued for her role.

Carry Ghislaine's handbag"?

Espinosa: Before Jeffrey would visit one of the residences, we would fly in the bread he liked. I think we did butter, too. Maxwell's lawyer: What about Emmy Tayler? Espinosa: She would take care of the dog, and carry Ghislaine's handbag.


Here's the (brief) podcast. Now the jury's back, and Maxwell's lawyer Everdell continues, Inner City Press thread continues


Everdell: Do you know if Ms. Maxwell got married? Espinosa starts to answer but AUSA objects. Judge Nathan: Sustained. Everdell: OK, when did you have a video conference with the government about this case? Espinosa: November 2020.


Everdell: Why did you leave? Espinosa: After 9/11 I wanted to return to California. I feel like Ghislaine was a good resource for my own career, what I learned, how to handle multiple projects at one time. It helped me get to where I am today.


Everdell: did you ever seen Jeffrey Epstein involved with young girls? Espinosa: No. Everdell: No further questions. Judge Nathan: Cross. AUSA: You never went to Palm Beach, right? Espinosa: No. AUSA: No further questions.


Next witness: Raghu Sud. Everdell: Where do you live? Sud: East Windsor, NJ. I work at Shopper's Travel since 1988. I am Vice President.


Everdell: Was Epstein a customer? Sud: Yes. Everdell: Can you authenticate these travel records? Yes. AUSA: These records in RS-1, they are to 2006? Yes. Everdell: No re-direct. [Will these defense exhibits be made available a la Rakoff?



Next witness: Elizabeth Loftus, who testified for Harvey Weinstein. First, her credentials. This could take a while.


#MaximumMaxwell: In US v. Maxwell Trial #Ghislaine Assistant Cimberly Espinosa Says Epstein Was Nice, She Never Saw the Sleaze - US Has Only 1 Q, Never in Palm Beach- story:


Loftus: I have a big c.v. I have been consulted by DOJ, the CIA... Maxwells' lawyer: Are there experiments on emotion and its impact on memory? Loftus: I published one in 2008. We implanted entire flash events and measures responses


Loftus: I've testified in 300 trials. I've only consulted with the prosecution 5 times, and testified only one for the prosecution. My research into false memory doesn't fit into their agenda. Loftus is accepted as an expert witness in this case.


To be fair / provide context to the threat, Loftus was referring to an experiment she did, implanting false memory then concluding that the subjects felt just as strongly about false memories as real ones. Can she convince jury this is all just implanted memory?

Replying to @innercitypress

Doesn’t “We implanted…” disqualify Loftus as a credible witness?


Loftus: Your Honor, can I used the equipment to show the jurors the three stages? AUSA Pomerantz: No objection. Loftus: The media is a source of post-event false memories, contamination.


Loftus (bragging) - And when I was consulting for with Secret Service... [Wag Q: And when was that? Loftus has drawn a barbell, labeled "Acquisition - Retention - Retrieval." Now she says people might remember something as a dumbbell is it's labeled so


Update: Now Loftus has drawn a box under the bar of the barbell and has written in it the word "Time." Judge Nathan: OK, we're going to take the lunch break. Jurors, enjoy your lunch. [They leave] Judge Nathan: I'll look at your submissions while I have my lunch.


Judge Nathan: We'll try to come to resolution before the jury comes back. Mr. Hamilton, you're going to confer on that, how to make it happen. Maxwell's lawyer: If he's up to it. [Out into Foley Sq - after a UN stream, watch this feed]


OK - now US v. #GhislaineMaxwell trial Day 11, afternoon thread. Maxwell's lawyer want to put in "prior inconsistent statement" of survivor witness Carolyn, after they finish the paid memory decay expert Loftus. Inner City Press will live tweet, thread below


Judge Nathan: What else? Maxwell's lawyer: The US' rebuttal expert, I'm prepared to file something if they actually call the expert. Judge Nathan: Hamilton? Everdell: We reached him, he can do WebEx tomorrow. Sternheim: Because of his condition, we haven't spoken.


And since the jury has been out for more than an hour, after a three day hiatus, we'll put this afternoon's #MaxwellTrial live-tweeting into a new thread, under a song to be updated this weekend:


Jury entering! Maxwell's lawyer: Dr Loftus, are you aware of image enhancing memory distortion? Loftus: It makes people feel better about themselves. Maxwell's lawyer: I asked you about C.V. So I move into evidence your C.V. AUSA: Objection.


Judge Nathan: I am allowing in Dr Loftus' C.V. Maxwell's lawyer: What are you charging? Loftus: $600 an hour. Maxwell's lawyer: Media distortion includes dramatic portrayals, right? Loftus: Oh, yes.


Judge Nathan: I am allowing in Dr Loftus' C.V. Maxwell's lawyer: What are you charging? Loftus: $600 an hour. Maxwell's lawyer: Media distortion includes dramatic portrayals, right? Loftus: Oh, yes.


Cross examination. AUSA Pomerantz: Let's talk about consulting. You've done it with defense attorneys 100s of times, right? Loftus: Probably. AUSA: You've only consulted with the prosecutors five times, right? Loftus: Right.


AUSA: In your book "Witness for the Defense," you wrote that you should be an advocate Loftus: That leaves out the context -- AUSA: You don't sit in courtroom - you weren't present for testimony on this case, right? Loftus: I was not present in the courtroom.


AUSA: You're charging the defendant $600 an hour right now, right? Loftus: Yes. AUSA: You were paid for high profile defendants, right? Millions of dollars? Loftus: I don't know how much. AUSA: In 1975 you didn't charge $600 a hour, right? Loftus: I did it free.


AUSA: You market yourself by testifying, right? Loftus: I don't market myself at all. AUSA: You give lists of your cases to defense attorneys, right? Loftus: When asked. AUSA: You testified for Harvey Weinstein, right? Judge Nathan: Just a moment.


[When they resume, there's no more mention of Harvey Weinstein. At least not yet.] AUSA: When you testify for high profile defendants, it brings you more business, right? Loftus: Maybe.


AUSA: You showed fake photos of Bugs Bunny at Disney, right? Loftus: Yes. AUSA: Bugs Bunny is Warner Brothers, but 16% misremembered, right? Maxwell's lawyer: I object. Judge Nathan: You can come up. [Sidebar]


Lawyers return from sidebar. Loftus: Some falsely remembered touching Bugs Bunny's head and him saying "What's Up, doc?" [#WhatsUpDoc - $600/hour] AUSA: There's a science museum experiment, right?


AUSA: And the lost in the mall study - 25% misremembered, right? Loftus: Correct. AUSA: I'm not going to ask you to describe a rectal enema, but it's a painful procedure, right? Loftus: Yes. AUSA: This memory could not easily be implanted


Re-direct. Maxwell's lawyer: There are restrictions on what kind of studies you can do, right? AUSA: Objection. Judge Nathan: I'll allow it. Loftus: We can't implant memories of sexual abuse.


Next witness: Michael William Aznaran. Maxwell's lawyer: We need a sidebar. Judge Nathan: Wait for the break. Maxwell's lawyer: Where do you work? Aznaran: Customs & Border Protection. We check incoming people.


Maxwell's letter: Look at this sealed Exhibit GX12. Call her Jane. Did you search for this? Aznaran: I did. Maxwell's lawyer: And Kate and Annie Farmer, did you search for them? Aznaran: Yes, I did the searches.


Maxwell's lawyer: So now we need the sidebar. Judge Nathan: We'll get the jurors their afternoon break. [Jury leaves, no mention of snacks] Judge Nathan: Mr. Azaran, could you step out? AUSA: These are 15 years of records, including outside the charges time frame.


Podcast of Dec 16-3: #GhislaineMaxwell expert Loftus charges $600/hr, as with Harvey Weinstein, What's up, doc? CBP searches against 3 of 4 survivor / witnesses


Here, from during the break, is Inner City Press' (brief) podcast


Now the exhibit is going sealed. Everdell continues Q&A Aznaran: At JFK, each of the five international terminals has a code and it's in this report. I ran it Dec 14 Everdell: What does airline not APIS mean? Aznaran: APIS is Advanced Passenger Information System.


Maxwell's lawyer Everdell: So for Annie Farmer, you have records from 1997 to 2006? Aznaran: Yes. Everdell: And this one, for Jane - you see her date of birth, right? Can I say the year? [doxing alert]


Cross examination. AUSA: What are the differences between CBP record before and after 9/11? Aznaran: The further back you go, you won't get an on-board or not on-board status. AUSA: So the ones before 9/11 were not as complete? Aznaran: Not all the time.


Judge Nathan (at 4:52 pm) Defense may call its next witness. It's Dominique Hyppolite. Maxwell's lawyer: Where do you live and work? Hyppolite: Palm Beach school district. I coordinate the processing of subpoenas and represent the district as records custodian.


Maxwell's lawyer: May I approach the witness with a document? Judge Nathan: It's 5 pm. Let's end for the day. AUSA: We could just stipulate to this. Defense: remaining witnesses Eva, Michele & Kelly. Depending on your rulings.


Judge Nathan: Letters due at 7:30 pm (Inner City Press will report - IF they get docketed) Defense: We might end tomorrow, or on Monday. Judge Nathan: Closings on Monday, then. Charge and to the jury. [So, before Christmas? Countdown.


Judge Nathan: This is usually the point I allocute the defendant [that is, ask if they'll testify] Defense: Let's do that tomorrow. Judge Nathan: So we'll do the closings and charge on Monday [meaning, deliberation on Tuesday Dec 21 Xmas...


Judge Nathan: So we're done. You'll get the draft charge tomorrow. [With defense agreeing closings Monday, seems clear Maxwell will NOT testify] Judge Nathan: Letters due at 7:30 pm (Inner City Press will report - IF they get docketed) Watch this feed.


#MaxwellTrial After Trial Day 11, Loftus on memory, endgame UN cover-up of SG



#MaxwellTrial after Trial Day 11, media scrum on Pearl Street, UN cover-up of SG



Interesting, amid no public call-in line for US v #GhislaineMaxwell trial. But are you the UN's doctor - or its head of media access, still blocking Inner City Press & its questions? Why have you still not answered the end-the-ban July 6 letter from @QuinnEmanuel ?




No - this number of adjournments is NOT normal. Nor was allowing Armenta to continue his dubious businesses during this time. This criminal case is not being done transparently enough, not by a long shot



They remain redacted, & Inner City Press challenge still not docketed. Judge today says she only dockets things she acts on, making them "judicial documents." Thus, public will never know requests that get denied, & they can't be appealed

Replying to @Redlegs1111 and @innercitypress

What happened with the unredacted flight logs?





Seems clear that Maxwell is *not* calling any 35 witnesses. And the list of 35 they submitted is still withheld in full - not just redacting the ones they wanted pseudonymous...

Replying to @innercitypress

I thought that were calling around 35 witnesses! How can they finish in a couple of days?



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