Saturday, December 18, 2021

In Maxwell Trial Ghislaine Assistant Espinosa Says Epstein Was Nice, She Never Saw the Sleaze

 

By Matthew Russell Lee Patreon Song Video Ruling
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SDNY COURTHOUSE, Dec 16 – Ghislaine Maxwell, charged with sex trafficking and other charges, is amid a trial that started on November 29,  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. And see DC op-ed here.

 On December 16, after a three day hiatus as Judge Nathan went to DC seeking 2d Circuit seat, Maxwell's defense began, with her executive assistant Cimerly Espinosa. Inner City Press live tweeted here, 8:45 am live stream here, podcast here

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

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. Inner City Press @innercitypress · 1h 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

 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] 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: 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.

On December 10, leading up to the US resting of its case, Annie Farmer was cross examined, then her ex-boyfriend and mother testified. Inner City Press live tweeted it here, podcast herestand-upGMax sister - and circus

Again, where is the Press opposition to all this sealing, and the decision-maker?

Inner City Press is covering the trial, and all the comes before and after it; #CourtCaseCast and song ISong 2Song 3, fifth songNov 27 song Dec 4 song and now Dec 11 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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