Ghislaine Maxwell Delays Epstein Deal, Jane Doe's Lawyer Says To Dissuade Criminal Trial Testimony
The interplay between the civil cases against Epstein and Maxwell, and the criminal case against the latter, is impacting a number of pending cases in the SDNY. We're covering them.
By Matthew Russell Lee PatreonPeriscopeSong
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SDNY, Dec 23 – In a case of a Jeffrey Epstein victim, ready to settle, Ghislaine Maxwell is asking for more time.
The plaintiff's lawyer said it seems to be in order to dissuade testimony at Maxwell's criminal trial (the judge says there no evidence of that). On December 23 Inner City Press live tweeted, here:
OK - now Ghislaine Maxwell in SDNY civil case is saying she needs some time before settling the case, Jane Doe v. Indyke as executor of Epstein estate. Judge Koeltl notes difficulties of communication with her in MDC.
Judge Koeltl: Ms Maxwell's lawyers hold out the prospect that if I give you all some time, it will be worked out. The plaintiff's counsel held out the prospect that Ms. Maxwell is unreasonably delaying dismissal of this case. Should I intervene? Or is it a waste?
Lawyer: The plaintiff participated in the Epstein fund. The program requires that if the offer is accepted, she must dismiss any pending litigation with prejudice. Then the money is wired within 15 days.
Lawyer: It requires that the dismissal involve Ms Maxwell too. We sought a stipulation. Then all this stuff started happening. So we said, we'll carve out Maxwell and move against her once her criminal case is resolved. But the Epstein program won't allow that.
Lawyer: We wonder if Ms. Maxwell's delay is meant to impede possible witness against her in her criminal trial. I think it's unfair. Judge Koetlt asks Maxwell lawyer Menninger to respond. "Mr. Glassman has run to the court. But it is hard to speak to Ms. Maxwell."
Judge Koeltl refers to Ms Maxwell's "integral" connection to the case. "Mr. Glassman points out there was a request to stay the case pending the criminal case... That is routinely granted." Ms Menninger was only asked about this last week. I don't disbelieve her
Judge Koeltl: This can be worked out soon, without a round of motions. The Epstein estate won't settle without a release from Ms. Maxwell. Let's meet again in mid January. Robert Glassman: This calls into question the integrity of the [Epstein settlement] program
Glassman: Now we're giving all the power to Ms. Maxwell to set additional terms into the way the case is dismissed. I'm being blindsided after we've accepted the offer. It's a re-negotiation of the deal. Next time, the administrator of the program should be here.
Judge Koeltl: You're charging that what's going on in this case is improper, for purposes of somehow influencing witnesses in the criminal case. Those are serious charges...
Now Jeffrey Epstein Program lawyer Bennet Moskowitz of Troutman Pepper says he rejects the argument that the Epstein Program is being used to silence potential witnesses against Maxwell in criminal trial. Watch this site.
After the death of Jeffrey Epstein in the MCC prison, on July 2 Acting US Attorney for the Southern District of New York 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.)
Separately, Inner City Press showed that on the board of Maxwell's Terramar Project Inc. was UNSG Antonio Guterres' chief Partnerships official, Amir Dossal, below.
While UNEP official Lisa Svensson appears in the documents unsealed July 30 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York which Inner City Press covers since ousted from the UN by Guterres for is reporting, Inner City Press is continuing its exclusive 2018 reporting in Svensson's "Volvo Boating" and other scams at UNEP, here, where we published in full, on Scribd and Patreon, the agreement with Volvo Ocean Races signed by Erik Solheim, here, and the EUR 500,000 agreement signed by UNEP's Lisa Emilia Svensson, here and here. [Now, Aug 1, 2020 song here.]
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