In Maxwell Trial Epstein Photos With Pope and Fidel Raised Along With Dildos By Palm Beach House Manager
Long time Epstein staffer Juan Alessi authenticate the black books - but the US does not want the public to see them. Then talk turned to clean-up after Epstein massages and the photos on the wall.
By Matthew Russell Lee Patreon Song Video Ruling
BBC - Decrypt - LightRead - Honduras - Podcast
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Dec 2 – 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) Midday vlog 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)
First of Day 2 was the US witness, Epstein pilot Larry Visoski, Inner City Press live tweeted his Day 1 here (podcast here) and his Day 2 with cross examination here (podcast here) (vlog here)
In the afternoon of Day 2, things got real, with pseudonymous witness Jane describing rape. Inner City Press, wincing, live tweeted here (podcast here).
On December 1 in the morning, Maxwell's lawyer Laura A. Menninger continued her cross examination. Inner City Press live tweeted here (podcast here) (9 am vlog here)
On the afternoon of December 1, there was Jane's ex-boyfriend "Matt," and an accountant from the Interlochen music school in Michigan. Inner City Press live tweeted both here.
After court on December 1, Ghislaine Maxwell's brother held a no-question press conference (Video I, Video II) in front of the courthouse, citing a hype and hypocritical complaint to the UN (whose Secretary General Antonio Guterres had a representative, Amir Dossal, on the board of directors of Ghislaine Maxwell's Terramar Foundation.
On the morning of December 2, the US put on another school administrator, and then their grooming expert. Inner City Press live tweeted here (podcast here, 9 am vlog here)
On the afternoon of December 2, longtime house maintenance man Juan Alessi testified on direct - about the black book(s), dildos, Trump, the Pope and Fidel Castro. Inner City Press live tweeted here, podcast here:
Next US witness is Juan Patricio Alessi. AUSA: Where do you come from? Alessi: Quito, Ecuador. AUSA: When did you move to Florida? Alessi: Early 1984. I worked for a wealthy family in Palm Beach, I was a maintenance guy. Then I worked for Mister Jeffrey Epstein
AUSA: How did you meet Epstein? Alessi: I was working on Mister Wexner's mother's house. [!] AUSA: Who is in this photo? Alessi: Mr. Jeffrey Epstein.
AUSA: When Mr. Epstein was in Palm Beach, where did you sleep? Alessi: I had a room there. AUSA: Who else worked there? Alessi: I brought my wife to help me. And other girls.
AUSA: How did things changed after Ms. Maxwell got involved? Alessi: Things were less cordial. Less conversation. I was not allowed to see Mr. Epstein anymore, unless he asked me question. Ms. Maxwell said, Don't look at his eyes, "look at another part of him."
And with that, and a blue print of the house on the screens, Judge Nathan says: The jurors' lunch has arrived. Let's break. [Programming note: thinking break was at 1, will be on Las Vegas radio at 1:10. But will find a way to resume thread when Alessi continues
AUSA: How many times did you see females by Mr. Epstein's pool? Alessi: 100s. AUSA: How often were they topless? Alessi: 75% of the time.
AUSA: How about Little St. James? Alessi: I was on a cruise with my wife to St. Thomas. They picked us up & showed us Little St. James. It was huge.
AUSA: Did you visit any Ms Maxwell property? Alessi: Her townhome in London. She invited us. It had a red front door
AUSA: What conversations did you have with Ms. Maxwell about this booklet? Alessi: I told her I could not do this checklist, with all my other work. AUSA: Show them Gov Exhibit 606.
AUSA: How long is this book? Alessi: 58 pages. AUSA: What is it? Alessi: List of what were supposed to do to maintain the house.
Now Maxwell's lawyer will question Alessi about the book of instructions. Maxwell's lawyer: When you left, you didn't have this in your possession did you? Alessi: No I did not. Maxwell's lawyer: But this book was created after you left, at least by the date on it.
Maxwell's lawyer: We object to 606. AUSA: He identified pages. Judge Nathan: I'm overruling the objection. 606 is admitted. AUSA: We you recognize the address at the bottom? ALessi: Mr. Epstein's residence.
AUSA: There's a reference to the JE and the GM telephone directories. What were they? Alessi: Books with hundreds and hundreds of names. Directions and addreses.
Alessi: They were 2 inches thick. Full of names. AUSA [for some reason turning away from the 2 black books, at least for now] Let's turn to page 23, about Ms. Maxwell's desk. What does it say?
Alessi: Please the directory to the right of the phone. Assistant US Attorney: What is this? Alessi: Instructions for serving breakfast. Sometimes at 5 am. AUSA: Who else worked there? Alessi: Chefs. My wife. Ms Maxwell's assistant. Then Sarah Kellen.
Alessi: Two females seemed to be underage. AUSA: Don't say their names. Jurors, look at the binders under your chairs. GX 12. Alessi: Can I have a cup of water? Then: AUSA: Is that name the person we'll call Jane? Alessi: Yes. I met Virginia Roberts too.
AUSA: I have a physical exhibit, GX 52. May I approach the witness? Do you recognize it? AUSA: What is it? Alessi: It is the directory. AUSA: Did you review it last night? Alessi: I did. AUSA: Every page? Alessi: Yes. AUSA: How many names? Alessi: Many. Many. Many.
AUSA: Is this the same you saw when you were that or a later version? Alessi: A later version. AUSA: Pull up Exhibit 52a. It is a sealed exhibit.
Judge Nathan: Let's take a break. [No snacks mentioned. But tasty podcast coming soon
Wait, still no podcast - with jury out, lawyers' arguments continue. Assistant US Attorney says "We are not offering the full exhibit 52 [the black book]. [Why not?] AUSA: Is Sarah Kellen in this version? Objection - leading. Judge Nathan: I'll overrule that. [Long sidebar, after which Maxwell's lawyer does the questioning] Maxwell's lawyer: As you sit here today, 19 years later, you have no idea where Exhibit 52 has been?
Maxwell's lawyer: You said the book was two inches thick. But Exhibit 52 is a quarter inch thick, correct? Alessi: Yes. Maxwell's lawyer: The book you were talking about was from New York, right? Alessi: Yes.
Maxwell's lawyer: And the PostIt(TM) notes weren't there, right? Alessi: Right. But it continues: AUSA: Did you take messages for Mr. Epstein? How? Alessi: If he didn't want to talk the call. Or wasn't there.
Maxwell's lawyer: There are a number of pages without dates next to the names. Do you know that? Alessi: I guess so. Judge Nathan: Exhibits admitted. AUSA: They are sealed - not to be put on screens, binders only. More more questions: AUSA: What supplies did you buy for the massages? Alessi: No oils, I was - Maxwell's lawyer: Objection!
AUSA: Did Ms Maxwell give you supplies? Alessi: Exotic oils for other countries. AUSA: Was Mr. Epstein's door open during the massages? Alessi: Never. Afterward I went in with gloves. AUSA: Why? Alessi: To clean up.
AUSA: What did you see after the massages? Towels? Alessi: Yes. But not all of the massages. AUSA: Do any incidents stand out in your mind? Alessi: I found a large dildo. AUSA Comey: What did you do with it? Alessi: Wash it up.
AUSA: Where did you put the dildo? Alessi: In Ms. Maxwell's bathroom. In a basket. AUSA: How did you know where to put it? Alessi: I knew everything going on in the house.
AUSA: What else was in the basket? Alessi: I saw pornographic tapes. AUSA: How often did you see the dildo? Alessi: At least five times. AUSA: And the other one, the massager, did the ball at the end vibrate? Alessi: Yes. I would put it at the top of Mr. Epstein's dresser.
AUSA Comey: What photos were in the house? Alessi: Photos of Mr Epstein and Ms Maxwell with important people.
AUSA: Like who?
Alessi: Donald Trust. The Pope, I think, Fidel Castro.
AUSA: Were there photographs of naked women? Alessi: Yes. But those were kept in Ms. Maxwell's desk.
AUSA: Why did you leave Mr Epstein's employ? Alessi: I was sick and tired. AUSA: Did you sign a non-disclosure agreement? Alessi: Yes. About both of them.
AUSA: Were you questioned by the police after you took $6300 from Mr. Epstein? Alessi: Yes. AUSA: Were you arrested?
Alessi: No. AUSA: Nothing further. Maxwell's lawyers: We'll start our cross tomorrow [it's 4:48 Good decision?]
Inner City Press #CourtCaseCast coverage will continue.
On November 23 there was a final final pre-trial conference and Inner City Press live tweeted it here (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).
Podcast here. Watch this site.
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).
***
Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron.