The court participants at the hearing for Ghislaine Maxwell are currently behind a one way glass.
Judge Alison Nathan has acknowledged her presence in the courtroom.
8 minutes to start time. Let's hope it begins on time. I will share the info as quickly as I can.
Last minute check on sound now.
The announcement that they will be beginning shortly.
The case is being called.

We've begun.
Judge Nathan presiding United States v Ghislaine Maxwell.

She will take appearances from council

Council for Maxwell speaking now.
Judge Nathan just said good afternoon to Ghislaine Maxwell.

Ghislaine Maxwell has spoken and said she can hear the judge.
Maxwell sounds nervous.
Two of the prosecuting attorneys could not be reached via the available lines. They are working on putting them through into the courtroom via regular phones.
Judge Nathan is reassuring Ghislaine Maxwell she can ask to speak privately if she should need to do so.

The judge is asking Ghislaine Maxwell if she is agreeing to proceed to speak remotely. Do you continue to wish to waive your right to be present?

'Yes, your honor' -Maxwell
Judge Nathan is telling the court the hearing today cannot be delayed.

The SDNY attorneys are agreeing to proceed remotely.

This is standard practice. All parties wish to proceed remotely.
Judge is talking about the fact the case has received a lot of public interest.

The court has provided to council additional phone lines and has a separate line for victims and family members.
Judge Nathan states Covid 19 restricts normal operation of the court.

Re: the arraignment.

Ms. Maxwell have you seen a copy? - Judge Nathan

I saw the original indictment. - Maxwell
"How do you wish to plead to the charge?" Judge Nathan.

"Not guilty, your honor." Ghislaine Maxwell.
The prosecutors are saying they have information they have in their possession from her home and from the previous case in Florida.
The prosecutors are stating the government will make a proposed date for the case.

The bulk of the material they have will be produced to the court by the end of the summer and other electronic information.
The prosecutors are telling Judge Nathan the the files from the Florida case are being sent to the New York office.

The FBI and the physical files, Judge Nathan is asking.
The prosecutors are assuring Judge Nathan the they are obtaining the information from the FBI in Florida.

Judge Nathan is asking for the proposed schedule.

The SDNY states they propose a date in November , December 21, February 5th.
Ghislaine Maxwell's attorneys are responding that August 21 is also part of this schedule.
The prosecutors state their investigation remains ongoing.

Judge Nathan is asking the SDNY for notification to victims.

SDNY is assuring they communicated with the victims when Maxwell was arrested.
By July 7th they notified the victims of today's date related to the hearing.

By July 8th they heard from other victims.

By July 9th they updated their website.
The prosecutors are stating the three victims wish to be heard.

One victim submitted a letter.

One victim will make a statement directly (that is @anniefarmer)!!
Judge Nathan is setting the schedule wants to know how long of a trial.

SDNY believes the case may take only two weeks.

But suggests to block three weeks for trial.
Judge Nathan is agreeing to these dates:
August 21, 2020
November 9, 2020
December 21, 2020

Any motion are filed
Jan 2, 2021
February 21, 2021

The trial is to be set July 12, 2021.
The defense is okay with these dates.
'July 12, 2021 is the trial date' -Judge Nathan

Gives time for discovery.
Time for the defense.
Time for the parties to prepare for trial.

For both sides if you wish to be before the court submit a letter.' -Judge Nathan
Judge Nathan is going to hear from the government first and then the victims and then from Ghislaine Maxwell's attorneys about bail.

The government strongly believes she poses a strong risk of flight. Their are serious red flags here. She has financial means. She has not
disclosed her financial matters. Because the defendant is charged with crimes against minors. Based on the seriousness and the strength of the evidence w/ transporting minors, being part of a conspiracy. The defendant is charged in a conspiracy to exploit vulnerable victims.
The defendant participated in some of these sexual acts against the victims.

This was not a single incident. This was an on-going scheme. This is serious.

There is an incredibly strong incentive for the defendant to flee.
The pre-trail discovery shows the defendant has been moving around from place to place. Most recently to New Hampshire.

Judge Nathan is asking if it is true that Maxwell kept in touch with the authorities.

The government states the conversations w/ defense have been minimal &
did not include information about her whereabouts.

She does not have children. She does not have employment. By contrast she has incredible international ties.

The prosecution is discussing Maxwell has many places to hide. France will not extradite her.
The prosecution states these circumstances and access to funds makes this risky.

Initially the prosecution states that Maxwell tried to brush off providing her financial info. Maxwell stated she had zero amount of dollars in income per month.
Judge Nathan "Is there zero dollars in income. What is the reason for the emphasize in the matter?"

Prosecution "Separate from the income what are her assets especially given the lifestyle she is used to. We cannot make sense of this lifestyle and no income."
Prosecution states that Maxwell claims she has no ownership of the house in New Hampshire. She claimed that she was allowed 2 stay there.

The real estate agent claims that the person who introduced herself as Jen Marshall was indeed Ghislaine Maxwell. As Jen Marshall she claimed
she was writing a book. She used an alias and has not been truthful.

Judge Nathan: "Efforts to hide from authorities would certainly indicate risk of flight. Or the notoriety was it an effort to protect privacy and hide from press. How does the government suggest this factual
determination be resolved?

The prosecution states this is relevant. Irrespective of the defendant's motion it shows she is willing and capable of hiding. She is good at it. She was able to pass during a real estate transaction with a fake name. That she can live in hiding.
The prosecutor states that a year spent in hiding is a long time to remain undetected.

Judge Nathan: "I was surprised that information was not provided."

Prosecution: "Yes, we wanted to make sure and verify this information and this is the reason for the delay."
Judge Nathan: "There is a suggestion of an effort to conceal by placing a cell phone in foil. Can you explain and what you think I should derive from this?"

The prosecution: "That is correct. The defendant did not answer the door and instead went in hiding into a separate room,
and hiding her cell phone in foil was to avoid detection.

The first is re: a Swiss bank. When the account was opened on Jan 2019 her net worth are ranging from $10 million and above. She has another trust account with three trustees - one is a relative.
Prosecution states there was no effort on the part of the defense on the wealth of the defendant.

To recognize that if the court cannot rely on this basic information she cannot be relied on to return to court.
The prosecution states it is surprising that no information about who will be co-signing the bond - the defendant has not provided any substantial information. Claims she will stay at a luxury hotel. She is the very definition of a flight risk. They respectfully request no bail.
Judge Nathan: "You are resting not on danger to the community, but rather on risk of flight?"

Prosecutor: "Yes, your honor."

The prosecution is going to read a written statement by a victim.
Jane Doe in order to protect her privacy.

I knew GM for over 10 years. ....dehumanizing abuse. Without Ghislaine Jeffrey Epstein could not have done this....emotional manipulation.... sociopathic manner...took advantage of my vulnerability... I have great fear Ghislaine Maxwell
will flee. I received a phone call threatening if I testified. I ask the court not to post bond because I know she has no remorse for what she has done. If she is allowed to leave prison she will not come back. I will need protection."
Annie Farmer:

"I met GM when I was 16. she is a sexual predator who groomed and abuse me and other young women. She has lied under oath and tormented her survivors. ... She has demonstrated contempt for our legal system by perjury. We will never know how many victims she has..
Annie Farmer closes with a request to the judge not to allow Maxwell to post bail.

Judge Nathan: "Regarding danger to the community there is no finding of this."
Mr. Cohen, GM's attorney.

"This is a very important proceeding for our client. ... he is claiming that to prepare a case with her in jail is not realistic. He is claiming GM is not Jeffrey Epstein. He claims she is a good person.
He claims he did not have time to respond to the allegations and is challenging the way it was done.

He claims his client is not Epstein, is not a monster, she is part of a large family, she has extensive relationships.
He is stating that she is without her privacy. Claims his client has received physical threats, death threats. That her friends have received threats. Claims there are significant attacks against his client. He claims his law firm has received threats.
Ghislaine Maxwell's attorney is simply reading about victim's rights presently.

He is citing another case. Presentation.

He is disputing the victim's statement that someone threatened the two year old child of one of the three victims.
He claims the law by its structure favors release.

His voice is somewhat muted, so I cannot hear it clearly. He is however trying to make the case that Maxwell should be given bail.
He claims his law firm went through high profile cases in making the determination for what to offer for bail.

He claims he understands it is subject to verification.

He claims that if the court requires it - he is sure he can provide this too.
Esposito. Dywer. Madoff. These are the cases he looked at.

Judge Nathan is asking him whether these cases posed a flight risk.

He replied "No."
He claims the defendant is a citizen of England and France.
He claims she has traveled internationally.

He is citing another case in order to bolster his argument for bail.
Now citing a Swiss citizen with a case in the United States.

He's trying >> let's see what happens.
Now he's stating the Khashoggi case (fascinating). He was released on strict bail conditions.

He is now comparing this to the Madoff case where bail was set with strict conditions and claim they came to court afterwards.
Note: The tonality of his voice is very calm - this is a seasoned criminal attorney.

He is making the argument that if the court needs more than they have offered they can do this.

He is now going to respond to the allegations.
With reference to hiding he states that Maxwell has appeared at a lawsuit. One of the victims involved in this case is involved in that lawsuit.

He claims they have been in regular contact with the government. He claims they have been in contact 10 times in the past year.
Judge Nathan is asking whether he is implying that Ghislaine Maxwell would have surrendered. Her attorney is saying yes but he was not informed.

At the time of her arrest the agents breached the gates, they saw her through the window and that they felt they were forced to break
the door. He claims she was in her pajamas w/ 1 security guard. The front door was unlocked. The windows were open. The agents created a disturbance. He claims that the protocol was she go into another room. The FBI knocked down the door & his client surrendered herself 4 arrest.
Ghislaine Maxwell's attorney is claiming that changing her email address and her phone number is not unusual. Claims her phone and her email were hacked and she had to change these.
He claims that to keep the phone from being hacked she kept her phone in tin foil.

He claims the phone in tin foil was the one that was hacked.

The most telling point he claims is that the FBI questioned her guard about running her errands.

HE IS REACHING.
Ghislaine Maxwell's attorney states "that they [FBI] has been investigating this case for 10 years."

He is now discussing the perjury charge. He claims that she has claimed she is innocent.

He is explaining her financial. Claims she has financial needs. That she does not have
hundreds of millions of dollars like the other cases he's discussed.

He states that she is arrested on a holiday weekend and states this is the reason her financial records have not been fully presented.

He claims the bail proceeding should not be an investigation into her $.
He is discussing the sale of her Upper East Side mansion and claims she has had expenses since.

He says that if it is important to the court he will produce the exact amount of her bank accounts.
He claims that when Jeffrey Epstein was arrested all kinds of things happened to her. Including being "dropped" by a bank and having 2 transfer money to another account.

He is arguing that there is no evidence of Maxwell hiding a foreign bank account b/c she filled out the form.
He is saying this is the bail hearing and not the place for arguing the case. (Except he is doing just this - sneaky).

He says there are significant motions.

He just mentioned the Non Prosecution Agreement.
He claims there is a problem with the weight of the evidence. That this is 25 years old.

NOTE: He is arguing the case even though he just said he would not.

He claims the NPA does not cover the years of this case.
The case he claims is 25 years old. He says there are no tapes, no videos and he has to defend this.

He claims the court should be in favor of bail with appropriate conditions.
He claims they came forward with the best package they could put together given that his client has been held.

He claims she has been kept in solitary confinement.

He claims she was not allowed to shower for 72 hours.
Judge Nathan is responding and asking him if what he means is that her detention was by design.

He replied No, and goes on to now state it is complicated with the Covid crisis. States has been difficult to put together the financial statements.
Ghisline Maxwell's attorneys are stating there are voluminous materials they need to go over and with Covid it is not realistic for her to be in jail and for them to get this work done.

He states that they are being given 4 1/2 months to put this together and that Maxwell cannot
realistically be expected to remember while in jail.

He is citing danger in visiting the jail during the Covid outbreak.

He says he does not know how to get the case ready including electronic discovery w/ Maxwell in jail.
In conclusion 'we believe this is a compelling case, that our client is not a risk of flight...they ask the court to grant bail.

JUDGE NATHAN is now asking the government to respond. They state they have not been throwing mud, they claim it is not dirt, it is not spin, it is
the facts...it is undisputed that she was in hiding. No offer of surrender was ever made. The fact that the government took to arrest her shows how serious they take this case. It is because they were concerned she was a flight risk. She declined to accept service.
The prosecution is reiterating that Maxwell poses a flight risk.

Her finances, her conduct during the past year, it is clear the defendant has not met her burden.

They are requesting she be denied bail.
The prosecution states again that Ghislaine Maxwell has not met the burden.

Judge Nathan: The statements of the alleged victims, what is your position.

The prosecution states it was the victims desire to participate pursuant to their rights not pursuant to the prosecution.
Judge Nathan: "So I should not based my decision on the statements of the victims?"

The prosecution is arguing that yes she should take their statements into consideration.
Ghislaine Maxwell's attorney is once again making the argument she is not a flight risk "she was sitting in her house in New Hampshire."

Judge Nathan: "I am prepared to make my ruling."
Judge Nathan: "Ghislaine Maxwell is presumed innocent.
Under title 18.
The government does not argue based on dangerousness.
It bases it on risk of flight.
Weighs in favor of detention. If she were to be found guilty she faces up to 35 years in prison if convicted.
Although the court does not pre-judge these matters at this stage.
The court considers her history & finds that Ms. Maxwell poses a risk of flight. She holds multiple citizenships. Ms Maxwell possess extraordinary financial resources. The court believes understands she has not
left the U.S. within the past 10 yrs.

The reality that Ms Maxwell is facing such serious charges may not have settled until after indicted. The potential sentence she may face.
The court concludes Ms. Maxwell poses a substantial risk of flight. Detention would be appropriate >
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