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A federal judge recently informed prosecutors that they will not be permitted to keep the identities of Ghislaine Maxwell’s co-conspirators that will testify against her, hidden from Maxwell’s defensive team, according to The Western Journal.
Ghislaine Maxwell has been accused of recruiting and managing a roster of underage females that were meant to be abused by Jeffrey Epstein, a wealthy, well-connected, convicted pedophile.
Epstein died under questionable circumstances while awaiting his own trial in 2019.
Maxwell was arrested by the FBI in July of 2020, at one of her homes in a small town in New Hampshire. She was denied bail and pleaded not guilty to several sex trafficking violations.
Earlier this month, Judge Allison Nathan stated that the identities of the co-conspirators being used by the prosecutors will be revealed in fairness Maxwell’s defense.
Judge Nathan reportedly said that the 59 year old alleged recruiter of underage girls for Epstein possesses a right to learn the “identities of any unnamed co-conspirators” so she may “adequately prepare her defenses.”
She also ruled that all statements made by the co-conspirators that the prosecutors plan to use at the trial must be fully disclosed to the defense.
Prosecutors argued that revealing such information could be a “potential danger to co-conspirators” and increase the possibility of “compromising continuing investigations”, but the claims were rejected by Judge Nathan.
Responding that the prosecutors failed to present sufficient evidence for their claims, Judge Nathan wrote in the ruling; “The Government provides no explanation for this purported harm and none is apparent to the Court.”
“Thus, the Court finds that this concern alone does not outweigh the risk of surprise to the Defendant in this case or the need for the parties to litigate co-conspirator issues in advance of trial to ensure the absence of delay.” ruled Judge Nathan.
Maxwell’s defense team had submitted the request to learn the identities of the two co-conspirators described in the initial indictment.
Maxwell will remain in a federal prison in Brooklyn until her sex trafficking trial begins on Nov. 29.
In addition to the sex trafficking charges, Maxwell has been charged with perjury in relation to a different incident. The socialite is accused of lying during a deposition involving one of Epstein’s alleged victims, Virginia Giuffre. Giuffre filed a lawsuit accusing Prince Andrew of sexually abusing her while she was 17 at Maxwell’s London home and also at several of Epstein’s international homes, including his homes in New York City and on his island in the US Virgin Islands.
#epstein #ghislaine RT @Reuters: Prince Andrew is served accuser's sexual assault lawsuit in United States -lawyers https://t.co/CG3VhgNTI6 pic.twitter.com/uXVjTl17B4
— Colorado Bear 🐻 (@FoodBevMedia) September 21, 2021
Prince Andrew has repeatedly denied all allegations of misconduct made against him by Giuffre.
