A federal judge has ruled that prosecutors are required to name any and all co-conspirators in the upcoming sex trafficking trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, who allegedly acquired and groomed underage girls for sex with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Law & Crime reports that U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan wrote in a three-page ruling:
“The government argues that there is no risk of surprise because ‘it currently intends’ to introduce the alleged co-conspirator statements of only two individuals. At the same time, however, the Government proffers that it ‘may change its view as it prepares for trial.’ […] The Court thus finds the Government’s reassurance hollow and insufficient to ensure that the Defendant may adequately prepare her defenses.”
Judge Nathan added that what prosecutors didn’t argue in their filings was significant:
“Moreover, the Government has not alleged that disclosure here would create ‘potential danger to co-conspirators’ or risk ‘compromising continuing investigations,’” the judge wrote. “It merely argues that disclosing the identities risks ‘harm to the Government from restricting its proof at trial.’
“The Government provides no explanation for this purported harm and none is apparent to the Court,” she wrote. “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.”
Among that names that could be included in the government’s case as co-conspirators are Epstein, Prince Andrew of the British royal family, and former President Donald Trump, who was a longtime friend of Epstein and allegedly raped a 13-year-old girl with the deceased money manager. Those charges were later dropped, but the victim said she only withdrew her accusation due to threats against her and her family.
Maxwell is also facing a second trial on other charges:
“Charged with sex trafficking and other offenses, Maxwell faces a superseding indictment with alleged conspiracies that date back decades. The scheme charged in one of the counts spans between 1994 to 2004, and the other runs between 2001 and 2004.”
Maxwell’s trial begins on November 19 in New York.
