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Tag: jeffrey epstein

  • Barclays beats expectancies however suspends buybacks after U.S. buying and selling blunder

    A department of Barclays Financial institution is observed, in London, Britain, February 23, 2022.

    Peter Nicholls | Reuters

    LONDON — Barclays on Thursday mentioned had suspended its deliberate percentage buyback program at the again of a pricey buying and selling error within the U.S.

    It comes because it reported expectation-beating benefit for the primary quarter, as robust funding banking efficiency helped pressure source of revenue enlargement.

    The British financial institution introduced ultimate month that it had bought $15.2 billion extra in U.S. funding merchandise — referred to as “structured notes” — than it was once accepted to. Barclays mentioned Thursday that it had postponed its percentage buyback program indefinitely and put aside a provision of £540 million on account of the problem, which is lately being investigated through U.S. regulators. The financial institution had at the beginning mentioned it anticipated a success of £450 million.

    “Barclays believes that it’s prudent to lengthen the graduation of the buyback programme till the ones discussions [with the SEC] had been concluded,” the financial institution mentioned in its income free up Thursday.

    “Barclays stays dedicated to the proportion buyback programme and the aim can be to release it once practicable following solution of submitting necessities being reached with the SEC and the right 20-F filings having been made.”

    Income

    Barclays reported first-quarter internet benefit as a consequence of shareholders of £1.4 billion ($1.76 billion), above analyst expectancies of £644 million, in line with Refinitiv information. It marks an 18% decline from the primary quarter of 2021, when internet benefit got here in at £1.7 billion.

    Workforce source of revenue rose 10% year-on-year to £6.5 billion, pushed through robust company and funding banking income throughout a spike marketplace volatility.

    “Our source of revenue enlargement was once pushed in part through International Markets, which has been serving to shoppers navigate ongoing marketplace volatility led to through geopolitical and financial demanding situations together with the devastating battle in Ukraine, and through the have an effect on of upper rates of interest in america and UK,” CEO C. S. Venkatakrishnan mentioned in a free up accompanying the effects.

    Different highlights for the quarter:

    General running bills greater to £4.11 billion, up from £3.58 billion within the first quarter of 2021, because of the upward push in litigation and habits fees attributable to the U.S. buying and selling error.CET1 ratio, a measure of financial institution solvency, got here in at 13.8%, down from 15.1% within the ultimate quarter of 2021.Go back on tangible fairness hello 11.5%, down from 14.7% in the similar quarter of ultimate yr, and the financial institution mentioned it is going to proceed to focus on RoTE of greater than 10%.

    The consequences come after a turbulent finish to 2021, with long-time CEO Jes Staley resigning in November following an investigation through regulators into his courting with Jeffrey Epstein. He was once changed through Venkatakrishnan.

    Stocks are down through just about 22% to this point this yr amid wider issues over rates of interest, inflation and a slowdown in enlargement.

    It is a breaking information tale, please take a look at again later for extra.

  • Jeffrey Epstein, an extraordinary cello and a long lasting thriller

    Written by way of James B. Stewart

    When Jeffrey Epstein died in jail in 2019, he took many secrets and techniques with him. One was once how a sexual predator and school dropout controlled to forge bonds with an astonishing selection of the sector’s richest and maximum robust males, like Britain’s Prince Andrew and the crown prince of Saudi Arabia.

    Some other was once why Epstein owned an extraordinary Italian cello. It was once the one nonfinancial asset indexed on his basis’s annual tax paperwork, described merely as “cello” and carried at the books at a worth of $165,676.

    Epstein had by no means performed the cello or proven any hobby in musical tools as an funding.

    The primary thriller is big, and it’s nonetheless being untangled by way of attorneys, sufferers and newshounds. The second one is outwardly small, contained to the rarefied international of good string tools. However the two mysteries are hooked up. And the cello’s peculiar adventure into and out of Epstein’s ownership gives a window into the infamous legal’s lifestyles and legacy.

    Epstein’s Big apple mansion was once stuffed with curiosities. There was once a portrait of Invoice Clinton in a blue get dressed, a filled giraffe, prosthetic breasts within the grasp toilet.

    However greater than gadgets, Epstein amassed other people. Through the years he cultivated leaders within the fields of commercial, finance, politics, science, arithmetic, academia, song, even yoga. He frequently cemented the relationships with introductions to others in his orbit, donations to reasons they supported or different presents and favors.

    This is the place the cello got here in.

    False Claims and Accordion Classes

    As a kid rising up in Brooklyn, Epstein and his more youthful brother, Mark, confirmed an inherent ability for song. Each started courses at the saxophone, then switched to tougher double-reed tools. Jeffrey performed the bassoon, Mark the oboe, each in excessive call for in orchestras and different ensembles. It was once as a bassoonist that Jeffrey earned a scholarship in 1967 to Interlochen, the distinguished summer season song camp nestled within the woods of northern Michigan. When his mom visited him that summer season, he requested her to convey bagels.

    As an grownup, Jeffrey Epstein falsely claimed to have had a budding occupation as a live performance pianist. And he claimed to have begun piano courses at age 5, which Mark Epstein mentioned in an interview was once now not true. (He took courses at the accordion as a tender boy.) Epstein later took piano courses, however he by no means accomplished greater than a high-school degree of talent.

    It was once the cello that turned into a habitual motif in Epstein’s self-told lifestyles tale, beginning after he and a chum backpacked in Europe within the early Seventies. A number of the tales Epstein later recounted was once enjoying the piano for Jacqueline du Pré, the British cello virtuoso. In Epstein’s telling, he met du Pré in 1971 whilst visiting London. Du Pré loved the patronage of Queen Elizabeth II, and it was once in the course of the cellist that Epstein mentioned he’d won get right of entry to to participants of the British royal circle of relatives, forging an extremely shut friendship with Prince Andrew.

    The story was once now not solely improbable. Du Pré, who died in 1987, was once nonetheless acting on the time Epstein visited London, the place he purchased a full-length fur coat that he wore for years in a while. However du Pré infrequently wanted Epstein as an accompanist, since, a number of the international’s numerous different skilled musicians, she was once married to celebrated pianist Daniel Barenboim.

    At Interlochen, to which Epstein turned into an important donor and common customer, he met and befriended a 14-year-old cellist, Melissa Solomon, in 1997. In keeping with her account in a 2019 podcast, he insisted she practice to Juilliard and agreed to pay her tuition there. She mentioned he by no means tried to have intercourse along with her (he did get her to therapeutic massage his ft), however after she declined to wait a celebration with Prince Andrew, Epstein reduce ties and stopped paying her tuition.

    Some other Interlochen scholar, recognized most effective as Jane, testified within the contemporary trial of Epstein’s closest affiliate, Ghislaine Maxwell. Jane mentioned that Epstein and Maxwell started grooming her when she was once a 13-year-old scholar on the camp and that Epstein due to this fact raped her, all whilst promising to advance her occupation.

    Thanksgiving on the Ranch

    Within the mid-Nineteen Nineties, Epstein confirmed up behind the curtain on the Kravis Heart in West Palm Seashore, Florida, after a efficiency by way of cellist William DeRosa, a tender prodigy who’d made his live performance debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at age 11. By the point Epstein noticed him, DeRosa was once considered probably the most international’s best possible cellists, functioning at Carnegie Corridor, on tv and with main symphony orchestras.

    Epstein’s and DeRosa’s paths didn’t move once more till round 2004, when DeRosa started relationship a blond type named Kersti Ferguson.

    Initially from Savannah, Georgia, Ferguson mentioned in an interview that she met Epstein via a mutual buddy when she was once 18. Ferguson and Epstein frolicked at his Palm Seashore property, the place she met Maxwell. Epstein invited Ferguson to his Virgin Islands property whilst she was once in faculty, and after she broke up with a boyfriend, Epstein flew her and her mom to his New Mexico ranch for Thanksgiving. He also known as her 4 occasions an afternoon. He confirmed her pictures of himself with what he mentioned have been his robust buddies, amongst them former President Invoice Clinton, Microsoft co-founder Invoice Gates, Israeli Top Minister Ehud Barak and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia.

    After she started relationship DeRosa, Epstein insisted on checking him out. “Be great,” DeRosa recalled Epstein caution him. He gave the impression serious about DeRosa’s musical abilities. He as soon as advised they play in combination, however DeRosa brushed him off. He mentioned he had by no means heard Epstein play the piano.

    In 2006, Epstein was once arrested in Florida after investigators discovered proof that he’d been sexually concerned with women. Ferguson mentioned Epstein by no means advised having intercourse along with her or requested her to recruit different younger ladies. To the contrary, when Ferguson tried to hug him, he’d “shrivel up,” she mentioned, as though fearful of catching a illness. And she or he idea he and Maxwell have been in love, even if Epstein confided in Ferguson that he had no goal of marrying.

    Wealthy and Robust

    For a time after his arrest, Ferguson didn’t pay attention from him. Epstein pleaded in charge to soliciting an underage prostitute and was once sentenced to 13 months in prison, regardless that he was once allowed to serve a lot of that point at house.

    Then, in 2010, as Epstein was once looking to reconstitute his orbit of the wealthy and strong, he known as her. “I wish to purchase a cello,” Epstein mentioned all of a sudden, asking if she would enlist DeRosa within the seek. When Epstein subsequent spoke to DeRosa, he defined that he was once purchasing a cello for a tender Israeli cellist. “Pass to find one,” he ordered, then hung up.

    Quickly after, DeRosa was once visiting his mom in Los Angeles when he realized of a cello being offered there by way of a musician who recorded soundtracks for Hollywood studios. (Prior to that, the cello have been performed by way of a member of the Indianapolis symphony orchestra.)

    Whilst now not a Stradivarius or a Montagnana, this cello had a prominent pedigree, and was once manufactured by way of Ettore Soffritti, who labored within the string tool middle of Ferrara, Italy, from the past due 1800s till his demise in 1928. Benning Violins, the Los Angeles broker, described the cello’s sound as “wealthy and strong” and mentioned the tool was once “appropriate for the best of cellists.”

    DeRosa attempted the cello. He was once smitten. He mentioned he regarded as it “probably the most largest fashionable cellos in lifestyles.” (By means of “fashionable” he supposed any produced after the Italian Renaissance.) With an asking worth of $185,000, he additionally regarded as it a cut price.

    Epstein gave the impression happy when DeRosa informed him he’d discovered one thing. He mentioned the cello’s supposed recipient — a tender Israeli guy named Yoed Nir — needed to check the tool first. DeRosa knew just about each and every up-and-coming cellist, however he had by no means heard of Nir.

    DeRosa had the cello on an ordeal foundation, and Nir examined the tool on a seek advice from to DeRosa’s mom’s space in Los Angeles. Nir, who was once about 30 years outdated and had darkish, shoulder-length hair, which he tossed theatrically whilst enjoying, performed a few of Bach’s unaccompanied cello suites. He had obviously had musical coaching (he was once a graduate of the Jerusalem Academy of Tune and Dance), however DeRosa regarded as his enjoying unexceptional by way of his exacting requirements. He may recall to mind many younger cellists extra deserving of such an tool. “I assumed it extremely strange that Jeffrey had selected this man,” DeRosa recalled.

    Nir authorized of the tool, and Epstein had his accountant, Richard Kahn, step in to barter the acquisition from Benning Violins. Kahn acquired an appraisal, then bargained down the associated fee to $165,000. (DeRosa, who felt like his recognition was once at the line since he’d initiated the transaction, discovered this insulting.)

    ‘You Can’t Deal with Any individual Like That’

    Weeks later, when DeRosa was once again in New York, Epstein’s assistant known as and mentioned DeRosa must be at his space the following morning at precisely 7:30 a.m. There, Epstein gestured towards a big unopened cardboard field. DeRosa mentioned he opened the package deal and verified that it was once similar cello he’d situated in Los Angeles.

    “Did you’re making any cash at the transaction?” Epstein requested.

    “No,” DeRosa replied, livid on the insinuation that he’d taken a reduce.

    Epstein walked out with out additional remark. “He confirmed no real interest in the cello,” DeRosa recalled.

    Ferguson was once disappointed when she heard concerning the assembly. She known as Epstein and chastised him. “You’ll be able to’t deal with any individual like that,” she mentioned. He was once unapologetic.

    The cash to shop for the cello got here from Epstein’s basis, and the acquisition was once mirrored on its 2011 tax go back. Kahn drew up an settlement during which the cello could be lent to Nir for free of charge, in line with an individual conversant in the association.

    Now not lengthy after, singer Judy Collins carried out on the Café Carlyle. A good evaluation in The New York Occasions discussed in passing that Collins had “added a brand new part, a cellist, Yoed Nir.”

    Epstein and Ferguson due to this fact papered over their war of words, and she or he instructed DeRosa to forgive him. When a treasured Stradivarius cello got here available on the market, Epstein presented to shop for it for DeRosa’s use. DeRosa had a novel connection to the tool, since a basis had prior to now owned it and lent it to him early in his occupation.

    So assured was once the vendor {that a} deal would come in combination that DeRosa took ownership of the tool. However Epstein balked on the asking worth of $14 million, refusing to pay greater than $10 million, in line with DeRosa. The deal unraveled, and DeRosa returned the cello. It later offered for greater than the asking worth, DeRosa mentioned.

    DeRosa Has Regrets

    DeRosa and Ferguson have been stunned in 2019 when Epstein was once arrested and charged with intercourse trafficking. Ferguson couldn’t reconcile the allegations with the person she idea she knew. Given his wealth and connections to robust other people, she figured he’d by some means get off the hook. She wrote him a letter in jail providing to seek advice from and produce meals. She by no means were given a answer. On Aug. 10, Epstein died by way of suicide.

    A number of months later, DeRosa emailed Nir to determine what had came about to the Soffritti cello. Nir mentioned most effective that he’d returned it. On the Epstein basis’s request, Nir had delivered the cello to a New York regulation company in October 2019. Its case was once damaged, and the cello itself had suffered some harm, in line with DeRosa. (Nir mentioned the case wasn’t damaged when he returned it and that the tool was once “in excellent enjoying situation.”) The basis requested Benning Violins to once more marketplace and promote it, and Benning agreed to provide a brand new case.

    Wittingly or now not, Epstein had made a valid funding. This time the associated fee was once $220,000 — or 33% greater than what Epstein had paid 8 years previous. With the backing of a monetary spouse whom DeRosa wouldn’t establish, he took ownership of the cello in early 2020, simply earlier than the coronavirus pandemic introduced an finish to reside performances.

    Like many of us in Epstein’s orbit, DeRosa now regrets ever getting knotted up with him and needs he had stored the cello for himself. “I want I’d by no means let Jeffrey purchase the cello,” DeRosa mentioned. “I’m now not a broker. I’m a live performance cellist. I used to be at all times indignant at myself that I let it move.”

    A Clue on the Cafe

    The thriller persists: Why had Epstein purchased the cello within the first position? What was once his connection to Nir?

    A very powerful clue emerged on the 2011 Judy Collins live performance on the Café Carlyle. Collins’ longtime musical arranger and pianist, Russell Walden, recalled that something concerning the night caught in his reminiscence. On the cafe, he met Nir’s spouse, Anat. Nir discussed that she was once the daughter of Barak, the previous Israeli high minister.

    There are infrequently any public references to Barak’s kids. Reached lately in Tel Aviv, he showed that Yoed and Anat Nir are his son-in-law and daughter.

    Barak — who was once high minister from 1999 to 2001 and later served in different high-ranking govt jobs — mentioned that any other former high minister, Shimon Peres, offered him to Epstein in 2003. Barak has mentioned that he and Epstein met dozens of occasions however he “by no means took phase in any celebration or tournament with ladies or anything else like that.”

    Through the years Epstein wooed Barak by way of, amongst different issues, making an investment $1 million in a restricted partnership established by way of Barak in 2015.

    He mentioned he offered Epstein to Nir in 2010 or 2011, regardless that he didn’t know that Epstein due to this fact lent Nir the cello. Due to this fact, Barak mentioned, it “may now not be true” that Epstein used the cello mortgage to curry want. A much more likely rationalization, he mentioned, “is that Mr. Epstein did it in accordance with the recognition of Yoed as an especially proficient cellist.” (Requested if he’d ever informed his partner’s father concerning the mortgage, Nir declined to respond to.)

    However, the mortgage of a $165,000 cello was once the type of want that Epstein may most effective have made identified when he sought after one thing in go back. Finally, now not simply anyone had the sources and connections to supply an bizarre cello for the relative of a formidable political chief — simply the kind of individual that Epstein had a knack for holding shut.

  • Ghislaine Maxwell’s Intercourse Trafficking Conviction Upheld Through Courtroom

    NEW YORK (AP) — A U.S. pass judgement on refused to throw out Ghislaine Maxwell’s intercourse trafficking conviction Friday, regardless of a juror’s failure to reveal prior to the trial started that he’d been a sufferer of early life sexual abuse.

    Maxwell, a British socialite, used to be convicted in December of serving to the millionaire Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse a number of teenage ladies.

    U.S. Pass judgement on Alison J. Nathan declined to reserve a brand new trial weeks after wondering the juror below oath in a New York court about why he did not reveal his private historical past as an abuse survivor on a questionnaire all through the jury variety procedure.

    The juror had mentioned he “skimmed method too speedy” during the questionnaire and didn’t deliberately give the flawed resolution to a query about intercourse abuse.

    “I didn’t lie so as to get in this jury,” he mentioned.

    Audrey Strauss, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, speaks during a news conference to announce charges against Ghislaine Maxwell for her alleged role in the sexual exploitation and abuse of multiple minor girls by Jeffrey Epstein, July 2, 2020, in New York.
    Audrey Strauss, Performing United States Lawyer for the Southern District of New York, speaks all through a information convention to announce fees in opposition to Ghislaine Maxwell for her alleged position within the sexual exploitation and abuse of more than one minor ladies by way of Jeffrey Epstein, July 2, 2020, in New York.

    In an opinion sure to cause a better court docket enchantment, Nathan mentioned the juror’s failure to reveal his prior sexual abuse all through the jury variety procedure used to be extremely unlucky, however no longer planned.

    The pass judgement on additionally concluded the juror “harbored no bias towards the defendant and may just function an excellent and independent juror.”

    Had the juror spoke back the questions appropriately, Maxwell’s attorneys had mentioned they doubtlessly will have objected to the person’s presence at the jury at the grounds that he will not be honest to an individual accused of a identical crime.

    The U.S. legal professional’s place of work declined remark Friday. Messages have been left with Maxwell’s lawyers.

    Maxwell, 60, used to be convicted of intercourse trafficking and different fees after a monthlong trial that featured testimony from 4 girls who mentioned she performed a task in surroundings them up for abuse by way of Epstein.

    Epstein killed himself in August 2019 as he awaited trial at a federal prison in New York on comparable intercourse trafficking fees.

    Maxwell says she’s blameless.

    After the trial’s conclusion, the juror, recognized in court docket papers handiest as Juror No. 50, gave interviews with a number of media retailers describing deliberations, and disclosing that he’d been abused as a kid. He mentioned he persuaded some fellow jurors {that a} sufferer’s imperfect reminiscence of abuse doesn’t imply it didn’t occur.

    Attainable jurors within the case have been have been required to fill out a 50-page questionnaire together with a query that requested: “Have you ever or a pal or circle of relatives member ever been the sufferer of sexual harassment, sexual abuse, or sexual attack?”

    The juror checked “No.”

    The juror mentioned in one of the vital interviews that he didn’t be mindful being requested that query, which used to be No. 48 at the shape.

    Protection attorneys for Maxwell requested the pass judgement on to straight away order a brand new trial, however she mentioned she may just no longer accomplish that with out wondering the juror.

    After Nathan wondered the juror in early March, attorneys on each side submitted written arguments. Prosecutors mentioned the juror made an “truthful mistake” and that it used to be “crystal transparent” that Maxwell gained an excellent trial.

    Maxwell’s attorneys disagreed.

    “Excusing Juror 50’s false solutions as a result of he believes his hid historical past of sexual abuse didn’t have an effect on his talent to function an excellent and independent juror does no longer fulfill the illusion of justice,” they argued. “Just a new trial would.”

    However Nathan rejected that reasoning, writing that the juror’s claims that he remained independent towards Maxwell rang true.

    When wondered about it, he spoke back “frankly and in truth, even if the solutions he gave have been the reason for private embarrassment and remorseful about,” she mentioned. “His tone, demeanor and responsiveness gave no indication of false testimony.”

  • Pass judgement on dismisses lawsuit by means of Jeffrey Epstein accuser in opposition to Prince Andrew following agreement

    Prince Andrew with Virginia Giuffre and Ghislain Maxwell.

    Supply: Attained via court docket paperwork.

    A federal pass judgement on on Tuesday brushed aside a lawsuit by means of a lady who accused Prince Andrew of Britain of sexually assaulting her when she used to be underage after each side agreed to settle the case out of court docket.

    The tossing of Virginia Giuffre’s case used to be anticipated after the disclosure by means of her legal professional on Feb. 15 that Andrew had agreed to pay Giuffre an undisclosed amount of money to withdraw her civil go well with.

    Giuffre has claimed Andrew assaulted her on a number of events as a lady years in the past, whilst she used to be below the regulate of intercourse felony Jeffrey Epstein and his convicted procurer, Ghislaine Maxwell, either one of whom had been buddies with the prince.

    A court docket submitting by means of legal professionals within the case in search of the dismissal previous Tuesday got here as a couple of British media shops reported that Andrew had paid Giuffre the agreed-upon quantity.

    Long island U.S. District Court docket Pass judgement on Lewis Kaplan granted the request hours later.

    In the similar court docket Tuesday a listening to used to be hung on a bid by means of Maxwell in search of to toss out her felony conviction in December for acquiring different underage women to be abused by means of Epstein.

    Maxwell’s legal professionals say a juror at her trial lied on a jury questionnaire about no longer having been a kid intercourse abuse sufferer prior to telling newshounds after the case ended that he were this kind of sufferer. Prosecutors have requested a pass judgement on to grant the juror immunity from prosecution in order that he may also be pressured to reply to questions Tuesday about his differing statements below oath.

    Juror 50 testified that he had no longer intended to deceive any individual when he hurriedly stuffed out the questionnaire.

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    Andrew up to now had strongly denied Giuffre’s allegations and in addition claimed to not recall ever assembly Giuffre. He has no longer recanted the ones denials.

    However the Duke of York reached an out-of-court, confidential settlement along with her to settle the case after failing to get Pass judgement on Kaplan to brush aside the lawsuit, surroundings the level for Andrew to be wondered below oath by means of Giuffre’s legal professionals.

    The settlement got here in a while after Andrew’s already tattered recognition because of his connection to Maxwell and Epstein used to be dealt much more blows by means of being stripped of his army titles and different honorifics associated with being a member of Britain’s royal circle of relatives.

    As a part of the agreement, Andrew, who’s a son of Queen Elizabeth II, agreed to make “a considerable donation to Ms. Giuffre’s charity in fortify of sufferers’ rights.”

    A remark by means of his legal professionals and Giuffre’s recommend final month mentioned the prince “regrets his affiliation with Epstein, and commends the bravery of Ms. Giuffre and different survivors in status up for themselves and others.”

    “He pledges to exhibit his be apologetic about for his affiliation with Epstein by means of supporting the battle in opposition to the evils of intercourse trafficking, and by means of supporting its sufferers,” that remark mentioned.

    Epstein killed himself by means of putting in a Long island federal prison in 2019 whilst watching for trial on kid intercourse trafficking fees, government have mentioned.

  • Prosecutors request immunity for Ghislaine Maxwell juror at listening to on whether or not he lied in Jeffrey Epstein intercourse crime case

    Ghislaine Maxwell in a court caricature all the way through her trial on Dec. twenty ninth, 2021.

    Artist: Christine Cornell

    Federal prosecutors requested a pass judgement on to grant immunity to a juror in order that he will also be pressured to testify Tuesday at a New York court docket listening to on whether or not he lied prior to he used to be decided on to take a seat at the intercourse crime trial of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell.

    Juror 50’s attorney has mentioned that with out immunity from prosecution, the person will refuse to testify below his 5th Modification proper in opposition to giving self-incriminating proof at the witness stand.

    That stance displays the possible chance that Juror 50 may well be charged with mendacity on a jury variety questionnaire prior to Maxwell’s trial. On the time, he indicated he had no longer been a sufferer of sexual abuse.

    However Juror 50 later advised journalists that he have been abused as a kid and that he had discussed that truth to fellow jurors all the way through their deliberations. The jury convicted Maxwell in past due December of purchasing underage women to be sexually abused through past due cash supervisor Jeffrey Epstein.

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    Maxwell’s legal professionals have requested Long island federal court docket Pass judgement on Alison Nathan to reserve a brand new trial for her according to the juror’s alleged lie on his questionnaire.

    If the person had advised the reality about being an abuse sufferer, protection legal professionals argue, he would were extra intently wondered about whether or not he may well be truthful to Maxwell, and can have been excluded from the jury panel on account of his historical past.

    Nathan ordered Tuesday’s listening to in order that the person may well be wondered about his differing claims prior to she makes her ruling at the bid for a brand new trial.

    In its request for immunity for the juror, the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the Southern District of New York mentioned that the testimony that the person may give “could also be essential to the general public hobby.”

    The court docket submitting making that request notes that it used to be authorized through a deputy assistant legal professional normal within the U.S. Justice Division.

    Maxwell, 60, used to be arrested in July 2020 at her house in New Hampshire, a 12 months after Epstein himself used to be arrested on fees of kid intercourse trafficking. She has been held with out bond in a Brooklyn federal prison since then.

    Epstein, 66, died from what has formally been dominated a suicide through putting within the Long island federal prison in August 2019 whilst watching for trial.

    He in the past pleaded accountable to prostitution involving an underage lady in a Florida state case and served 13 months in prison. Epstein prior to his conviction used to be buddies with quite a lot of wealthy and well-known other folks, together with Presidents Invoice Clinton and Donald Trump, and Britain’s Prince Andrew.

  • Ghislaine Maxwell juror will take 5th to steer clear of answering if he lied on questionnaire in intercourse crime trial

    Ghislaine Maxwell listens as Lisa Rocchio sits within the witness field as she is puzzled by means of Assistant U.S. Lawyer Lara Pomerantz throughout a listening to to speak about which professional witnesses will be capable to testify at Maxwell’s upcoming intercourse crimes trial in New York, U.S., on this court docket cartoon on November 10, 2021.

    Jane Rosenberg | Reuters

    The juror accused of mendacity on a questionnaire sooner than he used to be seated within the trial that convicted Ghislaine Maxwell for intercourse crimes associated with Jeffrey Epstein will workout his 5th Modification proper towards self-incrimination at an upcoming courtroom listening to, his legal professional says.

    Federal prosecutors in flip stated they’re going to search an order compelling Juror 50, who’s refusing to reply to questions, to testify at that listening to, consistent with a brand new courtroom submitting.

    Juror 50 allegedly didn’t reveal at the questionnaire that he used to be a sufferer of sexual abuse as a kid at the questionnaire for Maxwell’s trial.

    However the guy, whose title CNBC isn’t publishing, later informed journalists he had disclosed that truth to fellow jurors throughout deliberations within the case.

    Maxwell’s legal professionals are looking for to have her conviction in December for shopping underage women to be sexually abused by means of Epstein tossed out and for the British socialite to be granted a brand new trial in accordance with Juror 50’s movements.

    The ones legal professionals argue that if Juror 50 had honestly spoke back the questionnaire, which requested if potential jurors if they’d ever been sexually abused, protection lawyers would have challenged his variety for the trial, which can have saved him off the jury.

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    Ny federal courtroom Pass judgement on Alison Nathan has set a listening to Tuesday to query the juror below oath.

    However in a letter disclosed Wednesday, Juror 50’s legal professional Todd Spodek wrote Nathan, pronouncing, “I write to tell the Courtroom that Juror 50 will invoke his 5th Modification privilege towards self-incrimination on the listening to.”

    The prosecutors who treated Maxwell’s case informed the pass judgement on, “The Govt writes to inform the Courtroom that it’s within the technique of looking for inner approval to hunt an order, pursuant to [federal law] compelling Juror 50’s testimony on the listening to.”

    “The Govt will, matter to inner approval, post a proposed order to the Courtroom upfront of the listening to,” prosecutors wrote.

    Maxwell has been held with out bail since her arrest in mid-2020.

    Epstein, a cash supervisor who were pals with former Presidents Donald Trump and Invoice Clinton, in addition to with Britain’s Prince Andrew, died from suicide in a Ny prison in August 2019 whilst watching for trial on federal kid intercourse trafficking fees.

    That is breaking information. Take a look at again for updates.

  • Pass judgement on Limits Inquiry Into Juror At Ghislaine Maxwell Trial

    NEW YORK (AP) — An inquiry into conceivable juror misconduct at British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell’s intercourse trafficking trial shall be restricted to his solutions to 2 responses on a long questionnaire right through jury variety to stop an “intrusive fishing expedition” by means of protection legal professionals, a pass judgement on mentioned in an opinion launched Friday.

    U.S. District Pass judgement on Alison J. Nathan mentioned within the partly redacted choice dated Thursday that she’ll query a juror on March 8 about his solutions to 2 questions about a 50-question questionnaire to be told why he mentioned he’d by no means been a sufferer of sexual abuse or a sufferer of a criminal offense despite the fact that he printed after the trial that he had.

    Maxwell, 60, was once convicted in past due December of intercourse trafficking and different fees alleging that she recruited teenage ladies from 1994 to 2004 for financier Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse. She awaits a June sentencing. Epstein, 66, killed himself in a Long island federal prison cellular in August 2019 whilst watching for a intercourse trafficking trial.

    The juror forged doubt at the Maxwell trial verdict when he informed information shops in January that he had disclosed to fellow jurors right through a weeklong deliberation that he was once a kid intercourse abuse sufferer and satisfied different jurors {that a} sufferer’s imperfect reminiscence of intercourse abuse doesn’t imply it didn’t occur.

    Nathan rejected requests by means of Maxwell’s legal professionals to straight away order a brand new trial or to let protection lawyers collect proof corresponding to communications the juror had via social media or by means of electronic mail with alleged sufferers or witnesses, different jurors or media representatives. In addition they sought proof of bills he would possibly have won for any interview or knowledge he gave about his jury provider.

    “The Courtroom denies those requests as vexatious, intrusive, unjustified, and a fishing expedition,” the pass judgement on wrote.

    She mentioned it was once “procedurally flawed” for Maxwell’s lawyers to subpoena social media firms for data.

    “The Courtroom concludes that the Defendant has now not made a appearing that any pre-hearing discovery is acceptable, and the request to have interaction in an intrusive fishing expedition is denied,” Nathan mentioned.

    A legal professional for Maxwell didn’t straight away reply to a request for remark.

    Nathan cited earlier instances and rulings by means of appeals courts to turn that the inquiry into the habits of a juror recognized in paperwork most effective as “Juror No. 50” will have to be restricted and that different jurors might not be wondered.

    However she additionally wrote that his “direct, unambiguous statements to a couple of media shops” supply considerable and incontrovertible proof that an impropriety — a false observation — right through jury variety has came about.

    “To be transparent, the prospective impropriety isn’t that any individual with a historical past of sexual abuse can have served at the jury. Fairly, it’s the attainable failure to reply honestly to questions right through the jury variety procedure that requested for that subject matter knowledge in order that any attainable bias may well be explored,” she mentioned.

    She mentioned her choice, introduced Thursday, to reserve an evidentiary public listening to the place she is going to query the juror was once made vital as a result of he checked the “No” field as his resolution to Query 48.

    The query requested: Have you ever or a pal or circle of relatives member ever been the sufferer of sexual harassment, sexual abuse, or sexual attack? (This comprises exact or tried sexual attack or different undesirable sexual advance, together with by means of a stranger, acquaintance, manager, instructor, or circle of relatives member.)

    Nathan mentioned she may also query the juror about why he checked “No” to Query 25, which requested: Have you ever, or any of your kinfolk or shut buddies, ever been a sufferer of a criminal offense?

    She mentioned the aim of her questions for the juror shall be to decide if he has engaged in any misconduct warranting a brand new trial.

  • Modeling agent just about Epstein discovered lifeless in French prison

    A modeling agent who was once just about disgraced U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein was once discovered lifeless Saturday in his French prison mobile, the place he was once being held in an investigation into the rape and intercourse trafficking of minors, in step with the Paris prosecutor’s place of work.

    Paris police are investigating Jean-Luc Brunel’s demise on the historical L. a. Sante jail in Paris, the prosecutor’s place of work stated.

    Sufferers of his alleged abuse described surprise and dismay that the 75-year-old, a well known style scout within the Eighties and Nineteen Nineties who ran other businesses in Paris and New York, won’t ever face trial. They known as his demise as a double blow after Epstein killed himself in 2019 in a Big apple prison whilst waiting for sex-trafficking fees.

    Brunel’s attorneys steered Saturday that he, too, killed himself. In a commentary, they described his “misery” at his incarceration and his repeated requests for a provisional unlock from the jail.

    “Jean-Luc Brunel by no means stopped stating his innocence,” they stated. “His choice was once now not guided through guilt, however through a deep sentiment of injustice.”

    The attorneys would now not additional touch upon what took place, and it was once unclear whether or not the prison had suicide prevention measures in position.

    Brunel was once detained at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport in 2020 as a part of a large French probe unleashed through the U.S. sex-trafficking fees in opposition to Epstein. A widespread better half of Epstein, Brunel was once regarded as central to the French investigation into alleged sexual exploitation of girls and women through the U.S. financier and his circle. Epstein traveled incessantly to France and had residences in Paris.

    One in every of Epstein’s primary accusers, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, has alleged that Brunel procured ladies, a few of them minors, for intercourse with Epstein and different rich other people, luring them with guarantees of modeling paintings.

    More than one ladies who known themselves as sufferers have spoken to police for the reason that French probe started in 2019, and now and then expressed frustration with the gradual tempo of the investigation.

    One in every of them, Thysia Huisman, stated Saturday that the inside track of Brunel’s demise despatched her into “surprise.”

    “It makes me offended, as a result of I’ve been preventing for years,” Huisman, a Dutch former style who advised police she was once drugged and raped through Brunel as a teenager, advised The Related Press. “For me, the tip of this was once to be in court docket. And now that entire finishing — which might assist shape closure — is taken clear of me.”

    A legal professional representing Huisman and different sufferers, Anne-Claire Le Jeune, stated different ladies concerned within the case really feel the similar.

    “Nice unhappiness, nice frustration that (the sufferers) gained’t get justice,” she advised The AP.

    She expressed doubt that the investigation would result in a tribulation, as a result of Brunel was once so central to the case. She additionally voiced issues that Brunel’s demise way his accusers gained’t get any professional popularity in their standing as sufferers.

    “To rebuild your self (after abuse), that is likely one of the very important steps,” Huisman stated.

    She expressed hope that Brunel’s demise gained’t discourage ladies from proceeding to talk out about abuse. The investigation, at the side of a rising reckoning about sexual misconduct in France, has “freed up ladies to discuss it,” she stated. “It’s a hard step that calls for numerous braveness and power.”

    Brunel was once named in U.S. court docket filings, too. The spokesperson for the prosecutors who charged Epstein in New York declined touch upon Brunel’s demise.

    For Giuffre and different sufferers, the inside track of Brunel’s demise was once “devastating,” in accordance a commentary from her legal professional, Sigrid McCawley.

    Guiffre herself tweeted: “The suicide of Jean-Luc Brunel, who abused me and numerous ladies and younger ladies, ends any other bankruptcy. I’m dissatisfied that I wasn’t in a position to stand him in a last trial to carry him responsible, however gratified that I used to be in a position to testify in particular person final yr to stay him in jail.”

    McCawley stated Brunel’s demise didn’t finish the seek for justice.

    “For the ladies who’ve stood up and known as for responsibility from legislation enforcement around the globe, it’s not how those males died, however how they lived, and the wear they brought about to such a lot of. The struggle to hunt fact and justice is going on,” McCawley stated.

    Britain’s Prince Andrew lately agreed to settle a case through which Giuffre accused him of sexual abuse when she was once 17. Guiffre says she was once provided to Andrew through Epstein, fees that Andrew denies. The agreement, through which Andrew agreed to make a considerable donation to Giuffre’s charity, avoids a tribulation.

  • Prince Andrew settles intercourse abuse lawsuit by means of Jeffrey Epstein sufferer Virginia Giuffre

    The Duke of York, in his function as colonel of the Grenadier Guards, at a memorial in Bruges to mark the seventy fifth Anniversary of the liberation of the Belgian the town.

    Jonathan Brady | PA Pictures | Getty Pictures

    A lawsuit that accuses Britain’s Prince Andrew of sexually assaulting an underage woman whilst she was once beneath the keep watch over of intercourse felony Jeffrey Epstein and his procurer Ghislaine Maxwell has been settled out of court docket “in concept,” the attorney for the accuser stated in a court docket submitting Tuesday.

    The bombshell building got here in Ny federal court docket, the place Andrew had failed in makes an attempt to get the go well with by means of Virginia Giuffre tossed out, and after he have been stripped of army titles and different honorifics associated with being a member of Britain’s royal circle of relatives.

    The tentative agreement, whose main points weren’t launched, method the lawsuit is anticipated to be disregarded quickly.

    In a letter to Pass judgement on Lewis Kaplan, Giuffre’s high-powered attorney David Boies wrote, “We write collectively with recommend for defendant to advise the Courtroom that the events reached a agreement in concept of the above-referenced motion.”

    “The events await submitting a stipulation of dismissal of the case inside thirty (30) days,” Boies wrote. “In the meanwhile, the events request that the Courtroom droop all time limits and grasp the motion in abeyance.”

    That is breaking information. Please test again for updates.

  • Prince Andrew provides up St. Andrews golfing membership club amid Jeffrey Epstein sufferer intercourse lawsuit

    Prince Andrew tees off on the 18th hollow at St. Andrews in Scotland, October, 1994.

    Stephen Munday | Getty Pictures

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    The prince was once a pal of the overdue cash supervisor Epstein, who has been accused of sexually assaulting and abusing dozens of underage ladies and younger girls.

    A kind of girls, Virginia Giuffre, sued Andrew in Ny federal court docket closing yr, claiming the prince sexually assaulted her on a number of events at a couple of places when she was once 17 years previous after being directed to have intercourse with him via the British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s confidante.

    Andrew denies Giuffre’s accusations and has mentioned he does now not recall ever assembly her. A photograph presentations him with a tender Giuffre with a smiling Maxwell within the background.

    A pass judgement on this month brushed aside Andrew’s request to throw out Giuffre’s go well with.

    Maxwell was once convicted in overdue December at a felony trial in Ny federal court docket of buying underage ladies to be abused via Epstein.

    She is looking forward to sentencing whilst proceeding to be held with out bail.

    The convicted intercourse felony Epstein died from a suicide via placing in August 2019 in a New York federal prison whilst looking forward to trial on kid intercourse trafficking fees.

    Along with Andrew, Epstein had prior to now been pals with different rich celebrities, together with two former presidents, Donald Trump and Invoice Clinton.