📄 Extracted Text (13,922 words)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
x
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
S2 20 Cr. 330 (AJN)
v.
GHISLAINE MAXWELL,
Defendant.
x
GHISLAINE MAXWELL'S REPLY IN SUPPORT OF
HER MOTIONS IN LIMINE
Jeffrey S. Pagliuca
Laura A. Menninger
HADDON MORGAN & FOREMAN P.C.
Denver
Phone:
Christian R. Everdell
COHEN & GRESSER LLP
New York NY
Phone:
Bobbi C. Stemheim
Law Offices of Bobbi C. Stemheim
Attorneysfor Chislaine Maxwell
EFTA00090721
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. THIS COURT SHOULD PRECLUDE INTRODUCTION OF ALLEGED CO-
CONSPIRATOR STATEMENTS AS A SANCTION FOR GOVERNMENTS
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS COURT'S SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 ORDER
1
A. The Court's Order was Neither Ambiguous Nor Misread by the Defense 1
B. The Court Has the Authority to Require Disclosure 2
C. There Should Be a Sanction 4
D. There are Substantial Issues with the Government's Anticipated Position 5
II. GOVERNMENT CONCEDEDLY FAILED TO GIVE NOTICE OF THE BASIS OR
REASONING TO ADMIT ANY 404(B) EVIDENCE 6
A. The Emails Bear No Relationship to the Charged Conspiracy, Reflect Pure Propensity
Evidence, and Otherwise are Unduly Prejudicial to Uninvolved Third-Party Adults .7
B. 11
1. 12
2. The government has apparently abandoned efforts to introduce her testimony as Rule
404(b) evidence 13
3. constitutes an impermissible constructive
amendment and variance to the Indictment. 13
C. Ms. Maxwell reiterates her re, uest to defer briefing and ruling on the admissibility
for two weeks. 15
III. THIS COURT SHOULD EXCLUDE i TESTIMONY UNDER
FEDERAL RULE OF EVIDENCE 702 AND DAUBERT V. MERRELL DOW
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., 509 U.S. 579 (1993) AND GRANT A DAUBERT
HEARING 15
A. This Court should reject the government's arguments to the extent that they are based on
newly disclosed material, which this Court ordered the government to produce six months
ago 15
B. proposed testimony is inadmissible 17
C. At a minimum, this Court should hold a Dauber: hearing. 23
IV. THE COURT SHOULD EXCLUDE EVIDENCE RELATED
24
V. THE GOVERNMENT CONCEDES THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER EVIDENCE OF MS.
MAXWELL'S ALLEGED "FLIGHT" 32
EFTA00090722
VI. THE GOVERNMENT CONCEDES THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER EVIDENCE OF MS.
MAXWELL'S ALLEGED FALSE STATEMENTS AND AGREES TO MS.
MAXWELL'S PROPOSED REDACTIONS32
VII. THE COURT SHOULD HOLD A PRE-TRIAL EVIDENTIARY HEARING ON MS.
MAXWELL'S MOTION TO SUPPRESS IDENTIFICATION. 32
VIII. GOVERNMENT AGREES NOT TO ELICIT LAW ENFORCEMENT OPINION
TESTIMONY 35
IX. THE COURT SHOULD PRECLUDE TESTIMONY ABOUT ANY ALLEGED "RAPE"
BY JEFFREY EPSTEIN 36
XII. REFERENCE TO ACCUSERS AS "VICTIMS" IS IMPROPER VOUCHING 38
XIII. THE COURT SHOULD PRECLUDE INTRODUCTION OF GOVERNMENT
EXHIBITS 52, 251, 288, 294, 313, 606 AND THE SEARCH OF EL BRILLO WAY
41
A. The Court Should Exclude the Challenged Government Exhibits 41
B. Government Exhibit 52 42
C. The Palm Beach Search of El Brillo Way 42
D. 43
E. The Twin Torpedoes 43
F. Government Exhibit 313 44
G. Government Exhibit 606 44
ii
EFTA00090723
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
Cases
Bosco v. United States, No. 14 CIV. 3525 (JFK), 2016 WL 5376205 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 26, 2016)19
Cf. State v. Wigg, 889 A.2d 233 (Vt. 2005) 40
Daubert v. Merrell Dow Phanns., Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993) passim
Dougherty v. County ofSttffolk,No. CV 13-6493 (AKT), 2018 WL 1902336 (E.D.N.Y. Apr. 20,
2018) 41
Esquivel-Quintana v. Sessions, 137 S. Ct. 1562 (2017) 30
Highland Capital Mgmt., L.P. v. Schneider, 379 F. Supp. 2d 461 (S.D.N.Y. 2005) 41
Lou v. United States, 218 F.2d 675 (5th Cir. 1955) 5
Old Chief v. United States, 519 U.S. 172 (1997) 38
People v. Davis, 423 N.Y.S.2d 229 (N.Y. App. Div. 1979) 39
Raheem v. Kelly, 257 F.3d 122 (2d Cir. 2001) 34
Ricketts v. City ofHartford, 74 F.3d 1397 (2d Cir.1996) 41
Solomon v. Smith, 645 F.2d 1179 (2d Cir. 1981) 34
State v. Cortes, 851 A.2d 1230 (Conn. App. Ct. 2004) 39
State v. Sperou, 365 Or. 121, 131, 442 P.3d 581 (2019) 40
Talkington v. State, 682 S.W.2d 674 (Tex. App. 1984) 39
United States v. Angelilli, 660 F.2d 23 (2d Cir. 1981) 8
United States v. Arroyo, 600 F. App'x 11 (2d Cir. 2015) 7
United States v. Bagaric, 706 F.2d 42 (2d Cir. 1983) 26
United States v. Bocio, 103 F. Supp. 2d 531 (N.D.N.Y. 2000) 2
United States v. Bozeman, No. 3:11-CR-129, 2012 WL 1071207 (E.D. Tenn. Mar. 29, 2012) 3
United States v. Brewington, No. 15-CR-00073-PAB, 2018 WL 1411274 (D. Colo. Mar. 21,
2018) 3
United States v. Bums, No. 07 CR 556, 2009 WL 3617448 (N.D. III. Oct. 27, 2009) 20, 21
United States v. Cummings, 60 F. Supp. 3d 434 (S.D.N.Y. 2014) 26
United States v. Curley, 639 F.3d 50 (2d Cir. 2011) 26
United States v. Curley, No. SI 08 Cr. 404 (SCR), 2009 WL 10688209 (S.D.N.Y. Jul. 15, 2009)
26
United States v. D 'Amelio, 683 F.3d 412 (2d Cir. 2012) 14
United States v. Dupre, 462 F.3d 131 (2d Cir. 2006) 14
United States v. Ehrens, No. CR-15-200-C, 2015 WL 7758544 (W.D. Okla. Dec. 1, 2015) 39
iii
EFTA00090724
United States v. English, No. 18 Cr. 492 (PGG) (S.D.N.Y. 2020) 37
United States v. Golyansky, 291 F.3d 1245 (10th Cir. 2002) 4
United States v. Gonyer, No. 1:12-CR-00021-JAW, 2012 WL 3043020 (D. Me. July 24, 2012)20
United States v. Graham, No. 14 Cr. 500 (NSR), 2015 WL 6161292 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 20, 2015) 38
United States v. Gross, 15-cr-769 (MN), 2017 WL 4685111 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 18, 2017) 14
United States v. Jacobs, 650 F. Supp. 2d 160 (D. Conn. 2009) 2
United States v. LaFlan:, 369 F.3d 153 (2d Cir. 2004) 7
United States v. Lee, 834 F.3d 145 (2d Cir. 2016) 4
United States v. Lewis, 818 F. App'x 74 (2d Cir. 2020) 15
United States v. Lincoln, No. 19-CR-6047 (CJS), 2019 WL 719822 (W.D.N.Y. Dec. 23, 2019)28
United States v. Moccia, 681 F.2d 61 (1st Cir. 1982) 38
United States v. Mollica, 849 F.2d 723 (2d Cir. 1988) 14
United States v. Nektalov, 325 F. Supp. 2d 367 (S.D.N.Y. 2004) 29, 37
United States v. Pineros, 532 F.2d 868 (2d Cir. 1976) 4
United States v Raniere, No. 18-CR-2041-NGG-VMS, 2019 WL 2212639 (E.D.N.Y. May 22,
2019) 20, 23
United States v. Raymond, 700 F. Supp. 2d 142 (D. Me. 2010) 20, 21, 22
United States v. Rigas, 490 F.3d 208 (2d. Cir. 2007) 14
United States v. Salmonese, 352 F.3d 608 (2d Cir. 2003) 14
United States v. Schneider, No. CRIM.A. 10-29, 2010 WL 3734055 (E.D. Pa. Sept. 22, 2010) 20,
41
United States v. Sena, No. 19-CR-01432, 2021 WL 4129247 (D.N.M. Sept. 9, 2021) 39, 40
United States v. Sliker, 751 F.2d 477 (2d Cir.1984) 41
United States v. Smalls, No. CR 06-2403 RB, 2008 WL 11361098 (D.N.M. Jan. 24, 2008) 3
United States v. Stein, 521 F. Supp. 2d 266 (S.D.N.Y. 2007) 38
United States v. Townsend, No. Si 06 CR. 34 (JFK), 2007 WL 1288597 (S.D.N.Y. May I, 2007)
29, 36
United States v. Tracy, 12 F.3d 1186 (2d Cir.1993) 5
United States v. Velez, No. 3:10CR147 JBA, 2010 WL 4929266 (D. Conn. Nov. 30, 2010) 3
United States v. Vickers, 708 F. App'x 732 (2d Cir. 2017) 28, 31
United States v. Von Foelkel, 136 F.3d 339 (2d Cir. 1998) 26
United States v. Walia, No. 14-CR-213 (MKB), 2014 WL 3734522 (S.D.N.Y. Jul. 25, 2014) 25
United States v. Williams, 506 F.3d 151 (2d Cir. 2007) 22
iv
EFTA00090725
Statutes
18 U.S.C. § 1591 37
18 U.S.C. § 2422 28
18 U.S.C. § 2423(a) 28
N.Y. Penal Law § 130.55 28
Other Authorities
6 Handbook of Fed. Evid. § 801:25 (9th ed.) 5
Rules
Fed. R. Crim. 16 17
Fed. R. Evid. 104 41
Fed. R. Evid. 401 22, 43
Fed. R. Evid. 402 10, 16, 43, 44
Fed. R. Evid. 403 passim
Fed. R. Evid. 404(b) passim
Fed. R. Evid. 412 14, 18, 22
Fed. R. Evid. 702 17, 21, 22
Fed. R. Evid. 801 2, 3, 5
EFTA00090726
Ghislaine Maxwell hereby submits her Reply In Support of Her Motions in Limine.
I. THIS COURT SHOULD PRECLUDE INTRODUCTION OF ALLEGED CO-
CONSPIRATOR STATEMENTS AS A SANCTION FOR GOVERNMENT'S
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS COURT'S SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 ORDER
The government offers several excuses for its failure to comply with this Court's
September 3, 2021 Order. These excuses are insufficient and should be rejected.
A. The Court's Order was Neither Ambiguous Nor Misread by the Defense
First, the government suggests that Ms. Maxwell has misread the Order. We disagree.
The Court unambiguously rejected the government's position and ruled that the government's
expressed concern about disclosure "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." Dkt. 335 at 3. To both "avoid the risk of surprise" and "litigate co-
conspirator issues in advance of trial to ensure the absence of delay, " the Court identified two
things that were necessary from the government: First, no later than October 11, 2021, the
government was required to "disclose to the defense the identities of any unnamed co-
conspirators who allegedly participated in the conspiracies charged in the S2 indictment to whom
the government will refer at trial." Id. Second, the Court, unambiguously and emphatically,
directed: "The Government is FURTHER ORDERED to disclose all co-conspirator hearsay
statements it intends to offer at trial no later than October 11, as consistent with this Court's
scheduling order. Dkt. No. 297 at I." (emphasis in original.)
The Court used the word "disclose" both as to the identity of the co-conspirators "to
whom the government will refer to at trial" and "all co-conspirator hearsay statements it intends
to offer at trial...." The government, in an attempt to blunt the Order, decided to interpret the
same word, "disclose" in materially distinct fashions. As to the identity of the co-conspirators,
the government disclosed (i.e., identified) three names. When it was parsing the second part of
1
EFTA00090727
the Order, however, the government defined the word "disclose" differently. Disclose, as to the
actual statements, according to the government, means "produced" at some time in the past or to
be produced in the future, perhaps as an oral statement during trial.
Of course, the Court will tell the parties whether it meant two completely different things
when it used the same word, as argued by the government, or whether it intended for the
government to disclose the statements it intends to offer as co-conspirator statements. To avoid
delay over this issue during trial, Ms. Maxwell suggests that she cannot litigate this issue in
advance of trial without knowing what statements are being offered under Federal Rule of
Evidence 801(d)(2)(e).
What is clear from the government's response is not that it misunderstood the Order, but
rather, it continues to disagree with the Order.
B. The Court Has the Authority to Require Disclosure
Second, doubling down on its disagreement with the Court, the government claims "it is
aware of no such case" in which a court ordered the identification of anticipated co-conspirator
statements prior to trial. While the government may not be "aware" of such cases, they certainly,
and abundantly, exist.
In United States v. Bocio, 103 F. Supp. 2d 531, 534 (N.D.N.Y. 2000), the court ordered
pretrial disclosure of statements of co-conspirators (Government "must disclose to the defendant
and make available for inspection, copying, or photographing: any relevant written or recorded
statements ..., or copies thereof, within the possession, custody, or control of the government.").
In United States v. Jacobs, 650 F. Supp. 2d 160, 171 (D. Conn. 2009), the court ordered
co-conspirator statements be produced in advance of trial ("In the case of a co-conspirator who
the government plans to call as a witness at trial, that time is now, and the government is directed
to produce any relevant statement to defense counsel forthwith.")
2
EFTA00090728
In United States v. Velez, No. 3:10CRI47 JBA, 2010 WL 4929266, at *7 (D. Conn. Nov.
30, 2010), the defendant moved for disclosure of any co-conspirator statements in advance of
trial. In response, the government agreed to disclose "well in advance of trial, exactly which of
the intercepted telephone calls will be offered as full exhibits at trial and transcripts of those calls
will be provided in advance of trial." Based on that representation the court denied the motion to
produce as moot, "without prejudice to renew if the Government fails to comply with its ongoing
disclosure obligations." Id.
In United States v. Smalls, No. CR 06-2403 RB, 2008 WL 11361098, at *8-9 (D.N.M.
Jan. 24, 2008), the court's order was very detailed:
The United States is hereby instructed to:
file a supplemental brief identifying the summary witness; specifically identifying
each and every coconspirator statement it intends to offer at trial as evidence against
Defendants pursuant to Fed. R. Evid. 801(d)(2)(E); and stating how each proffered
statement satisfies the requirements of Rule 801(d)(2)(E). Specifically, with respect
to each alleged coconspirator statement, the United States must indicate: a) the
identity of the coconspirator who made the alleged statement; b) the identity of the
person or persons to whom the coconspirator statement was made; c) the identity
of the witness who will testify at trial about the coconspirator statement; d) the
content of the coconspirator statement; e) when the statement was made; 0 how the
statement is in the course of the alleged conspiracy; and g) how the statement is in
furtherance of the alleged conspiracy. Additionally, the United States must identify
the independent evidence it intends to offer in support of admission of the alleged
coconspirator statements.
See also United States v. Brewington, No. 15-CR-00073-PAB, 2018 WL 1411274, at *3 (D.
Cob. Mar. 21, 2018) (court required the government to identify and produce all its purported
801(d)(2)(e) statements, in the hundreds; held an evidentiary pre-trial hearing about the
admissibility of those statements; and made detailed, statement by statement rulings about
admissibility, excluding some and conditionally admitting others); United States v. Bozeman,
No. 3: II-CR-129, 2012 WL 1071207, at *14 (E.D. Tenn. Mar. 29, 2012), affd, No. 3:11-CR-
3
EFTA00090729
129-1, 2012 WL 1565099 (E.D. Tenn. May I, 2012) (government must disclose any statements
of co-conspirators that it intends to use at trial three weeks prior to the trial).
There is ample legal authority for the Court to enter the Order to avoid delays and
arguments during trial about what statements are or are not within the 10-year conspiracy alleged
here and to prevent surprise and prejudice to the Defendant.
C. There Should Be a Sanction
Hedging its bets, the government acknowledges that it "may have misread the court's
order" but offers no solution other than the defense is "free to litigate the admissibility of any
such statement during trial." This was the government's losing argument before the Order.
District courts have broad discretion to sanction a party who violates discovery orders.
United States v. Golyansky, 291 F.3d 1245, 1249 (10th Cir. 2002). In considering a particular
remedy for a violation, the factors considered are "the reasons why disclosure was not made, the
extent of the prejudice, if any, to the opposing party, the feasibility of rectifying that prejudice by
a continuance, and any other relevant circumstances." United States v. Lee, 834 F.3d 145, 159
(2d Cir. 2016) (quoting United States v. Pineros, 532 F.2d 868, 871 (2d Cir. 1976)). The
appropriate remedy is exclusion. Ms. Maxwell has been in jail for approximately 18 months. She
is trying not to request a continuance of the trial and her lawyers are making every effort to
review massive amounts of discovery, interview potential witness, prepare for trial, and juggle a
myriad of other responsibilities. The government offers no legitimate excuse for non-
compliance. It clearly knows what statements it will try to introduce, it just does not want to tell
anyone to avoid challenges to the statements. This is willful, not negligent or inadvertent conduct
which should not be sanctioned by the Court.
4
EFTA00090730
D. There are Substantial Issues with the Government's Anticipated Position
For a statement to fall within the definition of Fed. R. Evid. 801(d)(2)(E), "a court must
find (1) that there was a conspiracy, (2) that its members included the declarant and the party
against whom the statement is offered, and (3) that the statement was made both (a) during the
course of and (b) in furtherance of the conspiracy." United States v. Tracy, 12 F.3d 1186, 1196
(2d Cir. 1993). A cursory review of the discovery produced related to one purported co-
conspirator demonstrates the folly of proceeding as the government persists.
The government failed to follow the Court's Order and fails to explain why it did not
disclose the statements as ordered. Accordingly, the Court should prohibit introduction of any
alleged co-conspirator statements at trial.
5
EFTA00090731
II. GOVERNMENT CONCEDEDLY FAILED TO GIVE NOTICE OF THE
BASIS OR REASONING TO ADMIT ANY 404(B) EVIDENCE
The government concedes that (i) it was aware of the December 2020 Amendments to
Rule 404(b) (Resp. at 34), (ii) those Amendments required it to give notice of the "permitted
purpose for which the prosecutor intends to offer the [404(b)] evidence and the reasoning that
supports the purpose" (id.) ("Notice"), and (iii) the October 11'h "Maxwell Rule 404 Letter"
("Letter") did not identify the "permitted purpose" under Rule 404(b) for which the government
seeks (alternative) admission of the two categories of evidence, nor the "reasoning that supports
that evidence."' The government wholly fails to explain why it could not comply with these
"relatively modest" new Notice requirements on the timeline ordered by this Court. Nowhere in
response does the government seek leave for an extension to provide the appropriate Notice out
of time nor justify its "good cause" for failure to timely comply with both the Court's Order and
the Rule. Instead, they assert that "any alleged gap in the Government's notice is remediated by
this brief." Resp. at 39-40. To quote the government's response to Ms. Maxwell's motion in
limine, "to the extent the [government] takes issue with the rule" requiring specific pre-trial
Notice under Rule 404(b), "that complaint is properly directed to the drafters of the Federal
Rules of Evidence." Resp. at 61 n.15.
Having failed to comply with the Notice requirements of the Rule by the (extended)
Court ordered deadline of October 11, the government belatedly argues that the tendered
evidence is either direct evidence or admissible under Rule 404(b). They are wrong on both
fronts.
I Under the misleading and disingenuous sub-heading (2) ("The Government has Met and
Exceeded its Notice Obligations"), the government points only to its (i) October 11 disclosure of certain
of the evidence (which gives neither a a proper "purpose" or "reasoning"), and (ii) its Response (the
required "notice is remediated by this brief').
6
EFTA00090732
"In assessing whether a district court properly admitted other act evidence, we consider
whether (I) it was offered for a proper purpose; (2) it was relevant to a material issue in dispute;
(3) its probative value is substantially outweighed by its prejudicial effect; and (4) the trial court
gave an appropriate limiting instruction to the jury if so requested by the defendant." United
States v. Arroyo, 600 F. App'x II, 13 (2d Cir. 2015) (summary order) (quoting United States v.
Lanam, 369 F.3d 153, 156 (2d Cir. 2004). are offered for improper purposes, i.e.,
propensity, are not relevant to any material issue in dispute and their probative value is
substantially outweighed by their prejudicial effect.
A. near No Relationship to the Charged Conspirac Reflect Pure
Propensity Evidence, and Otherwise are Unduly Prejudici
The government's argument for admissibility of is breathtaking in its claims
and unsupported by admissible evidence. Without expert testimony or even bothering to
interview the government contends represent "direct evidence"
of a conspiracy (to recruit, groom, and sexually abuse minorfemales or to entice, transport or
traffic them for Jeffrey Epstein's sexual pleasure) that
Resp. at 36.
2 The proffered evidence is found at GX 401-404, 409-410 and 413
7
EFTA00090733
The government contends that reveal "defendant's intent and motive," but
their argument is defies logic.
This is exactly the
type of evidence forbidden by Rule 404(b). See United States v. AngellIli, 660 F.2d 23, 40-41
(2d Cir. 1981) ("While we conclude that the custom and practice evidence was admissible for the
purposes we have discussed, we agree with the defendants that Rule 404(b) barred its use to
prove that the individual defendants acted in conformity with the custom and practice. ...").
Even if the Court overlooks the government's failure to provide notice,
absence of relevance to the charged conspiracy, and the government's failure to set forth a non-
propensity ground for admissibility, should also be excluded under Rules 401 and
403, as they do not tend to make any fact of consequence more or less probable, and their
probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice and confusing the
issues.
8
EFTA00090734
9
EFTA00090735
Ms.
Maxwell strongly disputes that suggestion. Notably, as the Court can tell, the government did
not offer any evidence (or any offer of proof in their Response) that this document was in fact
I0
EFTA00090736
drafted by Ms. Maxwell. Compare GX 417-B, 418-B, 420-B, 420-B (all purporting to represent
metadata of other emails with the author identified).
Such arguments are based on outdated
stereotypes and reveal a reliance on character evidence that the Rules of Evidence specifically
disallow.
This Court should reject the belated, insufficient, improper argument that are
direct evidence of the charged conspiracy, should find they are propensity evidence barred by
Rule 404(b) and should also exclude them under Rule 403 as more prejudicial than probative.
B.
11
EFTA00090737
1.
Mot. at 7. Defense counsel had insufficient time to
review, investigate or rebut the admissibility of the materials as direct evidence less than one
week later on October le. For that reason, the Motion did not move to exclude the evidence as
direct evidence but rather sought additional time in which to do so. Given the drafting of
hundreds of pages of pleadings in the last week, counsel is still unprepared to make the required
showing on the direct evidence point and seeks additional time in which to do so.
5 Bear in mind that the government also moved to exclude evidence that these same "abused"
individuals reported to the police that they had no interactions or dealings with Ms. Maxwell. Gov't
Motion in Limine at 42 ("The defendant is not charged with committing crimes against [the] victims [who
reported that they had no interactions or dealings with Ms. Maxwell].") The fact that the government
clearly intends to rely on how open the alleged abuse was, the relevance of evidence that even the people
who claim they were abused by Epstein during the same time frame but without any knowledge or
participation by Ms. Maxwell becomes highly relevant to rebut such testimony.
12
EFTA00090738
2. The government has apparently abandoned efforts to introduce her
testimony as Rule 404(b) evidence.
In their response, the government still fails to comply with the new Rule 404(b) notice
requirements. First, they do not actually identify the evidence with any specificity, especially
with respect to the "exhibits" that they hope to introduce through her. Second, while they use the
words "plan and preparation" or "knowledge," they fail to explain how those uses of the
testimony are independent of the character / propensity inference banned by Rule 404(b). How
are the process and frequency of massages or the sexual nature of massages after the period of
the conspiracy proof of a plan or preparation, apart from the propensity inference? A plan or
preparation usually comes before an event. Planning or preparing for something after it has
occurred can only be based on an assumption that because you are the kind of person who
solicits underage massages later, you must have been the kind of person to do so earlier.
Similarly, knowledge after the end of the conspiracy is not the same as knowledge at the time of
or before the purported charged acts occurred, except by way of propensity. Finally, unspecified
exhibits, many of which appear to have been written after the conspiracy (e.g., GX 505 — dated
Feb. 14, 2005) cannot likewise be proof of the charged crimes which were allegedly completed
before showed up.
Because the government makes no effort to argue the non-propensity purpose for these
uses of via Rule 404(b), and failed to give notice of the purposes or reason in
advance in any event, this Court should exclude the evidence on this ground.
3. constitutes an impermissible
constructive amendment and variance to the Indictment.
Finally, what is clear from the government's proffer in their Response, the anticipated
testimony o
will serve as an improper constructive
13
EFTA00090739
amendment to, and an impermissible variance of, the Indictment. As this Court previously has
ruled:
"To prevail on a constructive amendment claim, a defendant must demonstrate that
'the terms of [an] indictment are in effect altered by the presentation of evidence
and jury instructions which so modify essential elements of the offense charged that
there is a substantial likelihood that the defendant may have been convicted of an
offense other than that charged in the indictment." United States v. D'Amelio. 683
F.3d 412. 416 (2d Cir. 2012) (quoting United States v. Mollica. 849 F.2d 723. 729
(2d Cir. 1988)). Because the doctrine of constructive amendment protects a
defendant's Grand Jury Clause rights, a constructive amendment constitutes a "per
se violation" of the defendant's constitutional rights—i.e. there is no requirement
that a defendant make a specific showing of prejudice. Id. at 417. In contrast to a
constructive amendment, "[a] variance occurs when the charging terms of the
indictment are left unaltered, but the evidence at trial proves facts materially
different from those alleged in the indictment." Id. (quoting United States v.
Salmonese, 352 F.3d 608. 621 (2d Cir. 2003)).
United States v. Gross, 15-cr-769 (MN), 2017 WL 4685111, at *20 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 18, 2017).
As this Court then recognized, the Second Circuit has consistently relied on the same
start and end dates of a conspiracy to find that differing trial proof did not affect a constructive
amendment or variance. See id. ("The indictment and the evidence at trial contained the same
starting and ending dates of the conspiracy...") (quoting United States v. Rigas, 490 F.3d 208,
229 (2d. Cir. 2007)); see also United States v. Dupre, 462 F.3d 131, 141 (2d Cir. 2006) ("The
starting and ending dates of the conspiracy noted in the indictment correspond to the conspiracy
proven at trial..."). Conversely, the substantial quantity of testimony — for the post-conspiracy
time period of
, who never met any of the four accusers as far as can be gleaned, and the documents she
intends to authenticate, run a substantial risk that the government's proof at trial will not be the
same core evidence charged in the Indictment because it will be based on evidence that post-
dates the events charged in the Indictment.
14
EFTA00090740
C. Ms. Maxwell reiterates her re uest to defer briefin and rulin on the
admissibility for two
weeks.
For the reasons already detailed, the complexity of the issues and the fact that ■
recently disclosed testimony appears to be of utmost centrality to the government's
case, Ms. Maxwell repeats and reiterates her request that she be afforded additional time to
submit a comprehensive motion in limine concerning the introduction of this testimony and
exhibits as supposed direct evidence of the charged conspiracy. In that there remains a full
month before opening statements, Ms. Maxwell's fundamental rights to present a defense, to
have the effective assistance of counsel, and to a right to confront witnesses and subpoena
witnesses to testify in her defense all will be preserved by a small delay on this issue.
III. THIS COURT SHOULD EXCLUDE TESTIMONY UNDER
FEDERAL RULE OF EVIDENCE 702 AND DAUBERT V. MERRELL DOW
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., 509 U.S. 579 (1993) AND GRANT A DAUBERT
HEARING
A. This Court should reject the government's arguments to the extent that they are
based on newly disclosed material, which this Court ordered the government to
produce six months ago.
Recognizing that proposed testimony is on shaky ground (to say the least), the
government belatedly tries to shore up its case and hoist up its expert witness. Two days ago, and
six months after the court-imposed deadline for expert disclosures, the government first
disclosed to defense counsel about 300 pages of material on which apparently relied in
reaching her conclusions. This Court should reject the government's untimely effort to save
testimony from exclusion. See United States v. Lewis, 818 F. App'x 74, 79 (2d Cir.
2020) (unpublished) (affirming exclusion of defendant's proffered expert evidence "that did not
adhere to the discovery schedule").
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EFTA00090741
In any case, the newly discovered material doesn't help the government's cause. Exhibit
A (literally) to the government's response is a journal article describing "grooming" as a
"construct." Resp, Ex. A, Natalie Bennett & William O'Donohue, The Construct of Grooming in
Child Sexual Abuse, 23 J. Child Sexual Abuse 957, 974 (2014). (In fact, Ms. Maxwell cited this
article in her motion.) Far from supporting conclusions, the article proves their
unreliability:
There have been claims that some child molesters engage in a "seduction stage"
prior to committing abuse. These behaviors, commonly known as "grooming," are
understood as methods child molesters use to gain access to and prepare future
victims to be compliant with abuse. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding
exactly what this process entails and how it is clearly distinguished from normal
adult-child interactions. . . . Furthermore, there are no methods of known
psychometrics to validly assess grooming.
Gov't Resp., Ex. A, p 2 (emphasis added). The article concludes:
Currently there is no consensus regarding how to define grooming. In addition,
there is no valid method to assess whether grooming has occurred or is occurring.
The field possesses an insufficient amount of knowledge about key issues such as
the interrater reliability of these judgments or the error rates of these judgments
including the frequency of false negatives or false positives. Thus currently it
appears that grooming is not a construct that ought to be used in forensic settings
as it does not meet some of the criteria in the Daubert standard. . . . Right now it
does not appear to be the case that there are "reliable principles and methods" to
define and detect grooming.
Id. at 19 (emphasis added).
Because the government cannot justify admission of testimony based on its
prejudicially late disclosures, and because those disclosures don't support views, and
underscore that "grooming" is not a scientific principle based on psychometric testing, this Court
should preclude from testifying. And as explained below, the government's other
defenses of fall far short of what is required by Rules 401, 402, 403, 404, 702, and 704.
16
EFTA00090742
B. proposed testimony is inadmissible.
According to the government, Ms. Maxwell "does not contest that Dr. is a
qualified expert." Resp. at 9. To the degree that Dr. has the credentials of a potential
expert, the government is right.
But saying that is a "qualified expert" is not enough. The government must
identify what is an expert in. Fed. R. Evid. 702; Fed. R. Crim. 16. As Ms. Maxwell
pointed out in her motion, the government hasn't done that. Mot. at 2.
What's more, even if is a "qualified expert" in something, she is not a "qualified
expert" in everything. (For example, the government agrees that she is not an expert in the
human brain or memory generally. Resp. at 30 n.7.) And as even the government admits,
has no experience or expertise in diagnosing, evaluating, or treating alleged perpetrators
of sexual abuse. Resp. at 19, 23, 26. She cannot therefore speak to the psychology of alleged
perpetrators and their so-called "grooming techniques."
The government attempts a two-step to get around this problem. "By virtue of experience
treating victims," says the government, "Dr. is necessarily informed about perpetrators'
actions." Resp. at 19.
But how does know her patients were victims of sexual abuse? Because her
patients told her so, and assumes they are telling the truth. Again, opinions
are based on her treatment of a self-selected, unrepresentative group of individuals she assumes
are telling the truth and are therapeutic consumers in a financial relationship with her.
The government has no response to this, other than to say that and other
"[c]linical psychologists are not so credulous." Resp. at 16. If this were right, though, one would
expect the government to explain how clinical psychologists ensure their patients are telling the
truth — in other words, how clinical psychologists like test and verify their opinions.
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EFTA00090743
But that's not what the government does. Instead, right after claiming that "[c]linical
psychologists are not so credulous," the government essentially says to Ms. Maxwell, "How dare
you?" In the government's words, "The Court should reject the defendant's speculative claim
that Dr. has been misled by hundreds of patients who sought professional treatment for
traumatic events that did not occur." Resp. at 16.
In this way, and in one breath, the government attests that is "not so credulous."
But in the next breath, the government asks this Court to assume that "has [not] been
misled by hundreds of patients who sought professional treatment for traumatic events that did
not occur." In other words, the government asks this Court to assume patients are
telling the truth, just as does. Apparently is "so credulous." But there is no
reason this Court should be.
The government next notes that the term "grooming-by-proxy" "appears nowhere in the
Government's expert notice." Resp. at 26. That's hardly surprising, though, because there is no
reliable way to assess or analyze if one individual "grooming" a minor to facilitate abuse by
someone else, even though that is exactly what the government says Ms. Maxwell did.
As detailed today is Ms. Maxwell's Rule 412 motion, the Indictment alleges "grooming"
or "normalization" of sexual behavior by Ms. Maxwell over a dozen times. The government does
not, however, contend that Ms. Maxwell "groomed" anyone for her own benefit; instead, the
government contends that she "groomed" them for Epstein's benefit. But as the government does
not dispute, there is nothing—not a journal article, and not a study, nothing—to validate
opinions on grooming-by-proxy (even if she doesn't use that phrase).6
6 The articles and cases the government cites involve alleged grooming behavior by the preparator
of the abuse, not alleged grooming behavior by a third patty.
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EFTA00090744
Recognizing that opinions are thus unreliable, the government says: "If the
victim experienced attachment and grooming, it makes no analytical difference whether the
perpetrator intends to engage in sexual contact with the victim or, instead, is preparing the victim
for abuse by a third party." Resp. at 26.
Hardly. It makes all the difference in the world because Ms. Maxwell is on trial, not Mr.
Epstein. The logic (such as it is) of grooming evidence is that the perpetrator normalizes sexual
behavior to facilitate his later abuse of the victim. But because Ms. Maxwell did not abuse
anyone, there is no basis to conclude that anything she did was "grooming." The government
thus intends to have characterize innocent conduct by Ms. Maxwell as something more
nefarious, thereby further blurring the line that experts are already unable to draw reliably. Resp.
Ex. A, p 2 ("There is a lack of consensus regarding exactly what [the grooming] process entails
and how it is clearly distinguished from normal adult—child interactions.").
The government's additional arguments fail.
• A psychologist who treats alleged victims of abuse but does not treat alleged
perpetrators is nothing like a urologist who treats urology patients. Resp. at 11
(citing Bosco v. United States, No. 14 CIV. 3525 (JFK), 2016 WL 5376205
(S.D.N.Y. Sept. 26, 2016)). assumes her patients are telling the truth, and
she never hears or credits the other side of the story. The urologist, by contrast,
has scientific means to verify what her patients tell her, and there isn't another
person whose side of the story she needs to hear.
• The government repeatedly says that "courts have frequently admitted testimony
about the psychological relationship between victims of sexual abuse and their
perpetrators." Resp. at 13. See also id. at 7-8. But those cases do not address the
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EFTA00090745
situation here, in which the alleged "groomer" was not the person who perpetrated
the alleged abuse.
• Even where the "groomer" and "perpetrator" are the same person, courts have
recognized the unreliability of grooming testimony. United States v. Gonyer, No.
1:12-CR-00021-JAW, 2012 WL 3043020, at *2-3 (D. Me. July 24, 2012); United
States v. Raymond, 700 F. Supp. 2d 142, 146-47 (D. Me. 2010); United States v.
Schneider, No. CRIM.A. 10-29, 2010 WL 3734055, at *4 (E.D. Pa. Sept. 22,
2010); see also United States v. Raniere, No. 18-CR-204I-NGG-VMS, 2019 WL
2212639, at *7 (E.D.N.Y. May 22, 2019); United States v. Burns, No. 07 CR 556,
2009 WL 3617448, at *5 (N.D. Ill. Oct. 27, 2009) (criticizing the "grooming
theory" in the context of a sentencing guidelines calculation).
• The government tries to distinguish United States v. Raymond by saying that the
expert's own book in that case "disavow[ed] [its] reliability . . . for legal use."
Resp. at 14. But that is exactly the situation here, because the primary article on
which the government relies—Exhibit A to its response-flatly says "that
grooming is not a construct that ought to be used in forensic settings as it does not
meet some of the criteria in the Daubert standard." Resp., Ex. A, p 19.
• The government says opinions are not "anecdotal." But that's not right
either, as her endorsement makes clear: opinions are based "on her
education and training on psychological trauma, traumatic stress, interpersonal
violence, and sexual abuse (and her] extensive clinical experience treating
individuals who suffered sexual abuse and trauma in childhood and adolescence,
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EFTA00090746
as well as (herJ experience conducting forensic psychological evaluations of
people who have experienced sexual abuse and trauma." Mot. Ex. 1, p 2.
• The government tries to disclaim the importance of error rates. Resp. at 15-17.
But it's not just that cannot identify an error rate, it's that her implicit
conclusion is that she doesn't have an error rate. That is, all her patients are
telling the truth when they say they were groomed, so any evidence that matches
what her patients have told her is therefore evidence of grooming.
• But even if the error-rate discussion were misplaced, that doesn't mean
opinions are reliable. As a "qualitative" matter, and as the
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EFTA00090721
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