DOJ-OGR-00016155.jpg
577 KB
Extraction Summary
4
People
3
Organizations
2
Locations
1
Events
1
Relationships
4
Quotes
Document Information
Type:
Court transcript (sidebar conference)
File Size:
577 KB
Summary
This document is a page from a court transcript (Case 1:20-cr-00330-AJN, United States v. Ghislaine Maxwell) detailing a sidebar conference. Prosecutor Ms. Comey objects to Defense Attorney Ms. Sternheim's opening statement, arguing it violates a pretrial ruling by suggesting the government is targeting the defendant. The Court rules that while the defense cannot question the prosecution's motives, they are permitted to argue that witnesses are treating the defendant as a 'scapegoat' or 'stand-in' (likely for Jeffrey Epstein, referred to as the 'empty chair').
People (4)
| Name | Role | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Ms. Sternheim | Defense Attorney |
Delivering opening statement, participating in sidebar regarding objections.
|
| Ms. Comey | Prosecutor (Government) |
Raising objection to defense's opening statement arguments.
|
| The Court | Judge |
Ruling on objections and setting boundaries for defense arguments.
|
| The Defendant | Defendant |
Subject of the trial (identified by case number 1:20-cr-00330 as Ghislaine Maxwell).
|
Organizations (3)
| Name | Type | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Southern District Reporters, P.C. | ||
| The Government | ||
| DOJ |
Timeline (1 events)
August 10, 2022 (Filed)
Sidebar conference during opening statements in Case 1:20-cr-00330-AJN.
Courtroom Sidebar
Locations (2)
| Location | Context |
|---|---|
|
Court jurisdiction (implied by case number and reporter)
|
|
|
Specific location of the conversation within the courtroom, out of earshot of the jury.
|
Relationships (1)
Transcript shows them arguing legal points before the judge.
Key Quotes (4)
"The government is not on trial."Source
DOJ-OGR-00016155.jpg
Quote #1
"What they can do is argue that, for the witnesses, she's a scapegoat or a stand-in..."Source
DOJ-OGR-00016155.jpg
Quote #2
"reference to an empty chair is clearly a reference to this case"Source
DOJ-OGR-00016155.jpg
Quote #3
"I won't allow the line to be crossed into where I ruled on, which is that you can't talk about motivations of the prosecution."Source
DOJ-OGR-00016155.jpg
Quote #4
Full Extracted Text
Complete text extracted from the document (1,463 characters)
Case 1:20-cr-00330-AJN Document 741 Filed 08/10/22 Page 45 of 106 49
LBTCMAX2 Opening - Ms. Sternheim
LBTCMAX2 Opening - Ms. Sternheim
1 (At the sidebar)
2 THE COURT: This is not sealed. It's out of the
3 earshot of the jury.
4 State your objection.
5 MS. COMEY: Your Honor, this is in violation of
6 pretrial ruling made by the Court, including the defense, from
7 arguing that the government was targeting this defendant --
8 THE COURT: And they may not do that. What they can
9 do is argue that, for the witnesses, she's a scapegoat or a
10 stand-in, and I think that's where we are in the line. I think
11 the last statement comes closest because you put it in context
12 of justice. The other ones, that's why I said as stated, were
13 on the line about credibility of these witnesses and motives of
14 witnesses and that, I think you agree, is permissible.
15 MS. COMEY: That is permissible, your Honor. But the
16 reference to an empty chair is clearly a reference to this case
17 and the prosecution --
18 THE COURT: I won't allow the line to be crossed into
19 where I ruled on, which is that you can't talk about
20 motivations of the prosecution. The government is not on
21 trial.
22 To the extent that you want to argue motivation of the
23 witnesses to not tell the truth or credibility with respect to
24 them, you may do that, but don't play with the line.
25 MS. STERNHEIM: I will not. I will not play with the
2 THE COURT: This is not sealed. It's out of the
3 earshot of the jury.
4 State your objection.
5 MS. COMEY: Your Honor, this is in violation of
6 pretrial ruling made by the Court, including the defense, from
7 arguing that the government was targeting this defendant --
8 THE COURT: And they may not do that. What they can
9 do is argue that, for the witnesses, she's a scapegoat or a
10 stand-in, and I think that's where we are in the line. I think
11 the last statement comes closest because you put it in context
12 of justice. The other ones, that's why I said as stated, were
13 on the line about credibility of these witnesses and motives of
14 witnesses and that, I think you agree, is permissible.
15 MS. COMEY: That is permissible, your Honor. But the
16 reference to an empty chair is clearly a reference to this case
17 and the prosecution --
18 THE COURT: I won't allow the line to be crossed into
19 where I ruled on, which is that you can't talk about
20 motivations of the prosecution. The government is not on
21 trial.
22 To the extent that you want to argue motivation of the
23 witnesses to not tell the truth or credibility with respect to
24 them, you may do that, but don't play with the line.
25 MS. STERNHEIM: I will not. I will not play with the
SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C.
(212) 805-0300
(212) 805-0300
DOJ-OGR-00016155
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