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Document 539

AI Analysis

Summary: The US Attorney's office requests that the court order Ghislaine Maxwell's defense team to provide the government with a list of witnesses they plan to call, along with the order in which they will be called. The defense had previously provided a list of 35 witnesses in alphabetical order but did not provide the order. The government argues that this information is necessary and cites their own prior disclosures as precedent.
Significance: This document is significant because it reveals a dispute between the prosecution and defense over the disclosure of witness information in the Ghislaine Maxwell trial, and the prosecution's request for the court to intervene.
Key Topics: Request for witness list from the defense Disclosure of witness order Compliance with Rule 26.2 and Rule 16
Key People:
  • Alison J. Nathan - United States District Judge
  • Ghislaine Maxwell - Defendant
  • Damian Williams - United States Attorney
  • Maurene Comey - Assistant United States Attorney
  • Alison Moe - Assistant United States Attorney
  • Lara Pomerantz - Assistant United States Attorney
  • Andrew Rohrbach - Assistant United States Attorney

Full Text

Case 1:20-cr-00330-PAE Document 539 Filed 12/12/21 Page 1 of 3 U.S. Department of Justice United States Attorney Southern District of New York The Silvio J. Mollo Building One Saint Andrew's Plaza New York, New York 10007 December 12, 2021 BY ECF The Honorable Alison J. Nathan United States District Court Southern District of New York United States Courthouse 40 Foley Square New York, New York 10007 Re: United States v. Ghislaine Maxwell, S2 20 Cr. 330 (AJN) Dear Judge Nathan: The Government respectfully submits this letter seeking an order directing the defense to provide the Government with the witnesses it anticipates calling next week by 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, December 13, 2021.1 The Government previewed for several days prior to the close of the Government's case that it would rest sometime last week. Following the close of the Government's case, the Government requested that the defense provide the Government with Rule 26.2 material, along with "a list of witnesses, and an order of the first witnesses." Tr. 2276. The Court ordered the defense to do so, stating, "Yes. You'll do that." Id. 1 The defense also made an untimely production of Rule 16 materials on Friday evening, following the close of the Government's case. The Government will file a motion to preclude later this evening. 1 DOJ-OGR-00008357 --- PAGE BREAK --- Case 1:20-cr-00330-PAE Document 539 Filed 12/12/21 Page 2 of 3 Friday evening, the defense sent the Government a letter, attached as Exhibit A.2 The letter identifies thirty-five defense witnesses in alphabetical order, with no information about the order in which the witnesses would be called. The Government conferred with the defense about witness order yesterday and was informed that more information would be forthcoming. The Government has not received further information. Accordingly, the Government respectfully requests that the Court direct the defense to provide the Government, by 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, with its intended witnesses for Thursday and Friday of this week, and that the defense provide by Tuesday, December 14, its full intended witness order. Such an order would be consistent with the Government's disclosures: the Government provided the defense with its first five witnesses on November 24, five days before the start of trial, and a full ordered witness list on November 27, two days before the start of trial.3 2 The Government moves to file this exhibit under seal, consistent with the Court's prior ruling that the Government's witness list is identifying as to individuals who would testify under pseudonyms and individuals who have not yet testified. Tr. 1697. 3 The Government also provided its 3500 material on October 11, more than a month in advance of trial. The defendant's Rule 26.2 disclosures on Friday do not include material for many of the witnesses on her list. 2 DOJ-OGR-00008358 --- PAGE BREAK --- Case 1:20-cr-00330-PAE Document 539 Filed 12/12/21 Page 3 of 3 Respectfully submitted, DAMIAN WILLIAMS United States Attorney By: s/ Maurene Comey Alison Moe Lara Pomerantz Andrew Rohrbach Assistant United States Attorneys Southern District of New York Cc: Defense Counsel (by ECF) 3 DOJ-OGR-00008359

Individual Pages

Page 1 of 3 - DOJ-OGR-00008357
Case 1:20-cr-00330-PAE Document 539 Filed 12/12/21 Page 1 of 3 U.S. Department of Justice United States Attorney Southern District of New York The Silvio J. Mollo Building One Saint Andrew's Plaza New York, New York 10007 December 12, 2021 BY ECF The Honorable Alison J. Nathan United States District Court Southern District of New York United States Courthouse 40 Foley Square New York, New York 10007 Re: United States v. Ghislaine Maxwell, S2 20 Cr. 330 (AJN) Dear Judge Nathan: The Government respectfully submits this letter seeking an order directing the defense to provide the Government with the witnesses it anticipates calling next week by 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, December 13, 2021.1 The Government previewed for several days prior to the close of the Government's case that it would rest sometime last week. Following the close of the Government's case, the Government requested that the defense provide the Government with Rule 26.2 material, along with "a list of witnesses, and an order of the first witnesses." Tr. 2276. The Court ordered the defense to do so, stating, "Yes. You'll do that." Id. 1 The defense also made an untimely production of Rule 16 materials on Friday evening, following the close of the Government's case. The Government will file a motion to preclude later this evening. 1 DOJ-OGR-00008357
Page 2 - DOJ-OGR-00008358
Case 1:20-cr-00330-PAE Document 539 Filed 12/12/21 Page 2 of 3 Friday evening, the defense sent the Government a letter, attached as Exhibit A.2 The letter identifies thirty-five defense witnesses in alphabetical order, with no information about the order in which the witnesses would be called. The Government conferred with the defense about witness order yesterday and was informed that more information would be forthcoming. The Government has not received further information. Accordingly, the Government respectfully requests that the Court direct the defense to provide the Government, by 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, with its intended witnesses for Thursday and Friday of this week, and that the defense provide by Tuesday, December 14, its full intended witness order. Such an order would be consistent with the Government's disclosures: the Government provided the defense with its first five witnesses on November 24, five days before the start of trial, and a full ordered witness list on November 27, two days before the start of trial.3 2 The Government moves to file this exhibit under seal, consistent with the Court's prior ruling that the Government's witness list is identifying as to individuals who would testify under pseudonyms and individuals who have not yet testified. Tr. 1697. 3 The Government also provided its 3500 material on October 11, more than a month in advance of trial. The defendant's Rule 26.2 disclosures on Friday do not include material for many of the witnesses on her list. 2 DOJ-OGR-00008358
Page 3 - DOJ-OGR-00008359
Case 1:20-cr-00330-PAE Document 539 Filed 12/12/21 Page 3 of 3 Respectfully submitted, DAMIAN WILLIAMS United States Attorney By: s/ Maurene Comey Alison Moe Lara Pomerantz Andrew Rohrbach Assistant United States Attorneys Southern District of New York Cc: Defense Counsel (by ECF) 3 DOJ-OGR-00008359