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Document 74

AI Analysis

Summary: The Government submits a letter to Judge Alison J. Nathan updating her on Ghislaine Maxwell's conditions of confinement at the MDC following a COVID-19 exposure. Maxwell was placed in quarantine with continued access to discovery materials and legal communications. The Government assures the court that Maxwell's conditions remain favorable compared to other inmates.
Significance: This document is significant as it provides an update on Ghislaine Maxwell's conditions of confinement at the Metropolitan Detention Center, particularly in response to a COVID-19 exposure, and assures the court that her access to discovery materials and legal communications is maintained.
Key Topics: Ghislaine Maxwell's conditions of confinement at MDC COVID-19 protocols and quarantine procedures Access to discovery materials and legal communications during quarantine
Key People:
  • Ghislaine Maxwell - Defendant
  • Alison J. Nathan - United States District Judge
  • Audrey Strauss - Acting United States Attorney
  • Maurene Comey - Assistant United States Attorney
  • Alison Moe - Assistant United States Attorney
  • Lara Pomerantz - Assistant United States Attorney

Full Text

Case 1:20-cr-00330-AJN Document 74 Filed 11/23/20 Page 1 of 2 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 November 23, 2020 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, 20 Cr. 330 (AJN) Dear Judge Nathan: The Government respectfully submits this letter to provide an update regarding the defendant's conditions of confinement at the Metropolitan Detention Center ("MDC") pursuant to the Court's Order dated August 25, 2020. (Dkt. No. 49). Over the past three months, the Government has had multiple conversations with MDC legal counsel regarding the defendant's conditions of confinement. This update is based on information provided to the Government by MDC legal during those conversations. Last week, a staff member who was assigned to work in the area of the MDC where the defendant is housed tested positive for COVID-19. In response, the MDC implemented the same quarantine protocols that apply whenever an inmate has potentially been exposed to the virus. Specifically, on November 18, 2020, the defendant was tested for COVID-19 using a rapid test, which was negative. That same day, the defendant was placed in quarantine. As with any other quarantined inmate, the defendant will remain in quarantine for fourteen days, at which point she will be tested again for COVID-19. If that test is negative, she will then be released from quarantine. To date, the defendant has not exhibited any symptoms of COVID-19. During her time in quarantine, the defendant will be housed in the same cell where she was already housed before she was placed in quarantine, and medical staff and psychology staff will continue to check on the defendant every day. Like all other MDC inmates in quarantine, the defendant will be permitted out of her cell three days per week for thirty minutes. During that time, the defendant may shower, make personal phone calls, and use the CorrLinks email system. In addition, the defendant will continue to be permitted to make legal calls every day for up to three hours per day. These calls will take place in a room where the defendant is alone and where no MDC staff can hear her communications with counsel. On November 18, 2020, the Government provided the MDC with a laptop for the defendant to use to review discovery. During quarantine, the defendant has been and will continue to be permitted to use that laptop in her isolation cell to review her discovery for thirteen hours per day, DOJ-OGR-00001835 --- PAGE BREAK --- Case 21-58, Document 74, 04/16/2021, 3079459, Page1 of 1 NOTICE OF APPEARANCE FOR SUBSTITUTE, ADDITIONAL, OR AMICUS COUNSEL Short Title: United States v. Maxwell Docket No.: 21-58(L), 21-770(CON) Substitute, Additional, or Amicus Counsel's Contact Information is as follows: Name: Alison Moe Firm: United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York Address: One St. Andrew's Plaza Telephone: (212) 637-2225 Fax: E-mail: alison.moe@usdoj.gov Appearance for: United States of America/Appellee (party/designation) Select One: Substitute counsel (replacing lead counsel: ) (name/firm) Substitute counsel (replacing other counsel: ) (name/firm) Additional counsel (co-counsel with: Won S. Shin/U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York ) (name/firm) Amicus (in support of : ) (party/designation) CERTIFICATION I certify that: I am admitted to practice in this Court and, if required by Interim Local Rule 46.1(a)(2), have renewed my admission on N/A OR I applied for admission on Signature of Counsel: /s/ Alison Moe Type or Print Name: Alison Moe DOJ-OGR-00020290 --- PAGE BREAK --- Case 22-1426, Document 74, 04/28/2023, 3506804, Page1 of 1 UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT At a Stated Term of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, held at the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse, 40 Foley Square, in the City of New York, on the 28th day of April, two thousand twenty-three. Before: Raymond J. Lohier, Jr., Circuit Judge, United States of America, Appellee, ORDER Docket No. 22-1426 v. Ghislain Maxwell, AKA Sealed Defendant 1, Defendant - Appellant. The Government moves for leave to file an oversized opposition brief of no more than 20,000 words and for an extension of the briefing schedule for the opposition and reply briefs. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. The Government's brief is due June 29, 2023, and Appellant's reply brief is due July 27, 2023. For the Court: Catherine O'Hagan Wolfe, Clerk of Court Catherine O'Hagan Wolfe DOJ-OGR-00021171 --- PAGE BREAK --- Case 1:20-cr-00330-AJN Document 74 Filed 11/23/20 Page 2 of 2 Page 2 seven days per week. Accordingly, the defendant is receiving the same amount of time to review her discovery and the same amount of time to speak with her lawyers as she received before entering quarantine. The defendant will not, however, be permitted to meet in person with her lawyers until she tests out of quarantine. After the defendant tests out of quarantine, she will resume the same schedule that the MDC implemented approximately three months ago. Specifically, from 7am to 8pm every day, the defendant will be permitted out of her isolation cell. During those thirteen hours, the defendant will have access to a computer on which to review her discovery outside of her cell. Also during the day, the defendant will be permitted to, among other things, make legal calls, make personal calls, access CorrLinks, and shower. From 8pm to 7am, the defendant will remain in her isolation cell. The defendant will also be permitted to have in-person visits with her attorneys up to three days per week for multiple hours per visit. On days when the defendant does not have in-person legal visits, she will have access to legal calls for up to three hours per day. As was the case three months ago, the defendant continues to have more time to review her discovery than any other inmate at the MDC, even while in quarantine. The defendant also has as much, if not more, time as any other MDC inmate to communicate with her attorneys, even while in quarantine. As noted above, over the past three months, the Government has repeatedly communicated both with MDC legal counsel and defense counsel regarding the defendant's conditions of confinement. Whenever the defense has raised a concern on this topic, the Government has immediately contacted MDC legal counsel to inquire about and, where appropriate, to address the concern. The Government will continue to keep those lines of communication open and will remain responsive to any concerns raised by the defense regarding the defendant's conditions of confinement. Should the Court have any questions or require any additional details regarding this topic, the Government will promptly provide additional information. Respectfully submitted, AUDREY STRAUSS Acting United States Attorney By: Maurene Comey / Alison Moe / Lara Pomerantz Assistant United States Attorneys Southern District of New York Tel: (212) 637-2324 Cc: All Counsel of Record (By ECF) DOJ-OGR-00001836

Individual Pages

Page 1 - DOJ-OGR-00001835
Case 1:20-cr-00330-AJN Document 74 Filed 11/23/20 Page 1 of 2 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 November 23, 2020 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, 20 Cr. 330 (AJN) Dear Judge Nathan: The Government respectfully submits this letter to provide an update regarding the defendant's conditions of confinement at the Metropolitan Detention Center ("MDC") pursuant to the Court's Order dated August 25, 2020. (Dkt. No. 49). Over the past three months, the Government has had multiple conversations with MDC legal counsel regarding the defendant's conditions of confinement. This update is based on information provided to the Government by MDC legal during those conversations. Last week, a staff member who was assigned to work in the area of the MDC where the defendant is housed tested positive for COVID-19. In response, the MDC implemented the same quarantine protocols that apply whenever an inmate has potentially been exposed to the virus. Specifically, on November 18, 2020, the defendant was tested for COVID-19 using a rapid test, which was negative. That same day, the defendant was placed in quarantine. As with any other quarantined inmate, the defendant will remain in quarantine for fourteen days, at which point she will be tested again for COVID-19. If that test is negative, she will then be released from quarantine. To date, the defendant has not exhibited any symptoms of COVID-19. During her time in quarantine, the defendant will be housed in the same cell where she was already housed before she was placed in quarantine, and medical staff and psychology staff will continue to check on the defendant every day. Like all other MDC inmates in quarantine, the defendant will be permitted out of her cell three days per week for thirty minutes. During that time, the defendant may shower, make personal phone calls, and use the CorrLinks email system. In addition, the defendant will continue to be permitted to make legal calls every day for up to three hours per day. These calls will take place in a room where the defendant is alone and where no MDC staff can hear her communications with counsel. On November 18, 2020, the Government provided the MDC with a laptop for the defendant to use to review discovery. During quarantine, the defendant has been and will continue to be permitted to use that laptop in her isolation cell to review her discovery for thirteen hours per day, DOJ-OGR-00001835
Page 1 - DOJ-OGR-00020290
Case 21-58, Document 74, 04/16/2021, 3079459, Page1 of 1 NOTICE OF APPEARANCE FOR SUBSTITUTE, ADDITIONAL, OR AMICUS COUNSEL Short Title: United States v. Maxwell Docket No.: 21-58(L), 21-770(CON) Substitute, Additional, or Amicus Counsel's Contact Information is as follows: Name: Alison Moe Firm: United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York Address: One St. Andrew's Plaza Telephone: (212) 637-2225 Fax: E-mail: alison.moe@usdoj.gov Appearance for: United States of America/Appellee (party/designation) Select One: Substitute counsel (replacing lead counsel: ) (name/firm) Substitute counsel (replacing other counsel: ) (name/firm) Additional counsel (co-counsel with: Won S. Shin/U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York ) (name/firm) Amicus (in support of : ) (party/designation) CERTIFICATION I certify that: I am admitted to practice in this Court and, if required by Interim Local Rule 46.1(a)(2), have renewed my admission on N/A OR I applied for admission on Signature of Counsel: /s/ Alison Moe Type or Print Name: Alison Moe DOJ-OGR-00020290
Page 1 - DOJ-OGR-00021171
Case 22-1426, Document 74, 04/28/2023, 3506804, Page1 of 1 UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT At a Stated Term of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, held at the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse, 40 Foley Square, in the City of New York, on the 28th day of April, two thousand twenty-three. Before: Raymond J. Lohier, Jr., Circuit Judge, United States of America, Appellee, ORDER Docket No. 22-1426 v. Ghislain Maxwell, AKA Sealed Defendant 1, Defendant - Appellant. The Government moves for leave to file an oversized opposition brief of no more than 20,000 words and for an extension of the briefing schedule for the opposition and reply briefs. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. The Government's brief is due June 29, 2023, and Appellant's reply brief is due July 27, 2023. For the Court: Catherine O'Hagan Wolfe, Clerk of Court Catherine O'Hagan Wolfe DOJ-OGR-00021171
Page 2 - DOJ-OGR-00001836
Case 1:20-cr-00330-AJN Document 74 Filed 11/23/20 Page 2 of 2 Page 2 seven days per week. Accordingly, the defendant is receiving the same amount of time to review her discovery and the same amount of time to speak with her lawyers as she received before entering quarantine. The defendant will not, however, be permitted to meet in person with her lawyers until she tests out of quarantine. After the defendant tests out of quarantine, she will resume the same schedule that the MDC implemented approximately three months ago. Specifically, from 7am to 8pm every day, the defendant will be permitted out of her isolation cell. During those thirteen hours, the defendant will have access to a computer on which to review her discovery outside of her cell. Also during the day, the defendant will be permitted to, among other things, make legal calls, make personal calls, access CorrLinks, and shower. From 8pm to 7am, the defendant will remain in her isolation cell. The defendant will also be permitted to have in-person visits with her attorneys up to three days per week for multiple hours per visit. On days when the defendant does not have in-person legal visits, she will have access to legal calls for up to three hours per day. As was the case three months ago, the defendant continues to have more time to review her discovery than any other inmate at the MDC, even while in quarantine. The defendant also has as much, if not more, time as any other MDC inmate to communicate with her attorneys, even while in quarantine. As noted above, over the past three months, the Government has repeatedly communicated both with MDC legal counsel and defense counsel regarding the defendant's conditions of confinement. Whenever the defense has raised a concern on this topic, the Government has immediately contacted MDC legal counsel to inquire about and, where appropriate, to address the concern. The Government will continue to keep those lines of communication open and will remain responsive to any concerns raised by the defense regarding the defendant's conditions of confinement. Should the Court have any questions or require any additional details regarding this topic, the Government will promptly provide additional information. Respectfully submitted, AUDREY STRAUSS Acting United States Attorney By: Maurene Comey / Alison Moe / Lara Pomerantz Assistant United States Attorneys Southern District of New York Tel: (212) 637-2324 Cc: All Counsel of Record (By ECF) DOJ-OGR-00001836