In Other Media-eg New Statesman, AJE, FP, Georgia, NYT,  Azerbaijan, CSM Click here to contact us     .

By Matthew Russell Lee, Scoop Patreon, thread

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Jan 16 – The possible release of the names in Jeffrey Epstein's little black books, at least those made part of judicial or "negligibly judical" document, was argued again on January 16 before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Loretta A. Preska.

  The lawyer for Ghislaine Maxwell, who had a United Nations press conference that UN now refuses to answer Inner City Press questions about, argued for a more extensive protocol since some of the people in the documents do not have counsel or are overseas. (And where, you might asks, is Ghislaine Maxwell.)

  At the January 16 hearing, Judge Preska asked why Maxwell's December 5 letter to her was not in the docket. Her lawyer said they would put it in - but as of 9 pm on January 16, it still was not in. Judge Preska herself noted that in PACER one of the motion decisions being cited could not be found.

Judge Preska said she may rule on pending sealed motions in her courtroom with a court reporter. But no other reporters? Judge Preska, despite once having ordered Inner City Press out of a criminal proceeding, is more transparent than many. So we hope to have more on this.

  Ironically, as the January 16 proceeding were UN correspondents, for example from the BBC, which never asked the UN about Ghislaine Maxwell's UN press conference nor about the banning of the Press from the UN "Press" Briefing Room by UNSG Antonio Guterres after it asked him about his links to Patrick Ho's CEFC China Energy. We'll have more on this as well.

 Back in September Sigrid McCawley, lawyer for Ms. Giuffre, replied that that list of one thousand is already public. To this, Judge Preska did not directly reply. She stayed focused on getting a schedule down.

 Maxwell's lawyer Jeffrey S. Pagliuca said one week was too fast for him given his many other commitments. Judge Preska gave him two, to name categories, then one week each for a five and three page brief. She said she can't read small footnote, 12-point font only.

  Her court room was full, unlike her colleague Gregory H. Woods' down the hall for an abuse under color of law trial, or even like the UN bribery trial of Patrick Ho she oversaw. On September 4 UN-based (and pro-UN) media which did not cover the bribery trial showed up for a procedural hearing about a dead pedophile.

  This while they don't cover UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres concealing by failing to answer on child rapes by UN peacekeepers, and concealing with censorship his own financial links to Patrick Ho. Inner City Press will continue to cover both.

Back on August 27 victims of Jeffrey Epstein testified about rape in his Manhattan mansion and New Mexico ranch in a public hearing  before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Richard M. Berman.

  In SDNY special courtroom 110, Judge Berman began by questioning a New York Law Journal op-ed questioning why he was holding the hearing. Judge Berman noted that one of the authors is now involved in the case, later specified to be as a lawyer for Alan Dershowitz.

 With US Attorney for the SDNY Geoffrey Berman in the front row, Assistant US Attorney Maureen Comey argued for the case to be dropped.

 Epstein's lawyer Reid Weingarten and his co-counsel called for an investigation of how Epstein died, with Judge Berman playing a role. AUSA Comey replied that there can be no role for Judge Berman, that there is a grand jury investigating it.

   First up was lawyer Brad Edward and his clients, led by Courtney Wild, who said justice was never served in this case. Then Jane Doe 1 said that Epstein is a "complex villain... We do need to know how he died."

Jane Doe 2 said she had been in extreme poverty and "I didn't even know I was a victim" for some time. Jane Doe 3 said she had come to New York City 15 years ago, was assaulted in Epstein's mansion and left New York after five months. Jane Doe 4 said Epstein "took away the future I envisioned as a young girl."

Jane Doe 5 said Epstein said investigators to her house, adding that she had grown up in middle class circumstances and was still victimized.

Chauntae Davis specifically named Ghislaine Maxwell, who used the United Nations press briefing room to promote herself.

Anouska De Giou said that the loss of trust is not recoverable, adding "I am relieved that Jeffrey Epstein is not in the position to hurt more women or children."

  Then Britney Henderson read the statement of Michelle Licata, that she had been in high school; she thanked the SDNY prosecutors as being "completely different" from those in Florida. Utah Judge and now professor Paul Cassell urgered Judge Berman to publish his opening remarks, as a needed precedent under the Crime Victims Rights Act. But is an opening statement a precedent?

  David Boies went big picture, that the purpose of criminal law is increasing not only to punish but to mitigate damage to victims. His partner Sigrid McCawley introduced victim Ms. Helm who also named Ghislaine Maxwell.

Virginia Roberts Giuffre said, in a reversal of how the phrase is usually used, "This is not about how Jeffrey Epstein lived, but about how he lived." Sarah Rasome urged the SDNY prosecutors to "finish what you've started."

Annie Farmer spoke for her sister Marie, as she had to Epstein's bail hearing, now angry at what was allowed to happen while Epstein was in government custody. A victim named Marije recounted how she was told that Epstein liked blondes and would offer 15 minutes buy all you can Channel visits.

Lawyer Kimberly Lerner said that Epstein was a "predator, a pedophile and a sick individual." Her client Jennifer Rose said she was abused by Epstein at 14, and urged prosecution of his enablers and co-conspirators.

Terri Gibbs who works for Lisa Bloom read in the statements of Jane Does 6, 7 and 8, the latter two referring to recruiting agents and saying, God bless the victims.

Gloria Allred brought forward three victims, two of whom took the podium and spoke. The first, Teala Davis, referred to "predators in power." The second, speaking as Jane Doe 10, recounted being on Epstein's ranch and crashing at ATV. She was told, No one gets in trouble for anything here.

Jane Doe 11, as read into the record by Gloria Allred while it seemed sitting behind her in the courtroom, was perhaps the sharpest speaker. She was a 16 year old virgin. She quoted Epstein, "I'll bury you... I own this f*cking town." She chose not to apply to Harvard after Epstein bragged about his influence there, how he knew the University's president.

Finally Jane Doe 12, again read into the record by Allred, said Epstein bragged of knowing Bill Clinton and was promoted as the owner of Victoria Secret. Well, he did invest the money of that Columbus, Ohio based owner, on which Inner City Press will have more, as it will on Judge Berman's order, whenever he issues it.

Epstein's suicide came eleven days after Inner City Press exclusively removed irregularities at the MCC including Epstein then being allowed to use without supervision all day, every day one of the only two legal visit rooms for prisons in the Special Housing Unit of the Metropolitan Correctional Center. Other defense lawyers exclusively complained to Inner City Press about not being able to see on a timely basis their clients in the MCC. Now what will be done about the MCC's (lack of) supervision? Nothing it seems. Watch this site.