Judge rules to unseal secret documents in case against Ghislaine Maxwell
Judge rules to unseal secret documents in case against Ghislaine Maxwell
Josie Ensor
6 hrs ago
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Among the records to be released is thought to be a 418-page transcript of Ms Maxwell's deposition - her only on-the-record account of her association with Epstein - which attorneys argue was given under an expectation of confidentiality that had been agreed to by both sides in the dispute.
Ms Maxwell's lawyers had said she was asked unduly "intrusive" questions about her sex life, which was not in the public interest.
Limited excerpts of those depositions were released last year, in a ruling that came a day before Epstein was found dead in his New York prison cell in August.
Included in that collection were excerpts from depositions naming several prominent men she alleges Epstein and Ms Maxwell directed her to have sex with, including Prince Andrew.
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US District Judge Loretta Preska in Manhattan on Thursday said the presumption the public has a right to access the records outweighed Ms Maxwell's arguments for keeping them sealed, including that they could prove embarrassing.
Ms Preska said, however, that personal identifying information contained in the record, as well as the names of many "non-parties," will be redacted.
She granted Lauren Menninger, Ms Maxwell’s lawyer, one week to file an emergency motion with the Second Circuit Court of Appeals to challenge the decision.
In another blow to the socialite, earlier in the day she lost a motion in a separate criminal case after the judge declined a request by a defence lawyer to ban public comments by the government or lawyers for women who claim abuse.