Here’s the tweets from this morning so far. Sorry, but can’t post later. Maybe someone else can pick them up?
https://twitter.com/KlasfeldReports?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author
Good morning from New York.
Yesterday, Jeffrey Epstein's ex-house manager backed up testimony by Ghislaine Maxwell's accuser "Jane" in important respects. He said he saw "Jane" with the duo without her mother present.
ICYMI, thread ahead:
https://lawandcrime.com/live-trials/ghislaine-maxwell/she-looked-young-jeffrey-epsteins-former-house-manager-backs-up-testimony-by-ghislaine-maxwells-accusers/…
@lawcrimenews
The government concluded the direct examination of that house manager, Juan Alessi, ended on Thursday.
Cross-examination kicks off this morning.
In pre-trial proceedings, the parties have been arguing about the admission of certain evidence — such as schoolgirl costumes found in Jeffrey Epstein's massage room and art sexualizing minors.
More on that later:
This is being debated now because the upcoming witnesses are expected to be Florida law enforcement.
Alessi testified yesterday about remembering seeing two girls in Epstein's house who appeared to be minors: "Jane," who testified earlier this week.
The other was Virginia Giuffre, whose civil suit against Maxwell helped spark her criminal prosecution.
Submitted into evidence:
Two photos of Virginia Giuffre, whose account of meeting Ghislaine Maxwell at Trump's Mar-a-Lago was recounted by Epstein's ex-house manager Juan Alessi yesterday.
Epstein's pilot had told jurors: "she didn't look young."
Alessi: "She looked young."
Side note:
Nobody appeared to interrogate this testimony by Epstein ex-pilot, Lawrence Visoski days ago.
"
he didn't look young. I mean, wherever you decipher is the definition of 'young,' but she -- she was a woman in my category."
"All rise."
The jury is entering.
The witness is on the stand.
Pagliuca's cross-examination begins for the defense.
He asks Alessi about testimony that Epstein and Maxwell both called him "John," not "Juan."
Alessi agrees that everyone called him John, and he didn't take it as disrespectful.
Alessi conceded at the end of direct examination that he stole $6,300 from Epstein, which he returned.
Pagliuca is rattling off what he describes as other alleged thefts.
Alessi replies: "That's not true."
Q: Do you remember telling him that stole money to pay for the girlfriend's immigration papers?
A: First of all, she was not my girlfriend [...] We were not involved.
Q: Is it true that you stole the money, to pay for the immigration papers?
A: Yes.
Alessi concedes that he testified on Sept. 8, 2009 that he stole from Epstein at least twice.
"I guess it was," he said.
Pagliuci moves for the admission of that testimony.
Q: You weren't poor when you went into Mr. Epstein's house in 2003, and you stole the money?
A: I wasn't poor but the money was sequestered because I was going through a divorce.
Pagliuca turns back to Alessi's testimony about Jane.
Q: Isn't it true that you met Jane in 1998 and 2000?
A: That's not true.
Maxwell's lawyer just said Jane's real name and was admonished by Judge Nathan. I won't be repeating it here.
Pagliuca moves onto Alessi's testimony that Jane would see Epstein and Maxwell without her mother present.
Q: When Mr. Epstein was going to be in the residence, he wanted you and your wife there?
Only us. No contractors in the house.
Pagliuca asks whether he had to be there 24 hours a day on these occasions.
"Yes, it was slavery," Alessi says.
Alessi starts to get testy as Pagliuca asks if Epstein liked to show off the Palm Beach property to famous visitors.
"I don't know if he liked to show off that property," he snaps.
The dispute is over what he knew Epstein "liked" to do.
Alessi says of Epstein: "He had very little contact with me in the later years."
Pagliuca calls that inconsistent with his prior testimony that his direct supervisor was "Mr. Epstein."
"He would deal with me directly, and if he was not available, Ms. Maxwell."
Pagliuca's questioning turns to the "Household Manual," which has this bullet point under "Grooming & Guest Relations":
"Remember that you see nothing, hear nothing, say nothing, except to answer a question directed at you. Respect their privacy."
Mid-morning recess.
15 minutes, enough time to procure coffee.
Returning soon.
(Don’t know why this text is posting with a strike through letters!!!)