EFTA00015356 - EFTA00015358
Internal DOJ emails from June 30, 2020 coordinating the press release and press conference to announce Ghislaine Maxwell's arrest on federal sex trafficking charges.
This document contains internal communications between staff at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) as they prepared for the announcement of Ghislaine Maxwell's arrest. The emails show prosecutors coordinating COVID-19 safety protocols for the press conference, drafting the media advisory, and discussing the timing of Maxwell's arrest—noting it could happen on Wednesday or Thursday. This provides a behind-the-scenes look at the federal government's preparation for one of the highest-profile arrests related to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Key Highlights
- •Shows internal DOJ coordination on the eve of Ghislaine Maxwell's July 2, 2020 arrest
- •Reveals arrest timing was still being finalized ('tomorrow remains possible but that we may well be pushing to Thursday')
- •Names Audrey Strauss, Acting U.S. Attorney for SDNY, as the lead official for the press conference
- •Includes draft press advisory announcing charges against Maxwell 'for her role in the sexual exploitation and abuse of multiple minor girls by Jeffrey Epstein'
- •Documents COVID-19 safety protocol discussions for the press conference during the pandemic
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EFTA00015356 - EFTA00015358
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3
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Page 1 - EFTA00015356
From: (USANYS)" To: (1.a>, ' [Contractor]" Cc: ' lli..1SANYS)" czi k Subject: RE: COVID Language for Press Release Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2020 15:11:57 +0000 Inline-Images: image001.png; image003.jpg (USANYS) (USANYS)" For sure. Just wanted everyone to get a peek at how it'll generally look. From: (USANYS)< > Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2020 11:09 AM To: (USANYS) Cc: (USANYS) Subject: RE: COVID Language for Press Release (USANYS) [Contractor] .c ) (USANYS) It's tough to be more precise until we pin down a venue, but what do you think about a little more specificity regarding protocols as a placeholder, e.g.: MANDATORY COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS WILL BE IN PLACE, INCLUDING MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING. We can add some more language once we know if it'll be here or to reflect any other relevant particulars. As an update on arrest timing, the latest thinking is that tomorrow remains possible but that we may well be pushing to Thursday. We'll of course keep you posted. From: (USANYS) <]= > Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2020 11:04 AM To: (USANYS) <= 1>; Cc: (USANYS) Subject: RE: COVID Language for Press Release I'm here in the press office, if needed. Draft advisory below and attached in Word format: (USANYS) [Contractor] < (USANYS) United States Attorney Southern District of New York There will be a press conference today at XX:00 a.m. to announce charges against Ghislaine Maxwell for her role in the sexual exploitation and abuse of multiple minor girls by Jeffrey Epstein. The press conference will be livestreamed on Facebook @USAOSDNY. Relevant documents are attached. EFTA00015356
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WHO: Audrey Strauss, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York , Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation WHAT: Press Conference WHEN: Wednesday, July, I, 2020 xx:00 p.m. WHERE: U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York CONTACT: NOTE: Please silence all cell phones, PDAs, and pagers before start of press conference. MANDATORY COVID-I9 PROTOCOLS WILL BE IN PLACE. CLICK HERE FOR GUIDANCE. DO NOT REPLY TC From: (USANYS) Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2020 10:45 AM To: (USANYS) [Contractor] Cc: (USANYS) (USANYS) Subject: RE: COVID Language for Press Release (USANYS) Thanks very much,. Looping in and MI Please do keep exploring the IM option. If it's doable it might beat out our lobby—definitely seems like a stronger visual. On that note, if it was possible for one of you to take Audrey on a walk-through of as we figure it out, she'd appreciate it. From: (USANYS) [Contractor] Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2020 10:38 AM To: (USANYS) (USANYS) Subject: RE: COVID Language for Press Release Wait, I thought we were now targeting the lobby of I just got off the phone with from the FBI press office, inquiring about the logistics of that. I think they can get chairs for press, check with GSA on their Covid protocols (capacity, etc.), provide a "step-and-repeat" (a portable background with "FBI" and their seal) to reduce glare from the windows on the Duane Street side. The concerns are the acoustics (as you know, that space is cavernous, with all hard surfaces and a high ceiling) and their lack of a podium (so we'd have to lug ours over there). Is our lobby preferable? I can call back and call off the dogs. EFTA00015357
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From: (USANYS) < > Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2020 10:15 AM To: (USANYS) (Contractor] •c Cc: (USANYS) Subject: COVID Language for Press Release (USANYS)< (USANYS) < The International Court of Trade has said no, so it looks like we're likely at Plan B (Plan Z?) option of using our whole lobby space in an effort to create some social distance. With apologies for adding to your full plate, Audrey asked if you could please come up with a paragraph to put at the top of tomorrow's press advisory, notifying the press of safety protocols—masks, social distancing, etc.—and asking them to please leave extra time to get into the building (which may mean we should also send out the advisory earlier than usual). I've attached our safety protocols and am cc'ing (and M , though he's out), since I know you'll want to coordinate with them on how press screening will work. Happy of course to talk or help in any way. Thanks! EFTA00015358
Entities Mentioned
AU
Audrey
PERSON
Audrey Strauss
PERSON
Ghislaine Maxwell
PERSON • 3 mentions
British socialite and sex trafficker, daughter of Robert Maxwell, accomplice of Jeffrey Epstein
Jeffrey Epstein
PERSON • 3 mentions
American sex offender and financier (1953–2019)
District Court for the Southern District of New York
ORGANIZATION
The International Court of Trade
ORGANIZATION
Statistics
Pages:3
Entities:6
Avg. OCR:0.9%
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