What is document EFTA00019645?

This is an internal email chain from September 2020 between federal prosecutors and Judge Alison J. Nathan's chambers in the criminal case against Ghislaine Maxwell. The emails concern the Government's request to file sealed, ex parte letters that would not be shared with Maxwell's defense team.

Who is mentioned in this document?

The document mentions Judge Alison J. Nathan (the federal judge presiding over the Maxwell criminal case), Ghislaine Maxwell (the defendant), Juan Ruiz Toro (Judge Nathan's law clerk), and unnamed Assistant United States Attorneys from the Southern District of New York.

What does this document reveal?

The document reveals the behind-the-scenes procedural mechanics of how sealed communications were handled in the Maxwell case. It shows the Government was actively seeking to file secret materials with the court that would be hidden from Maxwell's defense, likely related to ongoing grand jury investigations into Epstein's co-conspirators.

Why were these letters filed ex parte and under seal?

The Government cited Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 16(d)(1), which allows courts to restrict discovery for 'good cause.' In the Maxwell case, prosecutors argued that public disclosure would interfere with an ongoing grand jury investigation into potential co-conspirators connected to Jeffrey Epstein.

What was happening in the Maxwell case in September 2020?

In September 2020, Ghislaine Maxwell had been arrested two months earlier and was fighting over protective orders and sealed materials. There were ongoing disputes about what discovery materials could be shared with civil courts and what grand jury information should remain secret.

What is document EFTA00019645?

This is an internal email chain from September 2020 between federal prosecutors and Judge Alison J. Nathan's chambers in the criminal case against Ghislaine Maxwell. The emails concern the Government's request to file sealed, ex parte letters that would not be shared with Maxwell's defense team.

Who is mentioned in this document?

The document mentions Judge Alison J. Nathan (the federal judge presiding over the Maxwell criminal case), Ghislaine Maxwell (the defendant), Juan Ruiz Toro (Judge Nathan's law clerk), and unnamed Assistant United States Attorneys from the Southern District of New York.

What does this document reveal?

The document reveals the behind-the-scenes procedural mechanics of how sealed communications were handled in the Maxwell case. It shows the Government was actively seeking to file secret materials with the court that would be hidden from Maxwell's defense, likely related to ongoing grand jury investigations into Epstein's co-conspirators.

Why were these letters filed ex parte and under seal?

The Government cited Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 16(d)(1), which allows courts to restrict discovery for 'good cause.' In the Maxwell case, prosecutors argued that public disclosure would interfere with an ongoing grand jury investigation into potential co-conspirators connected to Jeffrey Epstein.

What was happening in the Maxwell case in September 2020?

In September 2020, Ghislaine Maxwell had been arrested two months earlier and was fighting over protective orders and sealed materials. There were ongoing disputes about what discovery materials could be shared with civil courts and what grand jury information should remain secret.

EFTA00019645 - EFTA00019646

Internal court email chain from September 2020 regarding the Government's request to file sealed ex parte documents in the criminal case against Ghislaine Maxwell.

This document is a series of internal emails between the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York and Judge Alison J. Nathan's chambers regarding the handling of sealed, ex parte communications in US v. Maxwell (20 Cr. 330). The emails show the Government submitting confidential letters pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 16(d)(1), which allows courts to restrict discovery disclosures for good cause. These sealed communications were part of the broader dispute over protective orders and grand jury materials in the Maxwell prosecution.

Key Highlights

•Government requested to file letters ex parte and under seal, meaning Maxwell's defense team would not see them
•Judge Nathan issued a sealed memo endorsement on September 15, 2020 in response to the Government's initial filing
•Filings made pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 16(d)(1), which governs protective orders in criminal discovery
•Part of ongoing disputes over grand jury investigation materials and protective orders from related civil cases

Frequently Asked Questions

Books for Further Reading

Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story

Julie K. Brown

Investigative journalism that broke the Epstein case open

Filthy Rich: The Jeffrey Epstein Story

James Patterson

Bestselling account of Epstein's crimes and network

The Spider: Inside the Tangled Web of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell

Document Information

Bates Range

EFTA00019645 - EFTA00019646

Pages

Document Content

Page 1 - EFTA00019645

From: ' To: Nathan NYSD Chambers Cc: '' (USANYS)" Subject: RE: US v. Maxwell, 20 Cr. 330 (AJN) - ex parte sealed letter Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2020 21:48:56 +0000 Attachments: 2020-09- I 6_Govemment_ex_parte_letter_re_sealing,_20_Cr._330 JAJN).pdf Good afternoon, Pursuant to Judge Nathan's September 15, 2020 memo endorsement order, attached please find a supplemental letter, which the Government respectfully requests be filed ex parte and under seal. Respectfully submitted, Assistant United States Attorney Southern District of New York From: Nathan NYSD Chambers Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2020 2:47 PM To: Cc: >; (USANYS) < Subject: RE: US v. Maxwell, 20 Cr. 330 (AJN) - ex parte sealed letter Good afternoon, Please find attached a memo endorsement signed by Judge Nathan, which will temporarily remain under seal. Please confirm receipt. Respectfully, Juan Ruiz Toro Law Clerk to the Hon. Alison J. Nathan From: Sent: Monday, September 14, 2020 8:00 PM To: Nathan NYSD Chambers Cc: Subject: US v. Maxwell, 20 Cr. 330 (AJN) - ex parte sealed letter Good evening, (USANYS) Attached for Judge Nathan's consideration please find a letter pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 16(d)(1), which the Government respectfully requests be filed ex parte and under seal. EFTA00019645

Page 2 - EFTA00019646

Respectfully submitted, Assistant United States Attorney Southern District of New York EFTA00019646