Who is mentioned in this document?

The document names Ghislaine Maxwell as the client being represented, Jeffrey Epstein as the subject of the SDNY investigation, and attorneys Christian Everdell and Mark S. Cohen as Maxwell's counsel. The prosecutors' names are redacted but identified only as AUSA staff.

What does this document reveal?

The document reveals that Maxwell had retained high-powered legal representation within days of Epstein's July 6, 2019 arrest—more than a year before she herself was charged and arrested in July 2020. This proactive legal engagement suggests Maxwell and her team anticipated she could become a target of the federal investigation.

Why is this document significant?

This email exchange shows Maxwell was taking the federal investigation seriously from the very beginning. Christian Everdell's involvement is notable because he had just left the SDNY in early 2019 after prosecuting El Chapo, meaning Maxwell hired someone who knew the office's tactics intimately. The document provides a timeline of when Maxwell's legal defense strategy began.

What happened after this meeting?

Jeffrey Epstein died in federal custody on August 10, 2019, about three weeks after this email exchange. Maxwell was not charged until nearly a year later, when she was arrested by the FBI on July 2, 2020, in New Hampshire. She was ultimately convicted on December 29, 2021, on five counts related to sex trafficking.

Who is mentioned in this document?

The document names Ghislaine Maxwell as the client being represented, Jeffrey Epstein as the subject of the SDNY investigation, and attorneys Christian Everdell and Mark S. Cohen as Maxwell's counsel. The prosecutors' names are redacted but identified only as AUSA staff.

What does this document reveal?

The document reveals that Maxwell had retained high-powered legal representation within days of Epstein's July 6, 2019 arrest—more than a year before she herself was charged and arrested in July 2020. This proactive legal engagement suggests Maxwell and her team anticipated she could become a target of the federal investigation.

Why is this document significant?

This email exchange shows Maxwell was taking the federal investigation seriously from the very beginning. Christian Everdell's involvement is notable because he had just left the SDNY in early 2019 after prosecuting El Chapo, meaning Maxwell hired someone who knew the office's tactics intimately. The document provides a timeline of when Maxwell's legal defense strategy began.

What happened after this meeting?

Jeffrey Epstein died in federal custody on August 10, 2019, about three weeks after this email exchange. Maxwell was not charged until nearly a year later, when she was arrested by the FBI on July 2, 2020, in New Hampshire. She was ultimately convicted on December 29, 2021, on five counts related to sex trafficking.

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Email chain from July 2019 between SDNY prosecutors and Ghislaine Maxwell's defense attorneys Christian Everdell and Mark Cohen, arranging their first meeting just days after Jeffrey Epstein's arrest.

This document captures a significant moment in legal history: the initial coordination between federal prosecutors and Ghislaine Maxwell's legal team in the immediate aftermath of Jeffrey Epstein's July 6, 2019 arrest. The emails show attorneys Christian Everdell and Mark Cohen from Cohen & Gresser reaching out to the SDNY to establish representation of Maxwell, with prosecutors accommodating an in-person meeting on July 16, 2019. The urgency and professional courtesy displayed—including allowing the attorneys to retain their phones in the federal building—suggests both sides understood the gravity of the investigation.

Key Highlights

•First documented contact between Maxwell's defense team and SDNY prosecutors, occurring just 10 days after Epstein's arrest
•Christian Everdell, a former SDNY prosecutor who helped convict 'El Chapo,' was already representing Maxwell before any charges were filed against her
•The meeting was arranged for 5:00 PM on July 16, 2019, with special accommodations for the attorneys

Frequently Asked Questions

Books for Further Reading

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

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

Document Information

Bates Range

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Pages

Document Content

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From: To: r Cc: Subject: RE: SDNY investigation (re: Epstein) Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2019 18:09:24 +0000 , "Mark S. Cohen" Thanks, MI. That works for us. We'll see you at 5pm. From: Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2019 2:07 PM To: Christian Everdell; Mark S. Cohen Cc: Subject: RE: SDNY investigation (re: Epstein) Chris, Sorry to have missed your call, and I hope you and Mark are still able to get this — we can meet at 5:00 today, if that's convenient for you both, and I'm happy to ask the CSOs to allow you to retain your phones. Please let us know if that works, and we'll put it on our calendars. thanks, From: Christian Everdell Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2019 13:38 To: Cc: Subject: RE: SDNY investigation (re: Epstein) Hi= - >; Mark S. Cohen I just tried your desk. Do we have a time this afternoon when you can meet? Let us know as soon as you can because Mark will be in court soon and will not have his phone. Also, would you mind asking the CSOs to allow us to bring our phones into the building? Let me know if that's a problem. Thanks, Chris From: Sent: Monday, July 15, 2019 7:57 PM To: Christian Everdell; Mark S. Cohen Cc: Subject: RE: SDNY investigation (re: Epstein) Chris, Mark, EFTA00021569

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Following up on my very brief conversation with Chris earlier this afternoon, and the voicemail you left earlier, thanks for getting in touch regarding your representation of Ms. Maxwell. I understand you'll be in our neighborhood tomorrow afternoon; we can make ourselves available to meet, but will that have been enough time for you to speak with your client? Let us know what you think would be best to proceed, and we'll figure out next steps. thanks, M Assistant U.S. Attorney Southern District of New York EFTA00021570