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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Justin Vallejo

Ghislaine Maxwell prosecutors disclose almost 3 million pages of evidence

Photograph: REUTERS

Prosecutors have produced nearly three million pages of evidence in the sex trafficking case of Ghislaine Maxwell, a new court filing has revealed.

US attorney Audrey Strauss wrote in a letter to the court, seen by Newsweek, that prosecutors have “produced to the defendant more than 2.7 million pages of discovery pursuant to the Government's various discovery obligations”.

The revelation came as prosecutors objected to a subpoena by the British socialite's defence team for personal information of Jeffrey Epstein's victims, the outlet reported.

Ms Strauss told the court that the subpoena to law firm Boies Schiller Flexner (BSF), which represents Virginia Giuffre, asks for "a substantial amount of sensitive personal information about victims".

"For instance, according to the letter from BSF, the subpoena to BSF requests the 'original, complete copy' of a victim's diary," Ms Strauss wrote.

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"To the extent the defendant has obtained or will obtain sensitive information about victims or witnesses, it should be treated as 'confidential' under the protective order much like other such information in this case."

US District Judge Alison J Nathan in March granted a request to redact segments from the case that Ms Maxwell's defence said would “serve to cater a ‘craving for that which is sensational and impure’”.

Prosecution redactions were also granted to protect the “integrity of an ongoing criminal investigation and to protect third parties’ personal privacy interests”.

The revelation of 2.7 million pages of evidence represents an increase of at least 1.5 million pages since November 2020, when a letter to the court, reported by Newsweek, revealed the 1.2 million pages.

In a bid to have Ms Maxwell granted bail, lawyers complained in that letter that she wasn't being given time to properly prepare for the case while remaining in prison.

"However, given the voluminous discovery in this case, the most recent production alone being 1.2 million documents, the time accorded Ms Maxwell remains inadequate for her to review and prepare the defence of her life," the letter said.

Ms Maxwell has denied all the charges against her. She is awaiting trial in a New York prison and her trial date has been provisionally scheduled for July.

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