Manipulated Memories
Maxwell’s defense team has also tried to suggest her accusers’ civil lawyers influenced their memories and testimony with a goal of maximizing payouts from a compensation fund set up by Epstein’s estate. Each of the accusers were questioned about the millions of dollars they received from the fund and earlier civil suits. The defense also tried to call three of their lawyers to testify, but U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan shot down the request.
All of the accusers who testified denied having any financial incentive to testify. Prosecutors also said unequivocally there was no money at stake for the witnesses.
Lisa Bloom, an attorney representing several Epstein victims, sharply criticized Maxwell lawyers’ gambit in an emailed statement.
The defense “wants us to believe, without proof, that civil lawyers manipulated the victims’ memories, or that victims’ failure to go after Maxwell years ago means they are lying now,” Bloom said. “We don’t believe the jury will buy these lies and myths.”
Lewis said prosecutors may have sought to limit the impact of defense claims by putting only four accusers on the stand.
‘Focused Case’
“I imagine they decided to put forward a very focused case, a very simple case,” he said. “If they were to bring in too many victim witnesses, it might give the defense counsel too much ammunition” to confuse and complicate the stories of victim witnesses.
As it was, Lewis thought Maxwell’s team may have been overly aggressive in going after the four women who testified. “Rather than focus on four or five key inconsistencies and really pound those, she had 12,” he said of defense lawyer Laura Menninger. It “made you feel sorry for the witness.”
And Lewis said prosecutor Maurene Comey was very effective in the government’s final words to the jury on Monday. She said that, to acquit Maxwell, they would have to believe that the witnesses “came into this courthouse and committed perjury,” he recalled.
Ultimately, Lewis thinks the government’s case will prove persuasive.
“I think, after deliberating, they will look at the testimony and evidence” and “will come to the conclusion that she is guilty,” he said.
—With assistance from Patricia Hurtado.
This article was provided by Bloomberg News.