Latest news with #2ndU.S.CircuitCourtofAppeals
Chicago Tribune
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Justice Department says JeffreyEpstein and Ghislaine Maxwell grand juries heard from only 2 law enforcement witnesses
Just two witnesses, both law enforcement officials, testified before the federal grand juries that indicted Jeffrey Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell on sex trafficking charges, the Justice Department said in support of its request to unseal transcripts of the usually secret proceedings. In a filing late Tuesday in Manhattan federal court, officials describe the grand jury witnesses in a memorandum in response to a call from judges presiding over both cases to provide more details about their request earlier this month. Judges would have to approve any request to unseal records. Grand jury transcripts are rarely released by courts, unless they need to be disclosed in connection with a judicial proceeding. The papers filed Tuesday cite a 1997 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that said judges have wide discretion and public interest alone can justify releasing grand jury information. The Epstein grand jury heard only from an FBI agent when it met in June and July 2019, while the Maxwell grand jury heard from the same FBI agent and a New York Police Department detective when it met in June and July 2020 and March 2021, according to the submission. The memorandum was signed by Jay Clayton, the interim U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, and included the names of Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. The request to unseal the transcripts came after the Justice Department enraged parts of President Donald Trump's base of supporters when it announced in early July it wouldn't be making public any more Epstein files. The decision not to make additional materials public shocked some Trump supporters because members of his administration had hyped the expected release and stoked conspiracies around the well-connected financier. Epstein took his own life in a federal jail in August 2019, weeks after his arrest on sex trafficking charges, officials say, but his case has generated endless attention and conspiracy theories because of his and Maxwell's links to famous people, such as royals, presidents and billionaires, including Trump. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence after her December 2021 conviction on sex trafficking charges that accused her of luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein. Last week, she sat for 1 1/2 days of interviews with Justice Department officials in Florida, answering questions 'about 100 different people,' her attorney said. Maxwell was being interviewed because of Trump's directive to gather and release any credible evidence about others who may have committed crimes, the deputy attorney general said. Trump has denied prior knowledge of Epstein's crimes and claimed he had cut off their relationship long ago. But he faces ongoing questions about the Epstein case, overshadowing his administration's achievements. When reporters last week pressed the Republican president about possibly pardoning Maxwell, he deflected, emphasizing his administration's successes. After the request to unseal grand jury records, two former prosecutors in Manhattan told The Associated Press the transcripts would be relatively short and contain only the testimony of law enforcement witnesses talking about evidence that tracks information in the indictments. In its filing Tuesday, the Justice Department further dampened expectations the grand jury transcripts would contain new revelations when it said 'certain aspects and subject matters' contained in them became public during Maxwell's trial. The memorandum said many of the victims whose accounts relating to Epstein and Maxwell came up in grand jury testimony testified at trial consistent with what was described by the FBI agent and the NYPD detective and some information was made public through civil litigation. The government said no Epstein or Maxwell family members have come forward to express an interest in the request to unseal the grand jury transcripts, although Maxwell has indicated she will file a position with the court. The memorandum says the request to unseal the transcripts is 'consistent with increasing calls for additional disclosures in this matter.' 'There is undoubtedly a clearly expressed interest from the public in Jeffrey Epstein's and Ghislaine Maxwell's crimes,' it says. 'Beyond that, there is abundant public interest in the investigative work conducted by the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation into those crimes.' Under a 2008 nonprosecution agreement, Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida to state charges of soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution. That allowed him to avert a possible life sentence, instead serving 13 months in a work release program. He was required to make payments to victims and register as a sex offender. Epstein was later charged by federal prosecutors in Manhattan for nearly identical allegations in 2019.
Winnipeg Free Press
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Justice Department says Epstein and Maxwell grand juries heard from only 2 law enforcement witnesses
The Justice Department says in support of its request to unseal grand jury transcripts of proceedings that led to the sex trafficking indictments of New York financier and sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell that they include the testimony of just two law enforcement witnesses. In a filing late Tuesday in Manhattan federal court, officials describe the grand jury witnesses in a memorandum in response to a call from judges presiding over both cases to provide more details about their request earlier this month. Judges would have to approve any request to unseal records. Grand jury transcripts are rarely released by courts, unless they need to be disclosed in connection with a judicial proceeding. The papers filed Tuesday cite a 1997 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that said judges have wide discretion and public interest alone can justify releasing grand jury information. The Epstein grand jury heard only from an FBI agent when it met in June and July of 2019, while the Maxwell grand jury heard from the same FBI agent and a New York Police Department detective when it met in June and July of 2020 and in March of 2021, according to the submission. The memorandum was signed by Jay Clayton, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, and included the names of Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. The request to unseal the transcripts came after the Justice Department enraged parts of President Donald Trump's base of supporters when it announced in early July it wouldn't be making public any more Epstein files. The decision not to make additional materials public shocked some Trump supporters because members of his administration had hyped the expected release and stoked conspiracies around the well-connected financier. Epstein took his own life in a federal jail in August 2019, weeks after his arrest on sex trafficking charges, officials say, but his case has generated endless attention and conspiracy theories because of his and Maxwell's links to famous people, such as royals, presidents and billionaires, including Trump. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence after her December 2021 conviction on sex trafficking charges that accused her of luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein. Last week, she sat for 1 1/2 days of interviews with Justice Department officials in Florida, answering questions 'about 100 different people,' her attorney said. Maxwell was being interviewed because of Trump's directive to gather and release any credible evidence about others who may have committed crimes, the deputy attorney general said. Trump has denied prior knowledge of Epstein's crimes and claimed he had cut off their relationship long ago. But he faces ongoing questions about the Epstein case, overshadowing his administration's achievements. When reporters last week pressed the Republican president about possibly pardoning Maxwell, he deflected, emphasizing his administration's successes. After the request to unseal grand jury records, two former prosecutors in Manhattan told The Associated Press the transcripts would be relatively short and contain only the testimony of law enforcement witnesses talking about evidence that tracks information in the indictments. In its filing Tuesday, the Justice Department further dampened expectations the grand jury transcripts would contain new revelations when it said 'certain aspects and subject matters' contained in them became public during Maxwell's trial. The memorandum said many of the victims whose accounts relating to Epstein and Maxwell came up in grand jury testimony testified at trial consistent with what was described by the FBI agent and the NYPD detective and some information was made public through civil litigation. The government said no Epstein or Maxwell family members have come forward to express an interest in the request to unseal the grand jury transcripts, although Maxwell has indicated she will file a position with the court. The memorandum says the request to unseal the transcripts is 'consistent with increasing calls for additional disclosures in this matter.' 'There is undoubtedly a clearly expressed interest from the public in Jeffrey Epstein's and Ghislaine Maxwell's crimes,' it says. 'Beyond that, there is abundant public interest in the investigative work conducted by the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation into those crimes.' Under a 2008 non-prosecution agreement, Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida to state charges of soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution. That allowed him to avert a possible life sentence, instead serving 13 months in a work release program. He was required to make payments to victims and register as a sex offender. Epstein was later charged by federal prosecutors in Manhattan for nearly identical allegations in 2019.
Hamilton Spectator
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Justice Department says Epstein and Maxwell grand juries heard from only 2 law enforcement witnesses
The Justice Department says in support of its request to unseal grand jury transcripts of proceedings that led to the sex trafficking indictments of New York financier and sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell that they include the testimony of just two law enforcement witnesses. In a filing late Tuesday in Manhattan federal court, officials describe the grand jury witnesses in a memorandum in response to a call from judges presiding over both cases to provide more details about their request earlier this month. Judges would have to approve any request to unseal records. Grand jury transcripts are rarely released by courts, unless they need to be disclosed in connection with a judicial proceeding. The papers filed Tuesday cite a 1997 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that said judges have wide discretion and public interest alone can justify releasing grand jury information. The Epstein grand jury heard only from an FBI agent when it met in June and July of 2019, while the Maxwell grand jury heard from the same FBI agent and a New York Police Department detective when it met in June and July of 2020 and in March of 2021, according to the submission. The memorandum was signed by Jay Clayton, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, and included the names of Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. The request to unseal the transcripts came after the Justice Department enraged parts of President Donald Trump's base of supporters when it announced in early July it wouldn't be making public any more Epstein files. The decision not to make additional materials public shocked some Trump supporters because members of his administration had hyped the expected release and stoked conspiracies around the well-connected financier. Epstein took his own life in a federal jail in August 2019, weeks after his arrest on sex trafficking charges, officials say, but his case has generated endless attention and conspiracy theories because of his and Maxwell's links to famous people, such as royals, presidents and billionaires, including Trump. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence after her December 2021 conviction on sex trafficking charges that accused her of luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein. Last week, she sat for 1 1/2 days of interviews with Justice Department officials in Florida, answering questions 'about 100 different people,' her attorney said. Maxwell was being interviewed because of Trump's directive to gather and release any credible evidence about others who may have committed crimes, the deputy attorney general said. Trump has denied prior knowledge of Epstein's crimes and claimed he had cut off their relationship long ago. But he faces ongoing questions about the Epstein case , overshadowing his administration's achievements. When reporters last week pressed the Republican president about possibly pardoning Maxwell, he deflected, emphasizing his administration's successes. After the request to unseal grand jury records, two former prosecutors in Manhattan told The Associated Press the transcripts would be relatively short and contain only the testimony of law enforcement witnesses talking about evidence that tracks information in the indictments. In its filing Tuesday, the Justice Department further dampened expectations the grand jury transcripts would contain new revelations when it said 'certain aspects and subject matters' contained in them became public during Maxwell's trial. The memorandum said many of the victims whose accounts relating to Epstein and Maxwell came up in grand jury testimony testified at trial consistent with what was described by the FBI agent and the NYPD detective and some information was made public through civil litigation. The government said no Epstein or Maxwell family members have come forward to express an interest in the request to unseal the grand jury transcripts, although Maxwell has indicated she will file a position with the court. The memorandum says the request to unseal the transcripts is 'consistent with increasing calls for additional disclosures in this matter.' 'There is undoubtedly a clearly expressed interest from the public in Jeffrey Epstein's and Ghislaine Maxwell's crimes,' it says. 'Beyond that, there is abundant public interest in the investigative work conducted by the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation into those crimes.' Under a 2008 non-prosecution agreement, Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida to state charges of soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution. That allowed him to avert a possible life sentence, instead serving 13 months in a work release program. He was required to make payments to victims and register as a sex offender. Epstein was later charged by federal prosecutors in Manhattan for nearly identical allegations in 2019. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
USA Today
21-07-2025
- USA Today
Man convicted in infamous 1979 Etan Patz murder could get new trial
A federal appeals court determined the man convicted in the 1979 disappearance of 6-year-old Etan Patz should get a new trial or be released from custody in the interim. Pedro Hernandez was sentenced in 2017 to 25 years in prison after confessing to kidnapping and killing Patz in New York City, in what is one of the nation's most notorious child disappearance cases. The decision comes in response to Hernandez's appeal, in which he alleges a jury note was improperly handled during his trial and "prejudiced the verdict." In the July 21 decision from the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the judge said the state trial court contradicted federal law and ordered Hernandez be released, unless the state goes forward with a retrial in what they determine to be a "reasonable period" of time. Patz went missing on his way to a school bus stop in his Soho neighborhood in May 1979. The widely publicized case was a lightning rod for law enforcement practices nationwide, and he was one of the first missing children ever to appear on a milk carton. Hernandez was a clerk at a store in Patz's neighborhood, and became a suspect decades after the first-grader disappeared, in 2012. Renewed interest in what had become a cold case prompted a relative to tell police Hernandez told a prayer group decades earlier that he'd killed a child. Hernandez's first trial in 2015 ended in a hung jury, while his second trial in 2017 ended with a conviction on charges of murder and kidnapping. The case helped establish National Missing Children's Day on May 25th, and for the creation of a national hotline for missing children. Patz's body has never been recovered, and was legally declared dead in 2001. Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@ and on X @KathrynPlmr.
Economic Times
21-07-2025
- Economic Times
Was Pedro Hernandez innocent? Convicted killer with 70 IQ may walk free as court cites critical trial error in Etan Patz case
A case that haunted New York for decades and helped launch the missing children's movement is now facing a dramatic legal reversal. A federal appeals court has overturned the conviction of Pedro Hernandez, the man found guilty in 2017 for the 1979 abduction and murder of 6-year-old Etan Patz. The court ruled that the trial judge gave flawed instructions to the jury about how to evaluate Hernandez's confession. Hernandez, who has a low IQ and a history of mental illness, had confessed after nearly seven hours of police interrogation, before being read his Miranda rights. Also Read: How rich was Malcolm-Jamal Warner? Inside the late actor's career earnings and net worthThat confession, which was repeated on tape but unsupported by physical evidence, was the cornerstone of the prosecution's case. Etan vanished while walking alone to his school bus stop for the first time, an event that shocked the nation and led to widespread changes in how missing children's cases were handled. Despite earlier focus on another suspect, a convicted child molester, the case shifted in 2012 when Hernandez's brother-in-law told police that Hernandez had spoken for years about harming a child. But defense lawyers have long argued that his statements were coerced and rooted in delusion, raising troubling questions about whether the wrong man has spent nearly a decade behind bars. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Hernandez's 2017 conviction, citing a critical error by the trial judge regarding jury instructions. The court found that the judge gave misleading guidance when jurors asked how to evaluate Hernandez's confessions, especially the first one, made before Miranda rights were court concluded the instruction was 'clearly wrong' and 'manifestly prejudicial,' significantly affecting the fairness of the trial. The ruling states Hernandez must be retried or freed 'within a reasonable time.' Also Read: At 20, she's done working? Gabriella Zuniga quits OnlyFans within 24 hours of settling $50m lawsuit against NFL Hall of Famer Etan Patz vanished on May 25, 1979, the first day he was allowed to walk alone to his school bus stop in Manhattan's SoHo Pedro Hernandez, then an 18-year-old stock clerk at a nearby convenience store, didn't become a suspect until 2012, over 30 years later, when a relative called police. Hernandez had allegedly told people at church and in his family that he had harmed a boy in New confessed after seven hours of police interrogation, saying he lured Etan into the basement of the store with a soda, then choked him and disposed of his body. That confession was later repeated on video after police read him his having very little physical evidence, forensic links, or a clear motive, prosecutors relied entirely on Hernandez's confession. The first trial ended in a hung jury in 2015. A second trial in 2017 led to a conviction and a sentence of 25 years to attorney, Harvey Fishbein, has long argued that his client's confession was false and coerced. Hernandez suffers from schizotypal personality disorder, has an IQ of around 70, and was described as mentally vulnerable. Fishbein claims Hernandez was suggestible and may have internalized a fantasy or delusion during hours of Read: What happened to Melina Galanis Frattolin? Everything we know so far about the missing 9-year-old found dead in Ticonderoga Hernandez had no prior criminal record, and many still question why he would confess to a crime he didn't commit. Critics of the case highlight José Ramos, a convicted child molester who remained the prime suspect in Etan Patz's disappearance for decades. Ramos had ties to Etan's babysitter and, according to former federal prosecutor Stuart GraBois, once claimed he was '90 percent sure' he had brought the boy (Etan) to his apartment the day he vanished. He also admitted to meeting a child matching Etan's description in Washington Square Park, and investigators later found photographs of blond boys resembling Etan in a drainpipe at Ramos's former residence. Yet, despite these suspicious findings, Ramos was never criminally charged due to a lack of direct evidence, no body, no eyewitnesses, no forensic link, and ambiguity in his statement. Also Read: Dog the Bounty Hunter's family: Meet his 13 children from 6 different relationships However, Etan's family did win a symbolic civil judgment against him in 2004, and the case remained unresolved until Hernandez's confession in Manhattan District Attorney's Office said it is 'reviewing the decision.' Unless prosecutors decide to retry the case soon, Hernandez could walk free for the first time in over a decade.
