Topline
The juror who helped to convict Ghislaine Maxwell but failed to disclose he was a victim of sexual abuse makes a “bombshell revelation” in an upcoming interview, Maxwell’s lawyer wrote in a letter to the judge on Friday, requesting any decision on new trial happen after the interview airs.
In this courtroom sketch, Ghislaine Maxwell, center, sits in the courtroom during a discussion about … [+]
Key Facts
Juror 50, who has identified himself as Scotty David in other media interviews, gave an “in-depth interview” to Paramount Plus in a yet-to-be aired episode of an original series titled Ghislaine — Partner in Crime, defense attorney Bobbi Sternheim said, citing a trailer of the upcoming episode.
In a letter, which was first reported by Law & Crime, Sternheim asked U.S. District Court Judge Alison Nathan to wait to make a ruling on Maxwell’s motion for a new trial until the episode has aired, as the defense team has not been able to review the full content of the interview.
The episode was scheduled to be released on March 29, but Paramount has held off on airing the episode until Nathan has issued a ruling, according to Sternheim.
The U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Forbes.
Key Background
Days after Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking young girls for Jeffrey Epstein, David gave several media interviews about his jury experience, and disclosed that he was a victim of child sexual abuse. David revealed he shared his experiences with the jury, which he said may have helped sway other jurors into believing the witnesses were credible. In multiple interviews, he said he did not recall being asked if he had experienced sexual abuse, but court documents show every juror questionaire asked if jurors or their family members had been abused, harassed or assaulted, and that those who said yes were asked if it would affect their judgement as an objective juror. While testifying in court last month, David said he skimmed the juror questionnaire “way too fast” and called the oversight “one of the biggest mistakes I’ve ever made in my life.”
What To Watch For
Nathan is weighing requests from the defense for a retrial, though her decision could now be delayed. Defense attorneys asked Nathan to issue a stay on the ruling, pending a review of the interview by lawyers and the court. If Maxwell’s conviction stands, she faces up to 65 years in prison.
What We Don’t Know
It is unclear when the episode featuring the interview with David will air. Paramount Plus did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Forbes.
Further Reading
Juror On Ghislaine Maxwell Trial Blames ‘Mistake’ For Not Disclosing Sexual Abuse (Forbes)
Ghislaine Maxwell Formally Seeks Retrial After Juror Revealed Personal Experiences Of Sexual Abuse (Forbes)
Ghislaine Maxwell Found Guilty Of Sex Trafficking Young Girls For Jeffrey Epstein (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/annakaplan/2022/04/01/bombshell-revelation-of-ghislaine-maxwell-juror-should-be-seen-before-ruling-lawyer-says/