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personpersonBobbi C. SternheimBobbi C. SternheimAttorney on Ghislaine Maxwell's federal criminal defense team.← All People
Defense· Defense team (Ghislaine Maxwell)

Bobbi C. Sternheim

Attorney on Ghislaine Maxwell's federal criminal defense team.

AppearedFederal Criminal Trial
1,034 lines·51 proceedings

About

Opened for the defense on Day 1, emphasizing the government's burden to prove every charged count beyond a reasonable doubt and identifying age and location as important to the charges. She told jurors that the defense expected expert testimony about memory, suggestive information, outside influence, and hindsight bias, and argued that elapsed time and the absence of corroborating documentation or eyewitnesses would matter.

Sternheim also framed anticipated disputes over the accusers' memories, changing accounts, outside influences, and financial incentives. She said defense cross-examination was intended to test whether the government had met its burden, not to shame witnesses. The court sustained an objection to one opening-statement comment concerning the witnesses' initial interviews and instructed the jury to disregard it.

The trial record identifies her as cross-examiner of Daniel Alan Besselsen, Kate, Janine Gill Velez, and David James Mulligan. It also identifies her as the direct examiner of defense witness Elizabeth Loftus.

Attorney insights (5)

Federal Criminal Trial32
Focus

Opening-statement objection: the court sustained an objection to a statement about witnesses' initial interviews and instructed the jury to disregard it.

Supporting record (1)
Credibility challenge

Sternheim asked jurors to scrutinize the accusers' accounts for memory, changing stories, outside influences, and financial incentives.

Supporting record (1)

Trial Record (51)

FederalFederal Criminal TrialNov 29, 2021 – Dec 29, 2021

Opened for the defense with a count-specific burden-of-proof and memory-reliability framing, then examined witnesses for both sides of the defense case.

Day 1

OpeningDefense Opening Statement3highlights7lines spoken

Summary

Sternheim previewed a defense centered on memory, witness motives, and reasonable doubt, while Judge Nathan set limits on arguments about the prosecution and sustained one objection.

Highlights (3)

otherSternheim opened by arguing that the government must prove Maxwell's conduct, rather than Epstein's, beyond a reasonable doubt and previewed a defense centered on memory, manipulation, and money.Open in transcript →
Quote“This case is about memory, manipulation, and money.”— Bobbi C. SternheimSternheim used this phrase to state the defense's central opening theme.Open in transcript →
rulingJudge Nathan sustained an objection and instructed the jury to disregard Sternheim's statement about the witnesses' initial interviews by investigators.Open in transcript →
OpeningDefense Opening Statement Resumes4highlights2lines spoken

Summary

Sternheim previewed defense challenges to hindsight bias, compensation-fund claims, and the anticipated accounts of Jane and Annie before the prosecution objected.

Highlights (4)

procedural actionSternheim argued in the defense opening that the jury would hear expert testimony about hindsight bias and that conduct the government labels grooming was lawful.Open in transcript →
procedural actionSternheim previewed the defense's anticipated challenges to Jane's account, including her compensation-fund claim and alleged inconsistencies.Open in transcript →
Quote“What we have here is lawful conduct that is going to be labeled grooming; it has been labeled grooming by the government”— Bobbi C. SternheimSternheim stated the defense's central opening position that the government's characterization of conduct as grooming would be disputed.Open in transcript →
Quote“Examine critically what she is going to say on the stand.”— Bobbi C. SternheimSternheim asked jurors to scrutinize Jane's anticipated testimony.Open in transcript →
OpeningDefense Opening Statement Resumes3highlights5lines spoken

Summary

Sternheim argued that the government's expected proof would not establish the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, previewing defense challenges to accuser accounts, corroboration, and count-specific allegations.

Highlights (3)

procedural actionSternheim completed the defense opening, arguing that the government's expected proof would not establish the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.Open in transcript →
Quote“The only pattern that you will see here is the success of those four people getting big money rewards from the Epstein fund.”— Bobbi C. SternheimSternheim used this as the defense's opening framing of the accusers' financial incentives.Open in transcript →
Quote“No jury can remove that unless the government proves each and every element of each count beyond a reasonable doubt and they won't be able to do that, they won't be able to meet their burden.”— Bobbi C. SternheimSternheim closed by tying the defense position to the government's burden of proof.Open in transcript →

Day 2

Day 3

DirectMattAlison Moe6lines spoken

Summary

Matt recounted Jane's later disclosures about financial help from Jeffrey Epstein and her limited account of what happened; the Court sustained objections to parts of his testimony.

Day 5

Day 6

DirectKateLara Pomerantz12lines spoken

Summary

Kate testified about meeting Maxwell at 17, being brought to Epstein for massages in London and later traveling to his properties, then addressed her substance-use history, immigration status, and compensation award.

CrossKateBobbi C. Sternheim416lines spoken

Summary

Defense cross-examined Kate about memory, later contact with Jeffrey Epstein, compensation, and immigration issues; the court limited proposed visa and email evidence.

RedirectKateLara Pomerantz3lines spoken

Summary

Kate addressed immigration, public statements, memory, and compensation on redirect, again identifying Maxwell's presence during an event involving Epstein when Kate was 17.

RecrossKateBobbi C. Sternheim23lines spoken

Summary

Defense recross-examined Kate on memory, immigration, and compensation; the court sustained several objections and admitted two redacted defense exhibits under seal.

Day 7

CrossCarolynJeffrey S. Pagliuca5lines spoken

Summary

Defense challenged Carolyn with earlier statements and filings, while the court limited some impeachment evidence and allowed selected complaint and interrogatory excerpts.

Day 8

Day 10

Day 11

CrossElizabeth LoftusLara Pomerantz13lines spoken

Summary

The prosecution challenged memory expert Elizabeth Loftus on defense-side work, compensation, and research limits; Judge Nathan restricted one impeachment line but allowed general incentive questions.

Day 12

CrossMichelle HealyMaurene Comey16lines spoken

Summary

Ms. Healy's cross-examination established the limits of her firsthand access to Epstein's homes and travel as the parties resolved evidence issues, rested, and moved the case toward closing arguments.

Day 13

Day 14

Day 15

Day 16

Day 17

Day 19