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Ghislaine Maxwell- Case Archive
Federal Criminal Trialtrial-daytrial-dayclosing_argumentrebuttal_closingjury_instructionsDay 14 - December 20, 2021Closing arguments concluded, Judge Nathan instructed the jury, and 12 jurors began deliberations.
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Day 14 - December 20, 2021

Closing Arguments Conclude as Jury Begins Deliberations

Judge Alison J. Nathan
7Proceedings
5Pages
0Witnesses
275Lines
Day 14 of 19

Closing arguments concluded, Judge Nathan instructed the jury, and 12 jurors began deliberations.

Full day summary

The government and defense delivered closing arguments, followed by the government's rebuttal. Prosecutors argued that Maxwell knowingly participated with Jeffrey Epstein in recruiting and grooming underage girls; the defense sought acquittal, challenging the witnesses' recollections, records, and the proof of Maxwell's own participation. Judge Alison J. Nathan resolved closing-argument objections, instructed jurors on the charges, reasonable doubt, and unanimous verdicts, then released the alternates and sent the remaining 12 jurors to deliberate.

1. Closing Argument by the Prosecution

Government closing argument began, with prosecutors arguing that the evidence showed Maxwell knowingly worked with Epstein to recruit, groom, and exploit underage girls.

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Procedural
Pre-closing logistics

Judge Nathan finalized closing-argument scheduling, redacted public access to closing visuals, and jury exhibit logistics.

Closing
Government closing argument
30 lines

The government urged conviction, arguing that witness testimony and records showed a repeated alleged grooming scheme and rebutted defense credibility and memory challenges.

Procedural
Closing-argument objections and rulings
38 lines

Judge Nathan overruled closing-argument objections and denied a mistrial request concerning Exhibit 52 before the defense closing resumed.

Highlights

Government closing argumentprocedural actionThe government opened by presenting an eight-part argument that the trial evidence showed Maxwell knowingly participated in a scheme with Jeffrey Epstein.

2. Closing Argument by the Defense

Defense counsel urged acquittal on every count, followed by objections to portions of the defense summation.

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Closing
Defense closing argument
35 lines

Menninger urged acquittal, arguing that the government had not proved Maxwell's participation in the charged conduct beyond a reasonable doubt.

Procedural
Defense summation objections
35 lines

Judge Nathan declined an additional curative instruction and overruled the government's narrowed objection to defense summation comments about interviews.

Highlights

Defense closing argumentotherMenninger mapped the charges to Jane and Carolyn, argued that the government had not met its burden on each count, and requested acquittal.

3. Rebuttal Closing Argument by the Prosecution

The government’s rebuttal closing argued that the witnesses’ accounts were mutually corroborated, disputed the defense’s challenges to their credibility, and urged a guilty verdict.

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Rebuttal
Government rebuttal closing
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The government rebutted defense attacks on the witnesses and urged a guilty verdict before jury instructions began.

4. Final Jury Instructions

Judge Nathan gave final jury instructions on the presumption of innocence, reasonable doubt, the charges, and unanimous deliberations.

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Jury Instruction
Final jury instructions
42 lines

Judge Nathan instructed jurors on the charged offenses, burden of proof, evidence, and unanimous deliberations.

Highlights

Final jury instructionsjury eventJudge Nathan instructed jurors that the government bore the burden to prove every charge beyond a reasonable doubt and that Maxwell had no burden to prove innocence.Final jury instructions“The law presumes the defendant to be innocent of all charges against her.”— Alison J. NathanStates the presumption of innocence that governed the jury's deliberations.

5. Jury Deliberations Begin

Judge Nathan released five alternate jurors and sent the remaining 12 jurors to begin deliberations at 4:49 p.m.

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Procedural
Jury deliberations begin
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The jury began deliberations at 4:49 p.m. and was instructed to resume at 9:00 a.m. the next day.

Highlights

Jury deliberations beginjury eventJudge Nathan released five alternate jurors subject to continuing restrictions and sent the 12 remaining jurors to begin deliberations at 4:49 p.m.
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