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Ghislaine Maxwell- Case Archive
Federal Criminal Trialtrial-daytrial-dayMaurene ComeyAlison MoeAndrew RohrbachChristian R. EverdellJeffrey S. PagliucaBobbi C. SternheimNicole HesseDavid RodgersShawnJanine Gill VelezdirectcrosssidebarredirectDay 8 - December 8, 2021Shawn described Carolyn's Palm Beach visits and appointment calls; the court admitted employment and message-book records, and a pilot identified flight-log entries involving Epstein, Maxwell, Jane, and Virginia Roberts.
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Day 8 - December 8, 2021

Shawn Testimony, Message Books, And Flight Logs

Judge Alison J. Nathan
18Proceedings
7Pages
4Witnesses
3,689Lines
Day 8 of 19
Appearing:
Maurene Comey Alison Moe Andrew Rohrbach Christian R. Everdell Jeffrey S. Pagliuca Bobbi C. Sternheim Nicole Hesse David Rodgers Shawn Janine Gill Velez

Shawn described Carolyn's Palm Beach visits and appointment calls; the court admitted employment and message-book records, and a pilot identified flight-log entries involving Epstein, Maxwell, Jane, and Virginia Roberts.

Full day summary

The court addressed evidentiary and instructional issues before and during testimony. It excluded employee-supplied dependent information from one proposed Mar-a-Lago record for lack of verification, admitted a different personnel record for Sky Roberts, and later admitted message-book excerpts and the underlying books under seal after overruling a hearsay objection. The court also sustained an objection to proposed testimony concerning Amanda and adopted revised limiting-instruction language for anticipated testimony about alleged physical contact in New Mexico. Shawn testified that Virginia told Carolyn she could make money giving massages to Jeffrey Epstein, that he accompanied Carolyn to Epstein's Palm Beach house and saw her return with hundred-dollar bills, and that he relayed calls requesting Carolyn for work. He also testified about Melissa's visits to the house. On cross-examination, Shawn said he could not identify the origin of an unidentified caller's accent, had not met Ms. Maxwell, and had taken money from Carolyn for gas and used drugs with her. Nicole Hesse authenticated message pads from the Palm Beach house and identified entries bearing Carolyn's name, while stating on cross-examination that she did not personally see women visiting the residence. Pilot David Rodgers authenticated his flight logbook and testified about listed flights involving Epstein, Maxwell, Jane, and Virginia Roberts. On cross-examination, he said his account of some earlier flights depended on reviewing the logbook and described limits on the identifying information in the entries.

1. Witness Recall, Limiting Instruction, Subpoena, and Employment-Records Matters

Before Janine Gill testified, the court considered witness matters, a proposed limiting instruction, and objections to Mar-a-Lago employment records.

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Procedural
Witness Recall and Subpoena Matters
30 lines

The court addressed unresolved plans to recall Jane or call Brian and the proposed scope of any recall examination.

Procedural
Limiting-Instruction Discussion
6 lines

The court proposed a limiting instruction for anticipated New Mexico testimony, restricting any character or propensity use.

Procedural
Employment Records Admissibility Hearing
128 lines

The court allowed the government to proceed with Exhibit 823 over a relevance objection but found Exhibit 824's dependent information unsupported without verification.

Highlights

Employment Records Admissibility HearingrulingAfter hearing additional argument, the court concluded that the dependent information in Exhibit 824 would be hearsay without evidence that Mar-a-Lago verified the information supplied on the form.

2. Janine Gill Velez — Direct/Cross

Janine Gill Velez authenticated a personnel record for Sky Roberts reflecting an April 11, 2000 hire date. Cross-examination established that she had no firsthand role in creating or maintaining the 2000 document.

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Direct
Janine Gill VelezAndrew Rohrbach
76 lines

Janine Gill Velez authenticated Sky Roberts's personnel action notice; the court admitted it over objection, and Gill read the listed 2000 hire date.

Cross
Janine Gill VelezBobbi C. Sternheim
30 lines

Gill Velez said she lacked firsthand knowledge of the 2000 document and pre-2007 recordkeeping; the government declined redirect.

Highlights

Janine Gill Velez — Directtestimony highlightGill identified the notice as Sky Roberts's and read the stated April 11, 2000 hire date.

3. Shawn — Direct/Cross

Shawn testified about Carolyn's visits to Jeffrey Epstein's Palm Beach house, calls arranging work, and Melissa's later visits, before defense counsel cross-examined him about those accounts and his relationship with Carolyn.

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Direct
ShawnMaurene Comey
291 lines

Shawn described Carolyn's introduction to Jeffrey Epstein, repeated visits to the Palm Beach house, cash payments, and calls he said arranged her work.

sidebar
Rule 404(b) Evidence Sidebar

The court sustained a defense objection to proposed testimony concerning Amanda after addressing notice, disclosure, and the age-related basis for corroboration.

Direct
ShawnMaurene Comey
106 lines

Shawn described Melissa's visits to Jeffrey Epstein's house and cash payments, while also acknowledging drug use and prior felony convictions.

Cross
ShawnJeffrey S. Pagliuca
76 lines

Shawn was questioned about the limits of his caller-identification testimony and acknowledged receiving money from Carolyn and using drugs with her.

Highlights

Shawn — Directtestimony highlightShawn testified that Virginia told Carolyn she could make money giving massages to Jeffrey Epstein, and he said he went with Carolyn, Virginia, and Tony to Epstein's Palm Beach house.Shawn — Directtestimony highlightShawn testified that three women called his phone to request Carolyn for work and that he would relay the calls and arrange appointments for her.Shawn — Direct“I would tell Carolyn and set the appointment for her.”— ShawnShawn described his own role after receiving calls requesting Carolyn for work.Shawn — Direct Resumedtestimony highlightShawn testified that Melissa went to Jeffrey Epstein's house, including alone on multiple occasions, and that she came out with hundred-dollar bills after waiting about an hour.

4. Nicole Hesse — Direct/Cross

Nicole Hesse authenticated Palm Beach household message pads, and the court admitted the disputed books and excerpts under seal before the defense cross-examined her about the entries.

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Direct
Nicole HesseAlison Moe
82 lines

Nicole Hesse described working at the Palm Beach home, receiving directions from Maxwell, and using message pads later identified as Government Exhibits 1, 2, and 3.

Procedural
Message Book Exhibits Admissibility Hearing

The court overruled a hearsay objection and admitted message-book excerpts and Government Exhibits 1, 2, and 3 under seal.

Direct
Nicole HesseAlison Moe
100 lines

Nicole Hesse identified Carolyn on several message-pad exhibits and described her part-time work at the Palm Beach house.

Cross
Nicole HesseJeffrey S. Pagliuca
135 lines

Nicole Hesse described limited firsthand knowledge of events at the Palm Beach house as the defense distinguished her message-pad entries from those written by others.

Highlights

Message Book Exhibits Admissibility HearingrulingThe court overruled the hearsay objection, finding sufficient foundation under Rule 803.6 to show that callers identifying themselves by name and number called on the indicated dates.

5. David Rodgers — Direct

Pilot David Rodgers described working for Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell's role in notifying pilots of some flights, and his flight logbook. The court admitted sealed and public redacted versions of the logbook exhibit.

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Direct
David RodgersMaurene Comey
317 lines

Pilot David Rodgers authenticated his flight logbook and described Maxwell's role in flight communications and Epstein's operations.

Highlights

David Rodgers — Directevidence eventRodgers authenticated his logbook as a copy he reviewed for accuracy and said entries were made shortly after flights; the court admitted the sealed exhibit and its public redacted version.David Rodgers — Direct“Yes, it would have been made at the time that flight was over, probably within 30 minutes of the passengers leaving.”— David RodgersRodgers described when he made entries in his flight logbook.

6. Lunch Redaction, Limiting-Instruction, and Sealed Rule 412 Matters

The court resolved redaction, exhibit, and limiting-instruction matters before the jury returned and direct examination of Mr. Rodgers resumed.

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Procedural
Lunch Redaction and Exhibit Conference
35 lines

The court ordered narrower redactions and deferred further argument on Government Exhibit 52.

Procedural
Limiting-Instruction Language Ruling
19 lines

The court accepted agreed limiting-instruction language for anticipated New Mexico testimony.

sidebar
Sealed Rule 412 Sidebar
13 lines

A sealed Rule 412 sidebar addressed the scope of anticipated inquiry before Mr. Rodgers's direct examination resumed.

7. David Rodgers — Direct/Cross/Redirect (Continued)

Pilot David Rodgers continued explaining flight-log entries before the defense questioned the limits of his records and recollection, followed by brief redirect testimony and scheduling discussions.

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Direct
David RodgersMaurene Comey
572 lines

David Rodgers used flight-log entries to identify travel involving Epstein, Maxwell, Jane, and Virginia Roberts; the jury also viewed Government Exhibit 14.

Cross
David RodgersChristian R. Everdell
1454 lines

David Rodgers acknowledged that key flight-date testimony rested on his logbook, whose earlier entries listed only Jane's true first name, while describing his observations and Maxwell's work role.

Redirect
David RodgersMaurene Comey
113 lines

David Rodgers tied his recollection of meeting Jane to his logbook; the court then addressed defense-case timing, a charge conference, and briefing on 52.

Highlights

David Rodgers — Direct Resumedtestimony highlightRodgers testified that a May 9, 1997 flight from Teterboro to Santa Fe carried Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Jane, with no other passengers.David Rodgers — Crosstestimony highlightRodgers said his confident account of the Interlochen flights came from reviewing his flight logbook rather than an independent memory of each flight.
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