Thread by @innercitypress

In #SDNY, Judge Berman in Courtroom 17B begins by saying he will NOT be making a decision on #JeffreyEpstein's bond application - says he will deliver his decision Thurs July 18 at 9:30 am. Still, hearing going forward today, victims are in court @SDNYLIVE - 1/x thread

On Epstein, Judge Berman says he'll give both sides 20 minutes if they want it. He's beginning with his own set of questions; burden is on government to show no set of conditions could reasonably be expected to bring Epstein back to court. Risk of flight 2/x

Judge Berman Question 1 for defense: how have you rebutted the presumption? To government: how have you been able to prove remand is appropriate. Question 2 (of 5) - since Epstein's had to register as sex offender in NY, FLA, Virgin Is. Q: What about New Mexico?

Berman continues: in NY Epstein has applied to lower his sex offender level down to Level 1. Application was denied by "Board of Examiners of Sex Offenders of NYS," upheld by Appellate Division. Berman read the transcript, will put on docket. Q: other proceedings?

Judge Berman calls Epstein's (sealed) financial summary "cursory... less than a page." Berman says he needs more detail. He is inclined to unseal it but wants to hear from both sides first. Question 4: search of E 71 St home, gov says results support detention...

Judge Berman wants a sample of what gov found in Epstein's E 71 St mansion, to put it in record. Photos? Question 5: witness tampering in connection with 2 recent payments: $250,000 and $100,000 to employees soon after Miami Herald story and Mr. Acosta. Wants more

Judge Berman says he reserves right to have more questions than these five. Now gives the floor to Assistant US Attorney (not Ms. Comey). "The gov seeks pre-trial detention due to extraordinary risk of flight.. We join requests of the victims that he be detained"

AUSA Alex Rossmiller says only became aware of obstruction of justice payments last week. "We have obtained records from a financial institution confirming [Epstein] represented his net worth as over $500 million." Inner City Press: what bank? #KnowYourCustomer

Rossmiller says evidence getting strong every day. New victims have contacted government in past week. Judge Berman stroking his chin. Rossmiller turns to Epstein's proposal, private guards like UN briber Ng Lap Seng. What will Weingarten say?

AUSA Rossmiller says gov't has already designated E 71 St mansion for seizure, so it is already worthless to Epstein. Judge Berman sips cup of water. Or coffee. Rossmiller says this morning aware of cash in safe in mansion & a foreign passport with Epstein's photo

Note by Inner City Press: Ng Lap Seng has SIX passports, including from Skerrit's Dominica. Back in #SDNY, AUSA Rossmiller says the passport listed Epstein's resident as... #SaudiArabia.

AUSA Rossmiller says gov't hasn't yet taken a position on Epstein's request to seal his cursory financial info. Says will confer about providing a sample of Epstein's photos of nude and partially nude one of whom self-identified, as victim

AUSA Rossmiller: "The non-prosecution agreement does not preclude" this prosecution. "The defendant will lose any argument about due process.. If he chooses to go trial before a jury of his peers we are confident he will lose." Now Epstein's lawyer...

For Epstein, it's Martin G. Weinberg from Boston, and not Weingarten who bumbled last week about "just rape... no penetration." #ProHacVice

Judge Berman asks Epstein's lawyer WHO high in DOJ approved the non-prosecution agreement. Answer: Fisher (sp) and current under-secretary of Treasury (!) - under Mnuchin, lateral to Joe Otting

Seems Epstein's lawyer Weinberg is throwing under the bus, with his answer, Mark Filip and Sigal P. Mandelker (the CURRENT Under Secretary of Treasury). Inner City Press will submitted Freedom of Information Act request, but see: innercitypress.com/usocc6ottingca…

Now Jeffrey Epstein's lawyer Weinberg says "this is far away from the heartland of commercial sex trafficking." #Heartland @SDNYLIVE

Epstein's lawyer Weinberg: Once he knew he was being investigated, he controlled himself. Says, A 14 year gap is an eloquent rebuttal. Judge Berman: I'm not so sure.

Judge Berman tells Epstein's lawyer Weinstein, You don't cite any case saying after 14 years, the danger is past. Weinstein is waving his hand around at the lectern. Judge Berman says there are studies of recidivism of sex offenders measuring beyond 14 years

Judge Berman says he'll put up on the docket the research he read that recidivism goes UP after 15 years, more than after five. Preview of Berman's ruling on Thursday? AirBnB on E 71 St?

Weinstein on his client Jeffrey Epstein: "It's not like he's an out of control rapist."

Judge Berman: How do you know that? @SDNYLIVE

Sounds like Judge Berman woke up early today - he has several times said, "This morning I read." Some of what he's read, he says, he will put in the docket on PACER...

Weinberg: Epstein's principle residence is in the Virgin Islands which rates him as the lowest level of sex offender threat. Inner City Press: coincidence? Pay to classify? Still waiting for no registration in New Mexico answer

Weinstein saying that unless Epstein was in New York more than 9 days he didn't have to physically report every 90 days. Judge Berman says he read in the New York Post about the NYS sex offender registry, Epstein not being in compliance. "It's a newspaper story."

Now Epstein's lawyer Weinberg is saying you can't attribute the alleged attempt to force off road to Epstein, cites Miami attorney Roy Black. Says the giving of $250,000 might have been an act of generosity, is not federal obstruction, cites Sup Ct Aguillar case

Epstein's lawyer says their bail proposal included any visitors being approved by pre trial services, to allow him and Weingarten to visit. So media scrum on 71st Street? Inner City Press notes that on E 72, Qatar royal family trafficking: innercitypress.com/sdny1epsteinju…

Epstein's lawyer tells Judge Berman he's willing to post a $100 million bond, any and all collateral. #PayToPlay

Epstein's lawyer Weinberg says only release financial summary if Judge Berman decides to grant bail. He closes by noting that Madoff & Skilling were bailed. Says he got bail for a client from SDNY Judge Furman. Inner City Press covered denial of bail to #OneCoin

Wait, there's more - now Epstein's lawyer Weinberg turns to private security of the type SDNY Judge Broderick allowed for UN Briber Ng Lap Seng (which as Inner City Press reported included a masseuse who cooked for Guidepost guards) innercitypress.com/sdny1unbriberv…

Epstein's lawyer Weinberg says the people in Rikers Island aren't facing the size of prosecution team that Epstein is, cites the "magnitude" of Epstein's pre-trial preparation needs. Now wrapping himself in the flag of the Warren Court. He's done.

Judge Berman asks for any further written submission by tomorrow at noon. Weinberg asks for 5 pm due to his travel obligations. #BostonShuttle. Judge Berman asking again for sample of evidence seized from E 71 St mansion. AUSA promises lightening round

Epstein's lawyer Weinberg takes the floor to says Epstein does not concede what the government claims he does. Now emphasizes that if Epstein 2018 payments were obstruction, then despite knowing of risk he flew back into USA several times. Again offers up guards

Judge Berman asks if the guards would be armed or unarmed. Either way, he says. Last speaker.. David Boies, saying he hadn't planned to speak, would like Judge Berman to hear from a victim present in court for just one minute. Sure, Berman says....

Now Annie Farmer tells court Epstein flew her to Mexico to "spend time with him there." Supports gov request that bail not be granted. Says it's MORE difficult to come forward because of notoriety of this case. Her voice is cracking. "He was inappropriate with me"

Now lawyer for Courtney Wild, who sued US Attorney's office in Southern Florida over non-prosecution agreement - he says she has a particular interest in this #SDNY case

Courtney Wild says she was sexual abused by Epstein from the age of 14, in Palm Beach says that Epstein not be released. "He's a scary person to have walking the streets." Berman: that concludes out work for today. Story soon, including on patreon.com/MatthewRussell…