A lawyer representing several of the women allegedly victimized by billionaire and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein said Wednesday that it was a “gut punch” that Ghislaine Maxwell could receive a new trial after it was revealed that one of the jurors may have withheld his past sexual abuse and used it to sway the jury.
“Ghislaine Maxwell may get a new trial. Really,” attorney Lisa Bloom, who represents eight women who were alleged victims of sexual abuse by Epstein, wrote in a Twitter thread reacting to the news. “Because another human was sexually abused. This is just awful. Juror Scotty David has given interviews. He says he revealed his sexual abuse history during deliberations. Fine, that’s allowed.”
Ghislaine Maxwell may get a new trial. Really. Because another human was sexually abused.
This is just awful.
Juror Scotty David has given interviews. He says he revealed his sexual abuse history during deliberations. Fine, that’s allowed.
But . . .
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) January 6, 2022
“But,” she continued, “Like all those in the jury pool, he filled out a questionnaire before trial. One Q was whether he was a sexual abuse victim, and if so to describe what happened, without names.”
“That document is not public but both sides are indicating he was not truthful. Again, WE DON’T KNOW.”
Like all those in the jury pool, he filled out a questionnaire before trial. One Q was whether he was a sexual abuse victim, and if so to describe what happened, without names.
That document is not public but both sides are indicating he was not truthful.
Again, WE DON’T KNOW.— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) January 6, 2022
“But the attorneys and the judge know,” Bloom continued. “The prosecution, which must stand for truth and fairness, requested an inquiry. Bad sign. Of course the defense wants a mistrial. Judge just ordered briefing on the inquiry and mistrial motion. Very bad sign.”
But the attorneys and the judge know. The prosecution, which must stand for truth and fairness, requested an inquiry.
Bad sign.
Of course the defense wants a mistrial.
Judge just ordered briefing on the inquiry and mistrial motion.
Very bad sign.https://t.co/j2PhpvWBER
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) January 6, 2022
“I want to be clear: being a sexual abuse victim does NOT disqualify you from serving on a sexual abuse jury. To the contrary, I WANT victims on my juries. Many victims say they can’t serve on my trials for this reason. But please, we need you,” she wrote.
I want to be clear: being a sexual abuse victim does NOT disqualify you from serving on a sexual abuse jury.
To the contrary, I WANT victims on my juries. Many victims say they can’t serve on my trials for this reason. But please, we need you.
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) January 6, 2022
“The issue is whether this juror lied on his questionnaire, depriving the defense of the chance to ask him Qs during jury selection to see if he was biased,” Bloom added. “BTW, why do we assume victims are biased but not non-victims? Non-victims often have skewed, false views about abuse.”
The issue is whether this juror lied on his questionnaire, depriving the defense of the chance to ask him Qs during jury selection to see if he was biased.
BTW, why do we assume victims are biased but not non-victims? Non-victims often have skewed, false views about abuse.
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) January 6, 2022
“IF he lied and IF the court finds it was material, the judge may order a new trial,” Bloom went on. “My heart goes out to the 4 victims, who will have to do it all again. And this story underscores how many people have been sexually abused. It’s rampant. Epidemic.”
IF he lied and IF the court finds it was material, the judge may order a new trial.
My heart goes out to the 4 victims, who will have to do it all again.
And this story underscores how many people have been sexually abused. It’s rampant. Epidemic.
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) January 6, 2022
“And because this juror was a victim, and was brave enough to tell his story in the deliberations room and stand with the other victims, a convicted sex trafficker may get a do-over. Just a punch in the gut to the 8 Jeffrey Epstein victims I represent,” Bloom concluded.
And because this juror was a victim, and was brave enough to tell his story in the deliberations room and stand with the other victims, a convicted sex trafficker may get a do-over.
Just a punch in the gut to the 8 Jeffrey Epstein victims I represent.
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) January 6, 2022
Maxwell’s defense attorneys petitioned the court for a new trial Thursday after it was revealed that one of the jurors conducted interviews with several media outlets claiming to be a victim of sexual abuse, despite not having told attorneys during jury selection.
The Daily Wire reported:
The juror told multiple outlets that his experience of sexual abuse as a child helped sway the jury toward conviction during deliberations. According to Reuters:
He said that after some of the jurors questioned the accuracy of the two women’s memories, he decided to share his own experience of being sexually abused as a child. He said that he remembered most important elements of what happened to him, but not every single detail. That swayed some jurors, he said.
“When I shared that, they were able to sort of come around on, they were able to come around on the memory aspect of the sexual abuse,” Scotty David, a 35-year-old Manhattan resident, told Reuters in a phone interview.
The juror told Reuters that he did not remember being asked about his alleged sexual assault:
During jury selection, hundreds of prospective jurors were given questionnaires asking, among other things, if they or anyone in their families had experienced sexual abuse, court records show.
For those who answered yes, the judge in the case asked during follow-up questioning if it would affect their ability to serve as a fair or impartial juror, the records show.
Scotty David said he did not recall being asked about his experience during follow-up questioning, known as voir dire. He said he “flew through” the initial questionnaire and also did not recall being asked on the form about personal experiences with sexual abuse, but that he would have answered honestly.