A federal judge this week agreed to requested redactions in the case of Ghislaine Maxwell, ex-girlfriend to the late sex offender and accused sex trafficker, Jeffrey Epstein.
Both government prosecutors and Maxwell’s lawyers asked for redactions because of concerns that certain information was too “sensitive or confidential,” U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan, an Obama nominee, wrote in a court order on March 18.
Nathan acquiesced to the redactions both parties requested, finding that the proposals mainly satisfied a three-part test articulated by a different court in 2006.
“Under this test, the Court must: (i) determine whether the documents in question are ‘judicial documents;’ (ii) assess the weight of the common law presumption of access to the materials; and (iii) balance competing considerations against the presumption of access. ‘Such countervailing factors include but are not limited to ‘the danger of impairing law enforcement or judicial efficiency’ and ‘the privacy interests of those resisting disclosure,’” she wrote.
The document parties sought to redact is a government brief in opposition to Maxell’s pre-trial motions. It is a judicial document, the judge said, turning to whether the requests were “narrowly tailored to serve substantial interests” to overcome the presumption of access.
Prosecutors argued the redactions they wanted were necessary to protect the integrity of an ongoing criminal investigation, as well as third parties’ personal privacy interests. Those arguments are legitimate, according to Nathan. For example, one redaction requested is the name of a third party.
Portions of the brief that Maxwell’s representatives wanted to shield from public view “concern privacy interests and their disclosure would merely serve to cater to a ‘craving for that which is sensational and impure,’” the judge wrote, adding: “The Court thus concludes that such redactions are justified.”
At the same time, Nathan sided with the defendant’s objections to some of the government’s proposed redactions, ruling prosecutors didn’t advance a conclusory basis as to why its investigation would be imperiled by the disclosure.
Sad day/times for victims. 😢
What did she shield from children????🙄
WHERE IS JEFFERY EPSTEIN
Why
BS!!! Probably because he was at the Island as well!!!😡😡😡
Can you say Clinton
Expose it alllll!
I say expose everything.
They are just covering their tracks!!
That’s bull shit no fucking shields
It’s ok. They are only going to shield the info that indicates politicians as pedophiles.
How is none of this on national news???? 🤔 oh wait of course!!!! They all apart of it
Too many buddies named in the documents. They just keep covering for each other.
The satanic ritual abuse part? The sadistic raping of infants part? The organ harvesting part? Hmmmm which part?
The Clintons having their way again
That judge is suspect now. They have been to the Epstein island
Not a good look….your honor
😡🤬🤮🤢🤮 were the children shielded from their heinous crimes? I think not
Follow the 💰 trail!
Are they protecting Bill? Hillary? Or CJ John Roberts?
Hate this bullshit game they play. Everything should always be known.
Anyone who REDACTS ANYTHING at this point is part of a coverup. Release it ALL and let the world see the truth of the matter.
Of course! Keep the names of Democrats secret!
What a fucking joke!! When does it end? Where’s the light at the end of the tunnel? This is absurd and gives me no hope for humanity smh