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Case 1:20-cr-00330-PAE Document 204 _ Filed 04/16/21 Page 146 of 239
(Def. Mot. 4, Ex. H at 9). “That knowledge,” the Court explained, “goes directly to the truth or
falsity of the alleged defamation, a key element of Plaintiffs claim.” (/d.). The Court therefore
ordered the defendant to answer the questions related to her sexual activity with or involving (1)
Epstein, (2) Giuffre, (3) underage girls known to Epstein or who she thought might become known
to Epstein, or (4) involving massage with individuals the defendant “knew to be, or believed might
be, known to Epstein.” (/d. at 10). The Court further ordered the defendant to answer questions
about her knowledge of the sexual activities of others in the same four categories. The Court added
that the “scope of Defendant’s answers are not bound by time period, though Defendant need not
answer questions that relate to none of these subjects or that is clearly not relevant.” (/d.). The
defendant sat for a second deposition on July 22, 2016, before the case settled.
As discussed more fully below, the Indictment charges the defendant with two counts of
perjury, one arising from statements made during the April 2016 deposition and one arising from
statements made during the July 2016 deposition. Indictment 9 21, 23. (Ex. 10 at 253:25-254:8,
384:15-20; Ex. 11 at 88:9-89:13, 91:22-92:16, 113:2-12). The defendant now moves to dismiss
both counts, arguing that the Court can effectively decide now, as a matter of law, that the questions
were fundamentally ambiguous, her answers were true, and her answers were immaterial to the
case.
B. Applicable Law
Section 1623(a) imposes criminal penalties on anyone who “in any proceeding before or
ancillary to any court .. . knowingly makes any false material declaration.” 18 U.S.C. § 1623(a).
In perjury prosecutions, “whether the witness believes that an answer is true or false generally
turns on the declarant’s understanding of the question.” United States v. Lighte, 782 F.2d 367, 372
(2d Cir. 1986). Accordingly, and as is true of virtually all factual issues, “[a] jury is best equipped
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Document Details
| Filename | DOJ-OGR-00003080.jpg |
| File Size | 716.5 KB |
| OCR Confidence | 94.0% |
| Has Readable Text | Yes |
| Text Length | 2,131 characters |
| Indexed | 2026-02-03 16:30:29.388860 |