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Case 1:20-cr-00330-PAE Document 298 _ Filed 06/04/21 Page2of6
Maxwell appears to proffer two theories of relevance as to the entire journal. While she
studiously avoids using the word, one such theory relates to impeachment. As this Court has
noted, the potential impeachment of a witness does not provide grounds for issuance or
enforcement of a Rule 17(c) subpoena because such materials would only become relevant after
a witness has testified. United States v. Skelos, No. 15-CR-317 (KMW), 2018 WL 2254538, at
*2 (S.D.N.Y. May 17, 2018), aff'd, 988 F.3d 645 (2d Cir. 2021) (collecting cases).
The other theory of relevance that Maxwell proffers is that if the rest of the journal does
not mention her, the journal as a whole may serve as exculpatory evidence. At best, the theory
amounts to little more than a “fishing expedition,” which is not the proper use of Rule 17(c). See
United States v. Nixon, 418 U.S. 683, 698-70 (1974). In any event, the argument is too
speculative to meet the standard set forth in Nixon. To begin with, the request appears to be
overbroad; under Rule 17(c), the moving party must show that all of the requested material is
relevant. Cf United States v. Pena, No. 15-CR-551 (AJN), 2016 WL 8735699, at *2 (S.D.N.Y.
Feb. 12, 2016). It appears from the briefing that the diary includes entries from before Minor
Victim-2’s first time meeting Epstein or Maxwell. Maxwell does not explain why the absence of
references to her in those entries would be relevant, and she provides no other basis as to the
relevance of any portions of the diary that precede her meeting Epstein or Maxwell. And here,
too, the theory that the rest of the journal contradicts Minor Victim-2’s anticipated testimony as
to specific incidents is, in its nature, targeted at impeaching the alleged victim’s anticipated
testimony.
In addition, Maxwell does not plausibly establish the relevance of the rest of the diary
other than the pages she has already received. BSF has represented that the rest of the journal
does not discuss Maxwell or Jeffrey Epstein. Dkt. No. 191 at 5. The Government has similarly
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Document Details
| Filename | DOJ-OGR-00004738.jpg |
| File Size | 720.0 KB |
| OCR Confidence | 94.6% |
| Has Readable Text | Yes |
| Text Length | 2,134 characters |
| Indexed | 2026-02-03 16:52:23.037768 |