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Case 1:20-cr-00330-PAE Document 497 Filed 11/23/21 Page11of11 with any of you, not even to offer a friendly greeting. So if you happen to see any of them outside this courtroom, and they do not acknowledge you, say hello, or make small talk, please do not take offense. They are not being rude — they are simply following my instructions. Conclusion That concludes my preliminary instructions to you. Now we will begin with the initial stage of the case, which, as I said to you, is opening statements, and we are going to begin with the government. Let me just note, as I said in the beginning of jury selection, we are in an outfitted courtroom for COVID times. The witness will be in this Plexiglass box that has a HEPA filter, and they will remove their mask to testify when we have witnesses testify. The lawyer who will be questioning them and the lawyer during opening statements will be in that Plexiglass box with the HEPA filter, and they will be permitted to remove their mask while they provide opening statements, as well. So at this time I am going to ask all of you to give your undivided attention to the lawyers as they make their opening statements. DOJ-OGR-00007463