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FBI VOL00009
EFTA00800508
343 sivua
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121 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 bait. He would use legitimate cases as bait for luring investors into fictional cases, which -- it then talks about -- there were legitimate cases, such as which were being handled -- it says here by RRA lawyer Bill Berger -- William Berger. Sources say they believe Berger wasn't involved in the scam. So the article is saying what Rothstein was doing is taking cases that were legitimate and being legitimately prosecuted by his firm, and making up a fictionalized version of it over here to sell to investors, not using -- not selling these cases or anything like that. That's not what this article says. Q So when you read this article and the other articles I have shown you, is it your position that Mr. Rothstein was not using the Epstein files in order to entice investors to participate in the Ponzi scheme? MR. SCAROLA: Sorry. That question confuses me, because your predicate was when you read these articles -- MR. LINK: This is your objection to form? Is this your objection to form? MR. SCAROLA: It is objection to form. MR. LINK: Then just make an objection Palm Beach Reporting Service, Inc. EFTA00800628
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122 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 to form, Jack. MR. SCAROLA: I'm trying to understand what the question means. MR. LINK: It doesn't matter to me if you understand it. MR. SCAROLA: Are you asking him what the article says, or are you asking him what his personal belief is? MR. LINK: I don't know, but that's great coaching. How about we go back to object to the form. MR. SCAROLA: Okay. Object to the form. MR. LINK: Fair enough. MR. SCAROLA: Yes. THE WITNESS: You were actually asking me what my interpretation of the article is. BY MR. LINK: Q I did. That was before, and then I asked you another question. A Okay. Q And my question was, as a matter of fact -- forget what this article says -- as a matter of fact, do you now know that Mr. Rothstein used the cases that you were in charge of -- I'm not saying he did Palm Beach Reporting Service, Inc. EFTA00800629
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123 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 inflate them, he didn't manipulate them, he didn't do other things -- but the cases you were in charge of against Mr. Epstein were used by Mr. Rothstein to attempt to perpetuate his Ponzi scheme? Is that a true statement? MR. SCAROLA: Objection. No proper predicate. THE WITNESS: What I believe, based on things that I have read after the fact, is that Rothstein used the details of the legitimate cases against Jeffrey Epstein to lure investors into purchasing some fictitious cases that never existed, that may have -- where he may have said Epstein was somehow involved, but he wasn't involved. That's what I believe to be true now. BY MR. LINK: Q Are you aware, sir, of the press articles and the Razorback lawsuit that alleges that the real Epstein files that were at the Rothstein firm were put in a room for investors to look at? MR. SCAROLA: Objection, compound. THE WITNESS: I'm aware of the Razorback lawsuit. I'm aware of -- the same Palm Beach Reporting Service, Inc. EFTA00800630
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124 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 articles that you're aware of -- BY MR. LINK: Q You're aware of? A I'm aware of. Q And Mr. Epstein was aware of at the time? A How would I know? I don't know what he was aware of. Q Do you think he was probably aware of the one with his picture that says, "Epstein was bait"? A No idea. Regardless, it has nothing to do with him. He's not suffered any damage by -- no matter what type of spin of this whole thing that you try to create, there's no damage to Mr. Epstein that Rothstein was telling a random story about him about fake cases. Q Okay. A It doesn't make the legitimate cases fabricated. That's absurd. Q So is there someplace in what we're looking at, Exhibit 1 here, this affidavit, where Mr. Epstein ever says that the three individual clients that you represented and the cases that they filed in court were somehow not legitimately filed? MR. SCAROLA: Are you asking whether that appears in the affidavit? MR. LINK: Yeah. Palm Beach Reporting Service, Inc. EFTA00800631
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125 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 BY MR. LINK: Q I'm not sure -- you've given me that speech. Is there anything in here? A Sure. I mean, his complaint against me, that I committed RICO and fraud and perjury and all of these other crimes that he accused me of, is all about this allegation that I fabricated the cases on behalf of basically fictitious victims against him. And he elaborated on that in his deposition and said that I ginned up the cases. I mean, yeah, that's what his complaint is about, the fabricated cases. Q I'm asking. Is that what Mr. Rothstein did? Did Mr. Rothstein do everything that you just described to me? A I don't know. I know what you know. Q Based on what you read. Based on what you have read, did Rothstein make up stories about Epstein -- A Yes. Q -- in order to lure investors? A It appears that way from exactly what you're looking at. Rothstein made up Epstein stories and whatever stories about whoever else in the world to try to run a Ponzi scheme. Q Agreed. Palm Beach Reporting Service, Inc. EFTA00800632
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126 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 A We agree. Q So take a look at paragraph seven. You see it says, "In November 2009, Mr. Epstein became aware of news stories that, as a result of the Ponzi scheme at RRA, the Florida Bar had commenced investigations into over one half of the attorneys employed by RRA." Did the Florida Bar commence investigations into over one half of the attorneys employed by RRA? A I don't know. MR. SCAROLA: Excuse me. I object to the predicate of the question, not to the question. BY MR. LINK: Q Did you see news stories back in November 2009 that made that statement? A I don't think so. I'm not saying they don't exist. I just didn't see them. I wasn't watching all of RRA news stories about the implosion. I was more worried with starting a new firm and dealing with the lawsuit that was filed against me and that fallout. Q I understand. Let me ask you this. Do you have any information that would make you think or any evidence that you could present that would show that the statement in paragraph seven was untrue at Palm Beach Reporting Service, Inc. EFTA00800633
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127 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 the time that it was made? A So he -- he is making this statement on June 30th, 2017, this year, about -- Q News stories that existed in 2009. I'm asking you A That's not what this is about. It's about -- you're talking paragraph seven. Q Yes. A Which says, "I also became aware --" Q You missed the first three words. A In November of 2009. Q Right. A News stories about the Florida Bar investigation? Q Right. And I'm asking you, do you have any evidence that, in November 2009, there were not news stories that the Florida Bar had commenced investigations into over one half of the attorneys employed at RRA? A I don't have evidence one way or the other, whether there were news stories, whether there weren't, or Jeffrey Epstein knew about them or he didn't, or he became aware or he didn't. I don't know any of those things. Q So let me try it again. Are you aware of Palm Beach Reporting Service, Inc. EFTA00800634
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128 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 any evidence that would prove that there were no news stories in November 2009 that the Florida Bar has commenced investigations into over one half of the attorneys employed by RRA? MR. SCAROLA: Didn't Mr. Edwards just tell you he doesn't know one way or another? THE WITNESS: I have no idea. BY MR. LINK: Q So if I asked are you aware of any evidence, instead of just saying no, you want to tell me you have no idea, yes, no, maybe. A Am I aware of evidence? You might have it right in front of you right now. Q I might. I'm asking you if you're aware. A I don't see this in front of me right now. So I am not aware of the evidence one way or the other, whether the Florida Bar opened up an investigation into over one half of the lawyers or that there were news stories in November of 2009 that says that. All I have now right about the 2009 -- November 2009 are the things that you have given me. And none of them say that, at least from what I have read. But I'm not saying it doesn't exist. Q It's okay. Let's do this then. Let's go ahead and mark -- when we take a break here to eat, Palm Beach Reporting Service, Inc. EFTA00800635
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129 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 we will go ahead and mark all of these news articles from November 2009 -- and you are welcomed to go through them to see if you find any evidence that supports a position that what Mr. Epstein is saying in this affidavit is untrue in any way. Okay? A What does it matter whether I know this or not? Either it is supported or it's not supported. And good. If it's supported, great. It's still irrelevant. And if it's not supported, okay, too. What does it matter what I know about Mr. Epstein's mental state about Florida Bar inquiries? Q I'm not asking about mental state at all. I haven't asked that question one time, sir. A He said, "when I became aware." Q I didn't ask you whether he's aware. That's not been my question. MR. SCAROLA: But you've repeatedly asked whether the statement in paragraph seven is true. And the statement in paragraph seven is an assertion of what Mr. Epstein became aware of, what his state of mind was, whether he knew -- MR. LINK: Is this form again? Jack, I remember exactly what I asked, so please, Palm Beach Reporting Service, Inc. EFTA00800636
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130 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 just limit it to form, if you would. I know you love lecturing me, and I appreciate it, and you teach me every step of the way. But please refrain from counseling so much. MR. SCAROLA: Please refrain from misrepresenting the record. MR. LINK: I do not believe I am, and I will stand by the record. BY MR. LINK: Q And if I have somehow misled you or did something inappropriate on the record unintentionally, then I apologize, Mr. Edwards. But, in fact, you are not just a witness in this case. You are a lawyer of record, aren't you? A Yes. Q Which means that you're going to be a lawyer trying this case, as I understand, right? MR. SCAROLA: No, it doesn't mean that. MR. LINK: He can't answer that? THE WITNESS: I don't think I need to tell you who is trying the case. MR. SCAROLA: I'm the attorney in this case. MR. LINK: Okay. Palm Beach Reporting Service, Inc. EFTA00800637
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131 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MR. SCAROLA: Your question was about who is going to be trying the case. MR. LINK: And he can answer that. MR. SCAROLA: And I'm telling you who is going to try the case, and that doesn't include Bradley Edwards as a lawyer trying the case. MR. LINK: Is there a reason he couldn't answer that? MR. SCAROLA: Pardon me? MR. LINK: Is there a reason he couldn't answer that? MR. SCAROLA: It is not within the scope of his responsibility to answer it. It is within the scope of my responsibility to answer it. And if what you are really looking for is an answer to the question, I have just given it you to. BY MR. LINK: Q So you don't intend to participate in the trial of this case? A It depends on how successful you guys are in continuing with the case the way that -- Q So there's a possibility you will participate in the trial of this case in -- Palm Beach Reporting Service, Inc. EFTA00800638
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132 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 A There's a possibility that I wouldn't even be alive when this case is tried if we continue going down this road. Q Okay, let's not talk about your pending death. Are you in good condition? You're health's okay? A I believe so. Q How old are you? A Forty-one. Q Any medication you are on? A No. Q So I'm asking you, is it your intent that you will participate in the trial of this case? A I don't think that I need to tell you our strategy as to who is going to participate at what stage in this case at all, nor would I ask you or expect for you to tell me yours. Q But you are both a plaintiff, a witness and an attorney representing yourself in this case? A I've agreed to that already, yes. Q Do you know why you were left off of the witness list for this case and were just added last night at 5:30 p.m.? A Again, other information that is attorney-client privileged information that I'm not Palm Beach Reporting Service, Inc. EFTA00800639
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133 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 obligated to tell you. Q I didn't ask you about your communications with your lawyer. I asked if you know -- A How else would I know? MR. SCAROLA: You asked why. How else would he know? BY MR. LINK: Q Then you can say there's a privilege. MR. SCAROLA: That's what he just did. THE WITNESS: I just told you that. I said it. BY MR. LINK: Q Is there anything other than communication with yourself as a lawyer and with Mr. Scarola as to why, as the plaintiff in this case, you were not listed as a witness? A You would have to ask my lawyers as to witness lists, exhibit lists and those types of things that -- Q That you are unaware of? A That they deal with. Q Do you work on the day-to-day handling of the lawsuit? MR. SCAROLA: Objection. Work-product privilege. Palm Beach Reporting Service, Inc. EFTA00800640
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134 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MR. LINK: What does that tell me about his anticipating thoughts about trial? MR. SCAROLA: What he is doing in connection with this case is a work-product privilege. MR. LINK: I didn't ask what he was doing. I asked if he worked on the case day-to-day. I didn't ask for any specific thing he did, Jack. I don't know how that can be work product. You stand by your objection? MR. SCAROLA: Yeah, I do. BY MR. LINK: Q When the -- let's go back to the time period before the lawsuit was dismissed -- the claims against you were dismissed by Mr. Epstein. Did you work on the defense of that case? A I had no choice. Q You didn't have a lawyer. A Right, but I knew the details. I had to spend a lot of time defending that case. Q But you said you had no choice. When you represent clients, a lot of them are not lawyers, right? A It was the nature of the lawsuit. Palm Beach Reporting Service, Inc. EFTA00800641
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135 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Q There was something about the lawsuit when it was filed that made it -- you uncomfortable relying on Mr. Scarola to do the work? A It required -- it was about legal actions that I had taken in the case. I had taken those actions, so I had to do the work. Q So you had to do the legal work because of legal actions that you had taken? Is that what you are telling me? A I was most equipped I'm a lawyer. I was most equipped to answer as to the falsity of the complaint that was filed against me. I was best suited to point out and to strategize as to what needed to be done to prove the falsity of those allegations. Q And I'm sure Mr. Scarola appreciated that help. A I'm sure. Q And did you draft the counterclaim? MR. SCAROLA: Same agreement. MR. LINK: Well, it can't be. You're seeking recovery for the pleadings. It's in everything you've disclosed. It can't be -- THE WITNESS: Not for the counterclaim, I don't think -- MR. LINK: It can't be part of the Palm Beach Reporting Service, Inc. EFTA00800642
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136 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 agreement. THE WITNESS: For the counterclaim, we are not seeking fees for that. BY MR. LINK: Q You're not? A That's the affirmative case, as opposed to the defense of the case. Q Okay. A If what you're representing to me is that statement you just made to me is true, I will accept your word for it, but I don't believe it to be true. Q I'm not going to represent anything to you about your time. A Okay. Q If you're telling me that you are not that all of your time that you recorded, 1,300 hours, was in defending solely the claim brought by Mr. Epstein, then that's what you're telling me, and the records are what the records are. A The time records are what the time records are. Q But I'm asking you, are you telling me that the 1,300-plus hours that you are seeking compensation for were spent solely on defending against the complaint Mr. Epstein filed against the Palm Beach Reporting Service, Inc. EFTA00800643
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137 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Rothstein -- against Mr. Rothstein and against you? A If you show me my time records I can answer that question without any doubt. Q I'm asking you. You are the plaintiff in this case and you are seeking that recovery. A I understand that. But why won't you give me something that will help to refresh my recollection on exactly what -- and the only thing that's holding me up is that there were various versions of both the complaint and the counterclaim that overlapped one another. But I believe that the time records that were submitted to you, which -- which is less than the total time records that I kept up to that point, I believe that they were reduced by my counsel to the time that was spent -- to my time that was spent defending the case. But I can tell you without any doubt, if you will just show me the documents, because I know that you have them. Q We are going to look at a lot of documents. A Okay. Q But I am certainly allowed to test your memory. A That's my memory. Q That's all I am doing. Palm Beach Reporting Service, Inc. EFTA00800644
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138 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 I guess you are telling me that you gave all the contemporaneous time records to Mr. Scarola, and somebody in his office determined what to be produced as to what you're seeking recovery for. A This gets into attorney-client privilege. Q You told me you gave them all to Mr. Scarola, and they decided what to give me. Is that what you said? A There's no way for me to answer that question as to how the time records that were produced in this case came to be without getting into discussions with counsel. Q Did you keep contemporaneous time records? A Yes. Q So starting in -- when did you start keeping contemporaneous time records of the amount of time you spent on the Epstein versus Rothstein and Edwards matter? A I don't know exactly. Q You know what contemporaneous time records are? A Yes. Q Day-to-day, writing down your time. A I understand. Q And that's what you did. So somewhere Palm Beach Reporting Service, Inc. EFTA00800645
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139 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 there is backup for what has been produced to me that would show me day-to-day what you wrote down on a day-to-day basis? Is that true? That's how you kept your time? A You just asked a bunch of different questions. Somewhere is there -- is that how I kept my time? Just one question and I will answer it. Q It was an amazing question if you piece them all together. Let's try it one by one. A Okay. Q Did you keep, starting in December 2009, daily time sheets? A I don't know that I started -- I don't think I started then. I think that it was subsequent to that. And I know because I remember where I was when I had a specific conversation that led me to begin keeping them contemporaneously. So I know that there was a period of time that passed before I started keeping them contemporaneously where I had to go back and try to figure out for a period of a month or six weeks or so the time that I had spent. Q It's my understanding that the tort group, which you mentioned at the Rothstein firm, did not keep daily time records. Palm Beach Reporting Service, Inc. EFTA00800646
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140 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 A Okay. Q Did you keep daily time records when you were at the Rothstein firm? A I don't think that your statement that you just represented is true. I think that the tort group did keep daily time records. But if you say it's true, I will accept it. Q Let me just ask about you. Did you keep daily time records at the Rothstein firm? A We were required to put time in daily. And I believe I did every -- I don't know that I did every day, but I did for the most part. Q So when is it that you made the decision to start recording your time related to the Epstein matter on a daily basis? A I don't know exactly. Q You said you remembered the exact precise time that you did it. A I remember the location where I was standing. I don't remember the precise day that -- I was in the Palm Beach County courthouse. I can picture where I was standing. I don't know where in the course of this litigation that that occurred, like what time period. Q Do you generally remember? Was it weeks? Months? A year? Two years? Palm Beach Reporting Service, Inc. EFTA00800647