Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre has been ordered by a US District Judge to destroy files believed to contain the names of Epstein’s associates - because they were “improperly obtained.’
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It was a civil suit? And the judge wants the evidence destroyed —protecting high profile lawbreaking evil people from potential criminal charges?
The article says that another court has already ordered this judge that some of the files have to be unsealed?
IIRC, evidence improperly obtained may be admisable provided that the prosecution can show that the info could/would have been obtained anyway?
JMO, there needs to be a stay on destruction until criminal cases have a chance to make their arguments for admission.
Right. IANAL, but...
Simply because evidence was obtained inadmissibly does mean there aren’t other ways they could be obtained admissibly.
An alternate way for them to be properly sought could not be dependent on knowledge of their existence that was gained through the inadmissible discovery. If the fact that Giuffre might well have relevant records was, however discovered through a different avenue of legitimate investigation, those records could yet be admissible.
That a judge should have any evidence destroyed smacks of judicial misconduct, it seems to me, and may be a crime. I agree that a Writ of Mandamus from the Appellate Court could be sought “if it’s not already moot.”
If they’ve been destroyed, we may have the analog for another Epstein-related “suicide.”