The previous household manager of Jeffrey Epstein’s estate in Palm Seashore, Florida, testified on Thursday that a “house handbook” issued to him and other workforce by Ghislaine Maxwell was “degrading” to him.
On the fourth working day of Maxwell’s criminal trial, Juan Alessi, 72, claimed he begun operating as a routine maintenance contractor for Epstein in 1990, and began serving as property manager for Epstein’s Palm Beach estate in 1991. He met Maxwell, he mentioned, that very same 12 months, and it became immediately very clear that Maxwell has “many, many, a lot of procedures” for individuals concerned in the management of Epstein’s affairs.
Requested by Assistant U.S. Legal professional Maurene Comey if the policies had been ever penned down, Alessi testified that “indeed, at the conclusion of my keep I acquire from Ms. Maxwell this booklet,” containing criteria for the upkeep of Epstein’s house, “an remarkable sum of do the job,” he mentioned, “adequate operate for 10 individuals.”
According to a 2005 edition of the “House Manual” submitted to the court as evidence — which Alessi testified appeared like an current model of one particular at first offered to him by Maxwell — Epstein’s staff members was anticipated to show up at to a painstakingly detailed list of chores and checklists.
Detailed between them ended up the comprehensive preparations for the arrival of Epstein, Maxwell, or any of their company at the estate and what Alessi named ‘degrading’ guidelines and regulations outlining staff’s language, visual appearance and standard behavior.
The “Pre-Arrival Preparations Checkoff List” for the “Learn Bed room,” for case in point, which Alessi testified Epstein and Maxwell generally slept in collectively, contains “JE and GM telephone directories positioned to appropriate of phone” and “gun positioned in bedside desk drawer.”
Maxwell, Epstein’s previous girlfriend and longtime affiliate, faces a six-rely indictment for allegedly conspiring with and aiding Epstein in his sexual abuse of underage women in between 1994 and 2004. She has been held devoid of bail considering the fact that her arrest in July 2020 and has pleaded not guilty to the expenses and proclaimed her innocence.
According to the guide, staff users ended up prohibited from feeding on, consuming and chewing gum in front of Epstein, Maxwell and their visitors, and were being urged to “stay away from utilizing powerful fragrance or aftershave lotion as “this could bring about an allergic response.” They were supplied a checklist of terms “you do not say,” which integrated “Yeah,” “Sure,” “No dilemma,” “You guess,” “Gotcha,” “Correct” and “I dunno.” And they have been instructed to that “goods in pockets should not produce a bulge or be seen,” and suggested to “not tackle Mr. Epstein, Ms. Maxwell and their company with your fingers in your pocket.”
Less than “Visitor Pick-Up and Fall-Off,” the handbook outlines how to chauffeur friends from the airport to the estate.
“Maintain discussion to a bare minimum,” the handbook instructs. “When you are driving Mr Epstein or Ms Maxwell, continue to keep your palms on the wheel. Your mobile telephones really should be positioned on ‘vibrate.’ At no time need to you answer private calls.”
Underneath “Grooming and Guest Relations,” Epstein’s workers is instructed that “[being] unobtrusive is crucial.”
“Keep in mind that you see absolutely nothing, listen to very little, say nothing, except to response a question directed at you,” the guide reads. “Regard their privacy. … Do not explore particular difficulties with attendees.”
Underneath “Answering the Phone,” the guide make it apparent that that protection is of paramount significance.
“Except if or else instructed, Under no circumstances disclose Mr Epstein or Ms Maxwell’s functions or whereabouts to any one,” the manual reads. “The security of the house and of Mr Epstein, Ms Maxwell and their friends, is your to start with thing to consider and really should be uppermost in your consciousness.”
All through cross-evaluation on Friday, an lawyer for Maxwell prompt in his questioning of Alessi that someone other than Maxwell had truly geared up the “Residence Manual.”
Protection attorney Jeffrey Pagliuca reported, “Epstein hired a countess and she put collectively the guide,” and then said to Alessi, “You know that they employed a countess to generate the reserve?” Alessi answered, “I will not know that, sir.”
Pagliuca then requested Alessi about whether he agreed with the e-book and irrespective of whether he adopted its guidance, and Alessi said that he did not.
“I did my chores. I did my perform. I will not believe I at any time did the checks” in the manual.
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