Witness alleges use of Epstein case to fund a Ponzi scheme and mentions lawyers Russell Adler and Brad Edwards

trying to make money. : was a real case going on, but that within that ] would Q. And these young lawyers, would you consider : have to create some sort of fictions in order tose]. Mr. Edwards to be a young lawyer or a middle-aged : the fake product. lawyer? : Q. Okay. At the time that you decided to use A. Young lawyer. i the Epstein case as part of your illicit Ponzi scheme Q. Okay. Was he one of young lawyers that came : theme, I think you testified earlier today, when you to these fundraisers at your home? were in some dire straights, you needed an influx of A. J] don't recal] whether he was there or not. money, right? } recall] him being at some, but ] didn't know if he A. Yes. was at all of them. t Q. That's when you decided to use the Epstein Q. Okay. You do recall] him coming to some of i matters, correct? the fundraisers, though, correct? i A. Yes. A. I recall him being at my home. It may have : Q. Okay. And you knew, | assume, being the been for firm parties or other parties, it may have : Ponzi scheme mastermind here, that you needed to make been for fundraisers there. s sure that you had at least a working knowledge of the 16 Q. And that was during the time period that the i Epstein case so that you could answer questions to the Ponzi scheme was stil] going on, correct? 3 investors. I recognize that you left the room and gis A. Yes. H told them to look at it, but you had to some knowledge 19 Q. Did Adler ever the tell you about any : of the case, right? 20 discussions he had with Brad Edwards about the illegal | MR. SCAROLA: Counsel, that's a 21 __ part of the operations at Rothstein? é misrepresentation of what the earlier testimony was. 22 A. Can you reask the question, please? : ] object, no proper predicate. 23 Q. Sure. Sure. i MR. GOLDBERGER: Okay, let's g0 through the a24 Did Russell Adler ever tell you -- Russel] : whole thing again. 25 Adler is your co-conspirator, we've established that. MR. SCAROLA: No, you are not going to go Page 102, Page 104 Pek eore tee * MAUR OAR ET TARE RAM LC ee EE ha I te a Se a a AA EN aN EE ELE EEE ETRE arent ee saRerpanee sy Did Russell Adler in the furtherance of your conspiracy ever tell you he had discussed with Brad Edwards about the illegal activities at RRA? A. No. Q. Now, you testified when asked about whethei asked about whether the press -- if you were involved in asking the press asking the press to run with the Epstein story, you said something to the effect, "the way I was selling the Ponzi scheme it would be overkill.” 1 didn't understand your answer like you didn't understand some of my questions, so I'd like you to kind of tel] me what you meant by that. A. 1 was selling purportedly confidential settlements. Confidentiality was the hallmark of the Ponzi scheme, so too much publicity would have created a problem for me in the sale of what was supposed to bea completely confidential settlement. Q. J think what you are telling me, and] don't want to misstate what I think you are telling me, but is it true that you felt some publicity would be okay but too much would be counter to the purposes of the conspiracy. Js that a fair statement? A. The way J was thinking about it at the time this was going on was that some publicity would assist in establishing for the potential investors that there Page 103 through the whole thing again. Just because we have tolerated two lawyers asking questions, does not mean we are going to tolerate two lawyers asking the same questions. MR. GOLDBERGER: Your objection is noted. BY MR. GOLDBERGER: Q. Okay. So let's talk about your need to use the Epstein case to further your conspiracy. You needed an influx of money, did you not? A. Yes. Q. Okay. You decided to use the Epstein case for that purpose, right? A. Yes. Q. And in order to use the Epstein case, you were going to meet with the investors and pitch the Epstein case with the investors, correct? A. Yes. Q. And in an effort to pitch the case to the investors, you had to have some knowledge of the case, did you not? A. Some level of knowledge, yes, sir. Q. Okay. And in order to gain that knowledge, you spoke to your co-conspirator, Russell Adler; is that correct? A. That's one of the things ] did. DIDO RWNYE Peep hp 4 Oe WNHOF OW DWAIADO BF WHR DW DAAIRAU B® WYNY EE mw HM MH NH LH + canter rea eae ean eee ence at teat m8 IS EG NDE AY PATE RSA CHER UES AMEE TEE UN es 4 Page 105 27 (Pages 102 to 105) FRIEDMAN, LOMBARDI & OLSON 305-371-6677 5ed93085-0554-447f-bcdd-ca2d8fe941 df HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_017516