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Federal judge says lawyer ‘lied repeatedly’ during Epstein-linked suit against billionaire Leon Black

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A federal judge has sanctioned the law firm representing a woman in a lawsuit accusing billionaire Leon Black of sexual assault linked to the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, but stopped short of throwing the case out entirely.

In a 76-page opinion and order, U.S. District Judge Jessica Clarke found that attorney Jeanne Christensen and her firm, Wigdor LLP, engaged in “serious, sanctionable misconduct” during the litigation.

Clarke wrote that Christensen “lied repeatedly” to the court and opposing counsel about a related case and directed her client to delete a potentially relevant social media account.

“In light of the serious and varied misconduct … the Court strongly considered granting the case-terminating sanctions Defendant requests in this matter,” Clarke wrote. “However, the Court ultimately concludes that lesser sanctions can address the misconduct.”

HOWARD LUTNICK SHUTS DOWN DEM QUESTIONS OVER JEFFREY EPSTEIN AT BUDGET HEARING

The lawsuit alleges that Black, co-founder of Apollo Global Management, raped a 16-year-old girl in New York City in 2002. The accuser, identified as “Jane Doe,” claims she was previously abused and groomed by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, who she says trafficked her to other men, including Black.

The judge also raised concerns about the plaintiff’s evidence, finding that some materials — including sonogram images contained in personal journals — had been falsified. Clarke did not rule on the underlying allegations but determined that certain supporting evidence could not be relied upon.

The plaintiff has alleged she was subjected to an “impregnation game” involving Epstein and others, claiming she was forced to carry pregnancies resulting from sexual abuse.

“According to Plaintiff, she was forced to carry out pregnancies that resulted from the men who sexually abused her, and Maxwell took photographs of Plaintiff’s body as it changed during her pregnancies,” Clarke wrote. “Plaintiff testified that all of the sonograms in the journals were hers from several abuse-related pregnancies, including some pregnancies that came to term and others that were terminated.”

HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE CALLS BILLS GATES, LEON BLACK TO TESTIFY OVER JEFFREY EPSTEIN TIES

The judge ordered Christensen to file the misconduct ruling in all of her federal cases in the Second Circuit for the next year, and for five years in any case where sanctions are sought against her, her firm or her client. Wigdor LLP was also ordered to pay the defendant’s legal fees tied to the sanctions motion, and the plaintiff is barred from using journals containing falsified sonograms.

Wigdor LLP, which no longer represents the plaintiff, said it was “upset” by the sanctions but noted the case remains active, Politico reported.

“We are pleased that our former client will get her day in court,” firm founder Douglas Wigdor said in a statement.

Black’s attorney said the plaintiff’s credibility has been “destroyed” and called for the case to be withdrawn, urging authorities to investigate what she described as “fraud.”

EX-PRINCE ANDREW PHOTOGRAPHED KNEELING OVER WOMAN IN LATEST DOJ JEFFREY EPSTEIN FILE RELEASE

“Her credibility having been destroyed, Doe should withdraw her Complaint and apologize to Mr. Black for manufacturing false and defamatory claims. We urge the federal authorities to investigate this fraud on the Court,” Susan Estrich, attorney for Leon Black, said in a statement.”

Black, who left Apollo Global Management in 2021, has denied wrongdoing.

He is also among several high-profile figures expected to testify before the House Oversight Committee next month about connections to Epstein and Maxwell.

Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2021 on sex-trafficking charges.

Wigdor LLP and Susan Estrich could not be immediately reached by Fox News Digital for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Bonny Chu contributed to this report.

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Eagles’ wheeler-dealer Howie Roseman adds pass rusher Jonathan Greenard in trade with Vikings

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The NFL Draft isn’t official unless Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is wheeling and dealing to make his team better, even at the expense of others.

Roseman was definitely doing all of that during Friday’s second round when he added veteran edge rusher Jonathan Greenard to bolster the team’s defense, which had lost Jaelan Phillips to the Carolina Panthers in free agency.

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The Vikings traded Greenard and the 244th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to the Eagles in exchange for the 98th overall pick in this draft and a third-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

Immediately upon making the trade, OutKick confirmed that Greenard and the Eagles reached an agreement on a four-year contract extension worth $100 million. ESPN reported the extension includes $50 million fully guaranteed.

CHIEFS AND BROWNS MAKE FIRST TRADE OF 2026 DRAFT AND BOTH EVENTUALLY FILL NEEDS

So why did the Eagles do this?

Well, they just added a player who collected 27.5 sacks the past three seasons in Minnesota and Houston.

So they’re filling the void left by the departure of Phillips, who has 28 sacks in his entire five-year career.

PACKERS PLAYERS TAUNT VIKINGS FOLLOWING GAME-SEALING INTERCEPTION

And the Eagles did it at a cost savings because while they’re spending $100 million on Greenard, the Panthers signed Phillips for $120 million over four years with $80 million guaranteed.

The Vikings, it should be noted, aren’t typically in the business of trading away talent. But they were in a pickle because Greenard was demanding a raise on a contract that had two years remaining at an average of $19 million per season.

Greenard’s contract demands came despite the fact his sack total dipped to only three last season.

The Vikings weren’t comfortable giving a player with multiple years left on his contract a raise after a subpar season. They also didn’t love the idea of enduring a possible contract holdout the entire offseason and possibly into training camp.

So when Roseman called, they picked up the phone and avoided all that distraction. But it helped make the Eagles better.

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Fernando Mendoza says the Raiders have ‘the most Hispanic fan base’

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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza claimed his new team has the “most Hispanic fan base” after going No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft. Mendoza made the statement during his introductory press conference for the team on Friday.

“The history of the Raiders, especially the Hispanic history, is like no other. I believe it’s probably the most Hispanic fan base and legends like Mr. [Jim] Plunkett, like Mr. [Tom] Flores. I mean, all those legendary Hispanic idols and cornerstones of the franchise. It means a lot as a Cuban American to come to this franchise and help try to carry the torch. But again, I’ve got to prove it, and I’m really looking forward to connecting with the Hispanic community here,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza himself is Cuban, as the descendant of Cuban refugees.

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After Fidel Castro seized control of Cuba and installed a communist regime, all four of Mendoza’s grandparents fled the country and came to America.

“We all thought it was temporary,” Mendoza’s maternal grandfather, Alberto Espino, previously told The Washington Post. “There was no way the United States would allow a communist regime 90 miles away.”

But Castro’s reign endured, so Espino and the Mendozas remained in the U.S. and built their lives as Americans.

GENO SMITH REACTS TO REPORTED MOVE TO RAIDERS: ‘GOD IS THE GREATEST

Mendoza is coming into the NFL after one of the best seasons by a quarterback in college football history for Indiana.

Now, as the quarterback of the Raiders, he will be under pressure to carry one of the league’s historic franchises back to prominence after decades of underachieving.

“It’s a huge responsibility, but it’s also a huge honor to honor the legacy. The Raiders are a core historic franchise and one of the faces of the NFL, and I feel like, again, I need to prove it and earn it every single day,” Mendoza said.

“Especially as a rookie, nothing’s given, and my belief in that everything is earned. So, I’m going to come in humble, try to establish myself with my work ethic and lead by example, but at the end of the day, it’s all great saying these words, but I’ve got to do it.”

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Fox News Campus Radicals Newsletter: UCLA mob mess, veiled threats of violence and a major win over DEI

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DEATH THREATS: DHS lawyer says UCLA ‘utterly failed’ to stop protest chaos at law school appearance

CAMPUS CHAOS: WATCH: Mayhem erupts as leftists interrupt conservative group’s UCLA event featuring DHS lawyer

TERROR TIES: UC Berkeley slammed after anti-Israel group hosts failed suicide bomber as guest event speaker: ‘cesspool’

BACKLASH BUILDS: Harvard reportedly investigating Republican Club over social media post about Muslim group’s campus event

SECURITY ALARM: Trump DEI crackdown ‘misses core ideology’ and must target lingering danger on campuses, watchdog warns

VIOLENT DISPLAY: Severed Trump head painting displayed at Utah Pride event; kids invited to hit Mike Lee piñata

CURRICULUM CHANGE: Texas Tech to recognize only two sexes, freezes gender programs

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