Alexander brothers' defense team takes final swipe at victims' credibility in closing arguments after month-long trial | amNewYork

"Just because someone cries from a witness stand doesn't make it true. Rather than bring you evidence, [the government] brings you a lack of evidence. Their combined seven hours of closing statements capped off a month-long trial where 11 women told the jury they were drugged, raped, sexually assaulted or sex trafficked by one of more of the Alexander brothers."

"Sex trafficking requires premeditated action—in other words, a person must intend to force someone to have sex with them when offering something of value to entice them into doing so. She argued there was nothing to prove the Alexanders intended to rape women before engaging with their accusers."

"Brothers and luxury real estate brokers Alon, Oren and Tal Alexander may have behaved badly or made poor choices, but that doesn't mean they're guilty of federal sex trafficking, their attorneys told the jury in closing arguments Wednesday. What's more likely, their attorneys argued, is that the Alexanders' accusers simply regret having drug-or alcohol-addled one-night stands with them."

Three luxury real estate brothers—Alon, Oren, and Tal Alexander—face federal sex trafficking charges involving allegations from eleven women spanning over a decade. During closing arguments, their defense attorneys argued the brothers may have behaved poorly but are not guilty of sex trafficking. The defense characterized the accusers' accounts as regretted drug or alcohol-influenced encounters rather than crimes. Attorneys contended that emotional testimony alone does not establish guilt and emphasized the government's lack of evidence. The defense distinguished between problematic behavior and sex trafficking, arguing that trafficking requires premeditated intent to force sexual activity in exchange for something of value. The trial lasted one month with the jury hearing testimony from multiple accusers.

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