The Art Newspaper reports on the US Attorney’s request in front of the judge hearing five civil cases stemming from the Glafira Rosales’s works to have the civil cases not hear testimony before December 13th. The request raises further expectations that Rosales is cooperating with US attorneys and helping them make a case against others:

The US Attorney requested a stay in the case because of concerns for the integrity of “a pending criminal prosecution that has substantial overlap with the witnesses and conduct at issue in the Civil Cases”. The civil lawsuits brought by collectors allege that Knoedler and Freedman sold them fake Abstract Expressionist works that Rosales brought to Knoedler.

Because of the overlapping allegations in the civil and criminal proceedings, the government says that if the civil cases continue there is a “significant risk” that the criminal process would be undermined.

The government points to the risk of “premature exposure of witnesses who may be cooperating with the Government [and] providing potential criminal defendants with a preview of witness testimony at an eventual criminal trial during the Civil Cases.”

It also cites “the possibility that certain witnesses called to testify or to be deposed in the Civil Cases would invoke their Fifth Amendment rights [against self-incrimination] while the criminal prosecution is pending”.

US Attorney’s office hints at more criminal charges in Knoedler case (The Art Newspaper)