NATIONAL NEWS

Court papers show luxury real estate brothers hope to prove witnesses lie at sex trafficking trial

Nov 6, 2025, 11:57 AM | Updated: 12:46 pm

NEW YORK (AP) — Defense lawyers for two luxury real estate brokers and their brother say the men hope to prove at trial that many of the witnesses who will testify against them are lying.

The lawyers made the claim in papers filed in Manhattan federal court, saying they plan to use photographs and text messages, in part, to prove witnesses are lying.

Judge Valerie E. Caproni, who will preside over the trial, conducted a hearing on Thursday to decide some ground rules in advance of the trial, which is scheduled to begin on Jan. 5. She said she might delay the trial until May to give herself adequate time to decide legal issues.

Prosecutors said they might need as long as six weeks to present their case, while defense lawyers said they could take up to a week.

The three brothers — Oren, Tal and Alon Alexander — remain held without bail. Prosecutors say over 60 people allege they were raped by at least one of the brothers. Lawyers for the men deny it.

Oren Alexander and Tal Alexander sold high-end properties in New York City, Miami and Los Angeles before the charges were filed alleging that they used their wealth and influence to attack women from 2002 to 2021.

In court papers filed Thursday, defense lawyers said that among witnesses they had identified, they’d been able to locate evidence “that undermines nearly every aspect of the alleged victims’ narratives.”

They said they believed “that many witnesses are going to testify untruthfully on direct examination — whether it be because of their own current situation, their motive to lie for monetary gain, or their situation at the time.”

The witnesses “do not want to admit to the world that they consensually engaged in sexual activity with any of the Alexander brothers,” the lawyers said.

The lawyers asked the judge to allow them to reveal some evidence that they plan to use on cross examination to prosecutors only at the least minute.

“Defendants have a right to confront witnesses with the element of surprise,” the lawyers wrote.

The judge did not immediately rule on the request.

National News

Associated Press

Man who was shot during 2024 Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, has died

PITTSBURGH (AP) — James Copenhaver, one of three campaign rally attendees shot in 2024 during an assassination attempt on then-candidate Donald Trump, has died, his lawyer said Thursday. He was 76. Copenhaver was in the bleachers during the event in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a 20-year-old gunman opened fire from a nearby rooftop, grazing Trump’s right […]

18 minutes ago

FILE - This undated booking photo provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shows Meliss...

Associated Press

Texas appeals court rejects ruling of innocence for woman on death row for 18 years

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas court on Thursday rejected a ruling that a woman on death row for 18 years is innocent of capital murder in the killing of her 2-year-old daughter in a case that attracted bipartisan calls from lawmakers and celebrities to release her from prison. The sharply divided decision by the […]

26 minutes ago

Bolivia's President Rodrigo Paz Pereira speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations Genera...

Associated Press

Small bites from the UN: Defiance, fiery language and a cold building

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Competing speeches from Benjamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas commanded attention at the United Nations on Thursday, even though the Palestinian leader wasn’t there in person: The United States denied him a visa. Plenty of other stories unfolded Thursday that affect all parts of the world, as presidents and leaders and kings […]

31 minutes ago

President Donald Trump, center right, and first lady Melania Trump, right, greet China's President ...

Associated Press

Trump’s state dinner for Xi to feature sea bass and a long list of tech titans

WASHINGTON (AP) — A tech-heavy guest list, the fashion choices of those on it, who sits where, their body language throughout the night and what’s on the menu: these are the softer — often and glitzier — details of diplomacy. They will be closely scrutinized at Thursday’s state dinner, offering potential clues about where things […]

2 hours ago

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations ...

Associated Press

In their words: From across the world, leaders call for action on climate change at the UN

NEW YORK (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the world cannot “allow countries and cultures to vanish beneath the waves” on Thursday as the General Assembly approved its first declaration on sea-level rise. This statement is meant to shift the international response to the rise in sea level driven by humans from fragmented initiatives […]

2 hours ago

FILE - The Supreme Court is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington, Aug. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott A...

Associated Press

Trump administration asks the Supreme Court to allow quick third-country deportations

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to again clear the way for continued quick deportations of immigrants to third countries where they have no ties. The appeal comes after lower courts found that people must have the chance to object before the U.S. government deports them to countries […]

2 hours ago

Court papers show luxury real estate brothers hope to prove witnesses lie at sex trafficking trial