By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Podcast 2 3 5
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
SDNY COURTHOUSE, August 20 – After months of preliminaries, the trial of Stephen Calk for conspiracy to trade his bank's loans to Paul Manafort for the Secretary of the Army position began on June 23. Inner City Press live tweeted, here, previous coverage here, podcast here
On July 13, after mere hours, the jury found him guilty. Inner City Press verdict tweet here; in front of 40 Foley Square, Calk refused questions (including on his bank and desire of UN Ambassador position) and was whisked off in a black car. Video here. Sentencing set for January 10, 2022. Podcast here.
Update, with comment from Calk's lawyer: "We are very disappointed by the verdict and will be pursuing all available legal remedies, including an appeal," said Paul H. Schoeman, Co-Managing Partner at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP.
On August 20, Kramer Levin filed a letter seeking acquittal, arguing among other things that Manafort's help wasn't worth the requisite $1000," amounting to no more that "one email to Jared Kushner and communications with Scaramucci." Watch this site.
The trial: the defense opening statement and first witness, here, and Inner City Press question to Calk on Scaramucci, here (& Alamy photo here)
On June 29 came the cross examination of Anthony Scaramucci, which Inner City Press live tweeted here and below, (podcast here) Song I here.
On July 12 the jury got the case late in the afternoon, and will be deliberating on July 13. Inner City Press live tweeted, here from the defense summation and US rebuttal:
Calk's lawyer: The question is, Would Mr. Calk think that getting foot in the door for a Tiger Team interview, which some got for free, would constitute a bribe? No. Let's turn to bank bribery. They have to prove corrupt intent.
Calk's lawyer: Mr. Calk had to sit through this trial behind a mask. But there is a face behind that mask. He has a life outside this courtroom. My time is almost up. I could on you to think, when the government rebuts, what would the defense say? Say, Not guilty
US rebuttal summation, AUSA: I don't have time to respond to everything the defense said. But I don't have to - you know what happened here. Look at how the loans were stalled until the election - then they moved forward.
AUSA Rothman: The defense showed you a spaghetti chart. Did you see Steve Bannon on it? Calk sent one email to Steve Bannon - but did Mr. Bannon do anything? I can sent an email to Santa Claus. What does it mean?
AUSA: This is a case about a corrupt CEO, a bank chairman, who took advantage of his power to try to buy more more. The idea that he didn't value Manafort's help is disingenuous. You saw how greedy he was, in his texts with Mr. Scaramucci
AUSA: He valued this, he wanted this. And one person got him in the door: Mr. Manafort. The case person he was giving $16 million in loans to.
Judge Schofield: You are about to go into the jury room. You are not to consider the reaction of the parties or public Judge Schofield: The three alternate jurors will not be in the jury room, until they are asked to replace a juror. Then deliberations would re-start. First, elect a foreperson...If you have questions, please be specific.
And the jurors left for the day, to resume with deliberation on July 13 - when he was found guilty.
The case is US v. Calk, 19-cr-366 (Schofield)
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