By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Order Podcast Song
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 13 - In the Lev Parnas and Andrey Kukushkin jury trial, the first witnesses testified on the afternoon of October 13. Inner City Press live tweeted it here and here. Vlog here.
Duncan: I also worked in the Nevada AG's office. Then I ran against Adam Laxalt for the position. AUSA: Did you win? Duncan: I did not.
Duncan: This is a photo of me in Elko, Nevada. AUSA: We offer GX 70-a-2. Who's in it? Duncan: Elko chief of police and to my left, a man in sunglasses. AUSA: Who was he? Duncan: After I met Mr. Parnas and Mr. Fruman, this gentleman. Mr Trump was there.
AUSA: Why did you think Parnas had money for your campaign? Duncan: Scott Will told me he was giving. AUSA: Did you dine with them?
Duncan: Yes, at Pierro's in Las Vegas. AUSA: What did you discuss with Mr. Parnas? Duncan: He was interested in a marijuana license.
After some A/V technical difficulties, now 2d US witness Brad Hirsch AUSA Flodr: Is there an objection? These exhibits are being offered to show who the witness met with. Judge Oetken: They'd admitted. AUSA: Now ID these people, Mr. Muraviev and Mr. Kukushkin.
Hirsch: Muraviev is seated up at his plate. AUSA: Where did you stay when you went to Moscow? Hirsch: The Four Seasons Hotel. AUSA Flodr: Who paid? Hirsch: My clients or Mr. Muraviev.
AUSA: After your trip to Moscow did you stay in contact with Mr. Muraviev and Mr. Kukushkin?
Hirsch: Yes. I saw Mr. Muraview at least twice. In California, I formed two entities for the purpose of engaging in the cannabis business. AUSA Flodr: Pull up Gov Exh 802.
On cross examination, Kukushkin's lawyer Lefcourt asks: Mr. Hirsch, were you also a lobbyist? Hirsch: I never lobbied politicians. In Sacramento - shall I explain further?
Judge Oetken: Yes.Hirsch: I spoke to the Sacramento City Council as a stakeholder. Lefcourt: What does that mean?
Hirsch: I spoke for my clients. Judge Oetken: Mr. Bondy? Bondy: As a cannabis lawyer, did clients come to you not knowing what was involved? Hirsch: My clients knew.
Bondy: And in cannabis, the law changes frequently? Hirsch: Yes. Bondy: And California cities can opt out? Hirsch: That is correct. Bondy: There was something called the pre-ICO stage? Hirsch: That was in Los Angeles.
Bondy: Has there been an issue about cannabis being entitled to the same exemptions -- AUSA Flodr: Objection, relevance? Judge Oetken: Sustained. [A wag might say Bondy is trying to introduce a tutorial on marijuana law(s) - or is he crazy like a fox on this?]
Next witness, Ms Garcia. Works for US customs and border protection in LA. AUSA: You don't have to wear your mask. What do you do? Garcia: I check passengers. AUSA: On April 15, 2019, where were you working? Garcia: Tom Bradley Airport.
AUSA: Did you encounter Mr. Muraviev? Garcia: Yes. He was on Aeroflot. He had a Russian passport. AUSA: What is this document? Garcia: A naturalization certificate. For Lev Parnas. From the USSR. AUSA: Gov Exh 755.
Judge Oetken: Mr. Bondy? Parnas' lawyer Bondy: When you work, you wear a uniform, right? Garcia: Correct. Bondy: Travelers have to get past you to get into the US? Garcia: Yes. It's an international terminal.
Bondy: Have you experience people traveling from other countries with heavy accents but are US citizens? Garcia: Yes. Bondy: You met with the prosecutors? Garcia: Yes, Mister Nick. Q: Mr Nick? [Nicholas Roos] Bondy: Did they work with you to improve your answers?
Garcia: No. Judge Oetken tells jurors it'll go 20 more minutes, to 4:30. Next witness. Daniel Henry Stewart. AUSA Flodr: How far did you go to school? Stewart: J.D. & masters of history. I'm a partner at a law firm. I practice in Las Vegas, advising on marijuana.
AUSA Flodr: How many kinds of marijuana licenses does Nevada have? Stewart: Four. AUSA Flodr: When was it legalized? Stewart: Medical 2013, then recreational in 2016 general election. AUSA: Is there a cap on licenses? Stewart: Yes. Based on a county's population.
AUSA: How valuable are the licenses? Stewart: Up to tens of millions of dollars. AUSA: What's the governor's role? Stewart: Veto or approve. And they can lobby.
Judge Oetken: Jurors, I'm going to let you go for the day. [Jurors leave, and Stewart leaves stand.] Lefcourt: Can we get the order of witnesses for tomorrow? AUSA: Finish Stewart, then FBI, FEC, Adam Laxalt, then maybe one more.
Judge Oetken: On the summary charts, you've taken out the one-time article? AUSA: Yes.
Judge Oetken: Then it's ok. Adjourned.
On October 11 Kukushkin asked to exclude a slew of Government Exhibits, full 8-page letter on Patreon here.
On October 5 Judge Oetken held the final pre-trial conference in advance of October 12 jury selection. Inner City Press live tweeted it here and below (podcast here)
Late on October 7 the US Attorney's Office has written to Judge Oetken seeking rulings in advance to admit exhibits including "The Inaugural Committee Articles, the FEC Complaint Article, the Time cover, and the Russian Root Emails." Full letter on Patreon here. And now, song here.
On September 10, Igor "The Glue" Fruman pleaded guilty. Inner City Press live tweeted it here (with vlog; podcast here)
The case is US v. Parnas, et al., 19-cr-00725 (Oetken).
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