By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Order Podcast Song
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 14 - 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.
Parnas' lawyer Bondy: How many years have you represented cannabis clients in Nevada, sir? A: Since 2014. Bondy: You've had cannabis clients since? A: There was a period I worked as general counsel to the governor. Bondy: Are you a member of NORML? A: No.
Bondy: Is it common for a cannabis license seeker to hire a lobbyist? A: Yes, especially at the local level. Bondy: And there's a social equity component, correct? A: Yes. Bondy: Then there was the green rush- AUSA: Objection! Judge Oetken: Sustained.
No cross by Kukushkin's lawyer Lefcourt. Next US witness: FBI Special Agent Anthony Tasola, about the summary charts. Thread will continue.
Still on the summary charts. Judge Oekten: The clock says 10:15, which of course means 11:15. So I'll give you a 10 minute break, which means 15 minutes. then - Bondy: 918 of the summary chart again. There is a receipt of a $500,000 wire? A: Yes.
Q: This is the first of the loans from Mr. Muraviev, yes? A: I have no personal knowledge. Q: 917, GX 43, Fruman to Kukushkin. The date? A: Sept 17, 2018.
Q: Here was have Mr. Correia WhatsApp-ing with Mr. Kukushkin, right? Have you ever used WhatsApp? A: Yes. I only use it domestically. Q: Have you been added to group chats? A: Not on WhatsApp. Q: Do you use Signal? A: Yes. Q: Nothing wrong with that, right?
Q: Do you know if any of these political contribution were paid - Menendez, Pascrell, Latitia James, Cuomo, Laxalt -- A: I have no personal knowledge. Q: Does anyone in the government have any knowledge? Assistant US Attorney: Objection! Judge Oetken: Sustained.
Q: GX 1212, it involves a person exposing their behind. Do you know why the government chose this? A: I only looks if the exhibits were in the summary chart. [Are any of these exhibits going to be put on USAfx? Muraviev mooning the Statue of Liberty?] Q: Do you know that the First Step Act is?
A: I do not. Q: Do you know that -- AUSA: Objection to counsel testifying. Q: We'll get back to that. Do you know that there was a movement to end mass incarceration? A: I don't know.
Judge Oetken: Mr. Bondy, continue with your cross examination. Bondy: Mr. Kukushkin replies that $1 million had been transferred to Mr. Parnas some time ago. Fruman replies, What kind of mushroom are you eating. What did he mean? A: I don't know.
Bondy: Have you ever text messages someone and ask if you can just talk instead of text? A: Yes. Bondy: Anything wrong with that? A: Not in and of itself.
Bondy: How many FBI agents are here? AUSA: Objection. Judge Oetken: Sustained. Bondy: Why is an agent with knowledge not sitting in your chair? AUSA: Objection. Sustained. Lefcourt for Kukushkin: No questions (again). AUSA: I'll pass.
Next US witness: Hartsock of FEC. Assistant US Attorney: Who filed this report? Hartsock: Pete Sessions for Congress. AUSA: What's this page? Hartsock: Schedule A. It says Parnas, Lev, Mister. $2700, the maximum amount in that year.
Judge Oetken: I'm going to let the jury go for the day. AUSA: I went out to the bathroom and when I came back Mr. Bondy appeared angry. I spoke with CSOs and he looked very angrier. He may not have said anything. He confronted me, it felt like he was calling me out
AUSA: So I joked, I think we're going to have a duel. He is trying to misuse it. Bondy: The Agent accused me of calling the US Attorney's Office racist. I said, putting in that video was racist. I'm going to continue to cross examination. I went to the restroom
Bondy: I went to another bathroom, to avoid Mr. Scott. He's former military. He said, "Does anyone have a sidearm? And give me a bullet. It is inappropriate for the US Attorney's Office attempting to chill my advocacy by threatening to have me shot with his bullet
Bondy: It was a mean spirited thing said to others about shooting me. Judge Oetken: In the heat of battle things get personal. I'm just going to say I'm glad the jury wasn't here. I let lawyers try their case. But be cordial and professional.
Context: "Hagan Scotten spent nine years in the U.S. Army and served three tours in Iraq as a Special Forces officer"
Brondy: I think I deserve an apology from Mr. Scotten or really, his supervisor. Now back to the Times Square assault video. Bondy: I think playing the video was racist. I have three children of color.
Bondy: We have in this case the "Russian Roots" email and all sorts of xenophobic material. Judge Oetken: It's in evidence and I don't think I have to resolve it. Be cordial. Bondy: I love to come here. Why is Mr. Scotten laughing? It is inappropriate.
Judge Oetken: Enough. AUSA: Tomorrow Hartsock, Mr. Laxalt... We'll tell you more tomorrow. 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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