By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - The Source
EDNY COURTHOUSE, August 10 – For the murder of Jason Mizell (Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC), on August 17, 2020 Ronald Washington was arraigned and detained the day after co-defendant Karl Jordan Jr. by U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York Magistrate Judge Lois Bloom. Inner City Press live tweeted it, below.
On September 18, 2020 both defendants were before EDNY District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall for a status conference, which included discussion of the Capital [that is, death penalty] review process. Inner City Press live tweeted it, below.
On the eve of a scheduled August 9, 2022 conference, which EDNY Spokesman John Marzulli told some but not other about, Jordan argued that "The government defends the agents’ conduct in obtaining Mr. Jordan’s post-arrest statement by arguing that they did not engage in “affirmative deceit”. 1 However, the video evidence shows the opposite. Mr. Jordan repeatedly asked the agents to tell him the charges, but they dissembled, “So, obviously we brought you here because you’ve been selling drugs. Does that sound correct to you?”2 The government frames the agents’ conduct as a minor act of omission that happened during an investigation. This ignores that Mr. Jordan was not an unindicted person or a mere suspect, but an indicted defendant who requested an honest answer. The agents forsook their obligations to do so and instead provided him with just enough of the truth to give a false impression that they had answered his question." Full filing on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here.
Inner City Press called in for the August 10 proceeding. But after much delay, it was called off. Inner City Press before 11 am wrote to the prosecutors' spokesman John Marzulli: "This is a Press request for an on-the-record statement by EDNY why the scheduled Jordan / Washington proceeding this morning did not occur (and a request to be informed when it is rescheduled. Why is "Press Guidance" not placed on the EDNY website for all, given that it is a compilation of public information compiled with public funds? Not having basic information that is given to other media inevitable impacts coverage. Again, below unresponded to requests, including for reconsideration, reiterated. Thanks."
Twelve hours later, no answer at all from US Attorney Breon Peace's spokesman Marzulli - and nothing in the docket. Nothing put out to the Press that asks by Marzulli's associate / protege (in censorship?) Danielle Blustein Hass, either. This is a lack of accountability, including for the use of public funds. We'll have more on this.
On November 15, 2021 Judge DeArcy Hall held another conference, with a phone call-in line unlike US v. Ghislaine Maxwell in SDNY, and Inner City Press thus covered it.
The defendant have been informed that DOJ will NOT seek the death penalty against them. They asked for 30 days and got it, to December 15 at 9 am. Inner City Press will stay on the case(s).
From September 18, 2020: Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall says the multi-count indictment is not only for the October 30, 2002 murder of Jason Mizell, but also narcotics and firearms charges.
AUSA: We are submitted a Capital Case memo. One or both want time to put together a mitigation memo.
Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall: You all are going to need some time. I typically set status conferences 30 days out. But given the nature of this case, I propose 60 days. Is there any objection? "Not from the government." Nov 18 at 9 am, next status conference?
One of the defense lawyers has another EDNY appears that morning. So, 10:30 am on Nov 18.
Judge: Any application? AUSA: Exclude time under the Speedy Trial Act, to prepare the Capital Case memo [to ask DOJ to approve seeking death penalty.]
Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall, to the defendants: You are entitled to a speedy and public trial in 70 days, with certain periods of excludable day. Do you agree to stop that clock? Yes. Yes.
Ronald Washington: Can I ask my lawyer?
CJA Kellman: Yes, I think it's best
Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall: Anything more? No. No. No. Stay healthy and well. We are adjourned
Judge Bloom: Have you met pre-trial services?
Washington: No. I have been incarcerated for 17 years. AUSA: Though Mr Washington did not pull the trigger, he is equally guilty of the execution of music icon as his co-defendant.
Washington: I don't even have my lawyer's phone number. Judge Bloom: Email it to him, at the jail. Washington: They took me out of my cell without my glasses. I can't even see without them.
Judge Bloom: You can take the paper back with you. Defense: He came from Kentucky. The glasses are there. So he has to go to an eye doctor. Judge Bloom: Are they prescription glasses?
Washington: Yes. Judge Bloom: Does the AUSA object? AUSA: No. [No explanation]
This updated report was prepared without any assistance or answers from Eastern District of New York US Attorney's Office spokesman John Marzulli, ex-Daily News, who without hearing or ruling on an August 9 appeal on August 8, 2022 decreed that said "his" / EDNY's publicly-funded information will henceforth go to some (including outside of New York) but not others, or other, like NYC-based Inner City Press. As noted, we have requested reconsideration. We'll have more on this.
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