Saturday, October 11, 2025
Friday, October 10, 2025
Bordolo on Stand for Deadly Stabbing Outside Ax Throwing Bar Says Victim Family Is like His
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon & Substack
100 CENTRE STREET, Oct 10 – When Gianluca Bordone was arrested for the death of Rocco Rodden back in 2023, it was news throughout the tri-state area: teen from Oyster Bay released on $1 million bond after a stabbing in front of an ax-throwing bar on Lafayette Street in lower Manhattan.
Jump cut to October 6, 2025 to a large courtroom atop 100 Centre Street, three blocks from the scene of the crime. On the stand was Doctor Tiffany Lin of the Chief Medical Examiner's office.
Since joining that Office from California in 2023, she testified, she has conducted more than 300 autopsies in the City That Never Sleeps. On this one, she described a deep stabbing wound to the heart, saying that saving his life in the hospital would have been difficult if not impossible.
The courtroom was full, not of media but of family members. But Inner City Press was there, for this case and another, even less reported, even at the beginning.
On October 10 Bordone was on the witness stand, being cross examined by the ADA. He was fuzzy, but made a point of saying Rodden's family, on whose side Inner City Press sat live tweeting, was like his. Will it be enough?
More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
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First Merchants Bank Bid to Buy First Savings Challenged to FDIC on Disparities & Complaint
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY/SOUTH BRONX, Oct 9 – As US bank regulators loosen rules - including the FDIC moving to eliminate public comment altogether on branch expansion applications - now more big banks are moving to get bigger.
On October 6, amid the pending PNC - FirstBank, Pinnacle - Synovus proposals, and Fifth Third - Comerica Bank proposals, in the Midwest First Merchants Bank has applied only to the FDIC to by First Savings Bank.
On October 9, it has been opposed, to the FDIC:
Dear Regional Director Bottone and others at the FDIC: This is a timely first comment opposing and requesting an extension of the FDIC's public comment period on the Application by First Merchants Bank to acquire First Savings Bank. The application is on the FDIC's website where a public comment period running through November 6, 2025 . These comment, and supplements to come, are timely.
Fair Finance Watch, which has commented to the FDIC that its proposal to eliminate public notice of branch applications violates the CRA, noting the FDIC's rationale that it receives few public comments, hereby timely informs the FDIC that is troubled by First Merchant's lending record and is requesting public hearings and denial of this application.
In 2024 in Illinois, from which First Merchants is ostensibly regulation, First Merchants made only 11 loans to African Americans while denying more than double, 24 applications from African Americans. By contrast in Illinois in 2024 First Merchants Bank made 60 loans to whites while denying only 20 - a three to one ratio. First Merchants is six times more likely to deny the applications of African Americans than those of whites. This application must be denied, and referral made.
In 2024 in Indiana, in which First Merchants seeks to expand, First Merchants made only 106 loans to African Americans while denying 55 applications from African Americans. By contrast in Indiana in 2024 First Merchants Bank made fully 2478 loans to whites while denying only 745.
In 2024 in Ohio, First Merchants made only 16 loans to African Americans while denying 13 applications from African Americans. By contrast in Ohio in 2024 First Merchants Bank made fully 217 loans to whites while denying only 39.
In 2024 in Michigan, First Merchants made only 122 loans to African Americans while denying 41 applications from African Americans. By contrast in Michigan in 2024 First Merchants Bank made fully 1327 loans to whites while denying only 192. This application must be denied, and referral made.
There are many consumer complaints against First Merchants Bank; here for the record...
Inner City Press, which has opposed the FDIC's moves to close itself to public scrutiny - American Banker op-ed here - has now submitted FOIA requests on all this. The FDIC said it will eliminate public notices because it does not receive enough public comments. That is changing, starting now. Watch this site.
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UN Guterres Orders 15% Cuts in Lacroix Memo Leaked To Inner City Press Which UN Bans
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
EXCLUSIVE – How corrupt is today's UN under Antonio Guterres? Consider South Sudan, where UN personnel stand accused of child rape on which UN spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming have refused all Press questions. Inner City Press is today publishing a "Confidential" cost-cutting memo by Under Sec-Gen Jean-Pierre Lacroix, even as Dujarric lies that the Press exclusives are already public.
On October 9 this, from a UN whistleblower sent to Inner City Press:
Dear Matthew Russell Lee,
Following strong reactions from staff, it now appears that a limited civilian presence may remain in Rumbek and Kuajok, though the details remain unclear. What is deeply troubling is that such drastic proposals were developed and announced without proper consultation or analysis, despite the presence of numerous senior advisers and planning experts.
In practice, it appears that the Chief of Staff — Pastor Leda — and her close associates are unilaterally steering mission decisions, while the SRSG Haysom (ongoing paid sick leave), DSRSG, and Administration have become effectively and willingly sidelined...
See embedded Code Cable sent by DPO Lacroix
Guterres, they say, should end censorship. Application was made on June 19, 2025, here. Still as of October 7 no answer at all from Melissa Fleming or Stephane Dujarric. Totally corrupt. Watch this site.
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Bob Menendez Got 11 Years Nadine 54 Months Now Cooperator Uribe Gets Time Served
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 9 – Amid reports of investigation against Sen. Robert Menendez for taking gold bars, Inner City Press' sources on September 21 it to expect on Friday, September 22 an appearance in Federal court in Manhattan by Menendez and his wife Nadine Arslanian, now facing trial alone. This scoop was true.
Later a superseder was unveiled, including charges of bribes to act for Qatar.
On January 10 Menendez filed a motion to dismiss, on Patreon here
On February 1, Judge Stein granted some unsealing - including of some of the material in the vault which Inner City Press requested. Order here.
Jump cut: Menendez et al were convicted; Inner City Press published a book, here.
Inner City Press live tweeted on January 29 as Daibes got eight years, Hana 97 months - and Bob Menendez 11 years, after which he told the press that "Trump was right" about political witch hunt
Early on April 10 Nadine Menendez' lawyer wrote in that the US Attorney's Office is opposing the introduction of evidence it allowed in Bob Menendez's trial, and other issues - letter on Patreon here
In the April 10 trial day, former US Attorney for the District of New Jersey Philip Sellinger testified about being recused from the Daibes case and then Bob Menendez skipping his investiture in Trenton. Thread.
On April 17 after the Government's closing Nadine's lawyer Coburn took a different approach in reasonable doubt-land, saying there was no quid pro quo with Grewal and citing and even pantomiming Uribe's small bell. Thread.
On April 21 Nadine Menendez was found guilty; sentencing was set for June 12 with her lawyer implying he will be asking for delay, presumably on health grounds.
On May 7 her lawyer wrote in asking to push sentencing to September 11, saying "I had hoped to have detailed information this week from one of these professionals, but he is out of the country and" - letter on Patreon here
On May 8, the US opposed - and appeared to support the public's, and not just the Office's, right to see the filing - on Patreon here.
On April 22 Bob Menendez wrote in asking for a ruling on his motion for bail pending appeal- filing on Patreon here.
And on April 25 Judge Stein denied bail pending appeal- order here.
On July 2, the US Attorney's Office docketed it 100 page opposition to Nadine Menenedez' bid for a new trial - along with a January 2025 list of possible witnesses it gave her lawyer, including the Federal Reserve's Joseph Catania.
On September 11, after heavily redacted sentencing exhibits, Nadine Menendez was sentenced to 54 months, four and a half years.
On September 25 cooperator Jose Uribe asked for a non-custodial sentence on October 9, with a list of other cooperators, against Keith Raniere, Madoff -- and Ng Lap Seng, citing once and again Dominican Ambassador to the UN Francis Lorenzo. Chart on Patreon here
On October 9 Inner City Press live tweeted; Jose Uribe who submitted no letter spoke and apologized and asked for mercy. He got it: time served.
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As Pinnacle Bank Synovus Merger Protested Now Fed Asks About CRA and GreenSky
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
NASHVILLE, Oct 9 – Synovus Bank, with a track record of disparate lending and consumer complaints, now proposes to cash out and merge with Nashville-based Pinnacle.
But Pinnacle has its own disparities, and is under-regulated by the Tennessee Commissioner of Financial Institutions, who refuses to provide any documents to anyone but Tennessee "citizens" (not even those *in* Tennessee).
So Fair Finance Watch filed Community Reinvestment Act challenges with the Federal Reserve and the Georgia regulator (both have confirmed receipt and the Fed has sent to Pinnacle) as well as the recalcitrant Tennessee regulator, who refuses to give records or even confirm receipt of the challenge. Pinnacle for now seems to think it has Tennessee in the palm of its hand, lock stock and barrel, regulator and media. But then there's Inner City Press, and other states...
On October 9 the Fed asked Pinnacle nine multi-part questions, including "A copy of the CRA policy to be used by the combined organization or, if one is not available, a projected timeline for completion. 4. Discuss the combined organization’s plans to manage third party partnership compliance risk exposure, including, but not limited to, BHG Financial and GreenSky, LLC. a. Include in your discussion anticipated key leadership positions and any individuals identified to fill them; plans for reporting/Management" - full letter here.
The Federal Reserve, while correctly granting expedited processing to Inner City Press' FOIA request about Pinnacle and Synovus, on October 1 wrote to say they need yet more time: "Pursuant to section (a)(6)(B)(i) of the FOIA, we are extending the period for our response until October 16, 2025, in order to consult with two or more components of the Board having a substantial interest in the determination of the request." Will processing of the application be stayed?
Dear Chair Powell and others in the FRS:
... Fair Finance Watch has reviewed the just-released 2024 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data of Synovus and finds that while it made 3.18 loans to whites for each denial to whites, it made only 1.7 loans to African Americans for each denial to African Americans.
Pinnacle is of even greater concern. In Virginia, where Pinnacle received a Low Satisfactory on the Lending Test in its most recently (May 2023) CRA performance evaluation, in 2024 it made 133 mortgage loans to whites, with 19 denials, but only 13 loans to African Americans, with fully eight denials...
This application should not be approved; particularly in light of the disparities, public evidentiary hearings are needed.
Watch this site.
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As OpenAI and Microsoft Are Sued by Authors Argument on Which Versions Are In Case
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 8 – Fiction writers and the Authors Guild have sued OpenAI and on November 29, 2024 the intial pre-trial conference was held before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Sidney H. Stein. Inner City Press was there, thread.
Jump cut to January 14, 2025, oral arguments, from the thread:
Media lawyer: Citing WireCutter may even cause more harm, if it falsely claims WireCutter recommendation, if the product gets recalled. We recommend Black Friday Sales - it is time sensitive. What is the relevant news cycle... We believe we can prove all elements
Judge Stein: Thanks- I have a lot to think about, you'll get an opinion in due course.
On October 8 Inner City Press live tweeted again, this time the argument on which versions of ChatGPT are in the case, thread.
Judge Stein said he will issue a bottom line order, but not right away.
One case is Authors Guild et al v. OpenAI Inc. et al., 23-cv-8292 (Stein)
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On Luigi Mangione After Judge Sees DOJ Violation of Order Posts Came Down WH Next
by Matthew Russell Lee, Substack Book Patreon
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 8 – Luigi Mangione was presented in Federal court on December 19 on four charges, one of them death penalty eligible, for the killing of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson. Inner City Press was there, covering the case toward a book.
On February 4, death penalty qualified (learned) counsel was appointed for Mangione in SDNY, endorsed letter on Patreon here
On April 1 DOJ announced it will seek the death penalty against Mangione.
In the interim, after some push back, Inner City Press published a book Luigi Mangione Lone Wolf here, audiobook here.
On April 15 the US responded to Mangione's anti-death penalty filing with a ripeness argument: "The defendant has identified no authority for the notion that it can prevent the Government from seeking capital punishment before indictment." Full filing on Patreon here
On April 17, Inner City Press vlogged in the morning to expect something - and past 5 pm the SDNY prosecutors docketed an indictment of Mangione, with "Special Findings Regarding the Murder of Brian Thompson" - here.
On April 24 the US filed "NOTICE OF INTENT TO SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY - here.
On September 16, after a state court proceeding covered in person by Inner City Press in which murder by act of terror as dismissed, in the Federal case Mangione's lawyers asked to push back briefing dates (but not December 5), and noted that their death penalty motions are due September 19. Filing on Patreon here.
It was just past midnight when the motion was filed, more than 100 pages, attacking the Constitutionality of the death penalty, on Patreon here
On the evening of September 23 Mangione's lawyer filed a complaint that the " Justice Department is knowingly and intentionally in violation of this Court’s Order by continuing to make false and damaging statements in this death penalty case."
On the morning of September 24 Judge Garnett ruled that "It appears from this letter that multiple employees at the Department of Justice may have violated Local Criminal Rule 23.1, and this Court's order of April 25, 2025" - on Patreon here
On October 3 the US Attorney's Office got more time to respond.
On October 8 they filed that "the statements reposted by these individuals, who are not part of, and do not report to, the prosecution team, did not (and could not) violate Rule 23.1. 3 Nonetheless, as reflected in the enclosed Declaration, upon becoming aware of the reposted statements, the Department promptly directed that the posts be removed." Filing on Patreon here.
The Federal case is US v. Mangione, 1:25-cr-176 (Garnett)
More / extra on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
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Fifth Third Bid to Buy Comerica Challenged on Disparities and OCC Conflict on Direct Express
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY/SOUTH BRONX, Oct 8 – As US bank regulators loosen rules - including the FDIC moving to eliminate public comment altogether on branch expansion applications - now more big banks are moving to get bigger.
On October 6, amid the pending PNC - FirstBank and Pinnacle - Synovus proposals, Fifth Third announced it will apply to buy damaged Comerica Bank. On October 8-9, it has been opposed, to the Fed and OCC.
Fair Finance Watch has filed, with Inner City Press on the FOIA:
Dear FRB Chair Powell, Comptroller Gould:
This is an early first comment on, the proposal and applications by Fifth Third to acquire Comerica. Beyond the lending disparities preliminarily identified below, the US government's Direct Express payment program was removed from Comerica, part of its weakening, and given to Fifth Third, which now applies to acquire Comerica. Public hearings are needed, and hereby required.
Fair Finance Watch has long been concerned about Fifth Third. Fair Finance Watch has reviewed the just-released 2024 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data of Fifth Third, not reviewed in any Community Reinvestment Act performance evaluation.
In state after state, Fifth Third for African Americans has (many) more denials than originations, while the opposite is true for white borrows. The pattern is striking, starting with two states Fifth Third and Comerica overlap in:
In Michigan, the state Comerica abandoned for Texas, Fifth Third in 2024 denied 249 applications from African Americans while making fewer, only 177loans - while it made fully 4189 loans to whites and denied only 1688 applications. This is disparate.
In Florida, where Fifth Third lists 197 branches, Fifth Third in 2024 denied 221 applications from African Americans while making fewer, only 142 loans - while it made fully 2258 loans to whites and denied only 1772 applications. This is disparate.
In Illinois, where Fifth Third lists 159 branches, Fifth Third in 2024 denied 289 applications from African Americans while making fewer, only 187 loans - while it made fully 2320 loans to whites and denied only 1206 applications. This is disparate.
In Indiana, where Fifth Third lists 96 branches, Fifth Third in 2024 denied 187 applications from African Americans while making fewer, only 184 loans - while it made fully 3427 loans to whites and denied only 1425 applications. This is disparate.
In North Carolina, where Fifth Third lists 84 branches, Fifth Third in 2024 denied 144 applications from African Americans while making fewer, only 141 loans - while it made fully 1259 loans to whites and denied only 506 applications. This is disparate.
In Georgia, where Fifth Third lists 35 branches, Fifth Third in 2024 denied 110 applications from African Americans while making fewer, only 93 loans - while it made fully 349 loans to whites and denied only 284 applications. This is disparate.
In South Carolina, where Fifth Third lists 16 branches, Fifth Third in 2024 denied 14 applications from African Americans while making fewer, only 11 loans - while it made fully 514 loans to whites and denied only 141 applications. This is disparate.
In Tennessee, where Fifth Third lists 16 branches, Fifth Third in 2024 denied 54 applications from African Americans while making only the same, 54 loans - while it made fully 649 loans to whites and denied only 299 applications. This is disparate.
Even in Ohio, Fifth Third's home state, Fifth Third in 2024 denied 612 applications from African Americans while making only 685 loans - while it made fully 8356 loans to whites and denied only 3264 applications. This is a nationwide pattern of disparities. And there is more.
From the many complaints against Fifth Third, there's a major one by the CFPB itself...
Inner City Press, which has opposed the FDIC's moves to close itself to public scrutiny - American Banker op-ed here - has now submitted FOIA requests on all this. The FDIC said it will eliminate public notices because it does not receive enough public comments. That is changing, starting now. Watch this site.
***
Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron.
Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com