UN PGA Dennis Francis Claims 153 Heads of State and Gov't Then Erases Claim, Bans Press

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, Sept 13 – When Dennis Francis took over at President of the General Assembly, his spokesperson Monica Grayley directed the press to his website.

But days later on September 11, under "Transparency," there were only two pages, both of which said "No posts."  See below: 40% owned by China.

On September 14, Grayley in a briefing she banned the Press from claimed that there are 153 heads of state and government scheduled to speak in GA week. But a simple count found 145 - and that's including post-coup Gabon.

Grayley insisted on her number, then said she'd "look into it." But when they published the supposed transcript of what she said, it did not reflect the claim and then correction - it simply claimed she'd said 145. It's a small thing - the hiding of who pays for Dennis Francis' office, post-Ashe, and who are "his" staff members and who pays them is larger. Inner City Press must be re-admitted to ask. Corruption.

 This comes after the UN made a slew of promises after PGA John Ashe was indicted - and died before trial - and PGA Sam Kutesa was named in the SDNY prosecution of UN NGO China Energy Fund Committee's Patrick Ho. 

 So on the morning of September 11, 2023, Inner City Press wrote to PGA Francis' spokesperson Monica Grayley: 

"Hi - these are Press questions about UN PGA 78 Dennis Francis and transparency, in light of the UN's statements after the SDNY indictment of PGA John Ashe (and named of PGA Kutesa in another corruption trial in SDNY) --  As of September 11, 2023 there is nothing - "no posts."

Likewise for Trust Fund. When you click "team", the link leads to the lead of PGA Kutesa. 

  Let me know.  Thanks, -Matthew"

  No answer in the morning, and at noon Grayley while congratulating Guterres spokesman Farhan Haq on his Portuguese pronunciation did not address the lack of transparency and follow through - or even acknowledge the request.

On September 13, still with no answer by Grayley, the team slapped together a list of donors to Dennis Francis. There are only three: China, Qatar and Kuwait. Photo here. And still online, no list of the team. And the no response? Pure censorship. We'll have more on this

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USUN Linda Talks Up Dying UNGA While Letting Press be Banned & China Buy UNPGA

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, Sept 14 – The US took over the UN Security Council presidency on August 1, 2023 - while US-based Inner City Press is still banned from the UN, and the US Mission and its Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield have done nothing about it.

 On August 1 LTG took questions largely from state media, culminating in a lengthy statement from Bangladesh state media, which she seemed quite pleased with. Video here.

  Inner City Press had and has questions about the failure of UN Peacekeeping in Mali and DR Congo, its abuses in Haiti - and LTG's inaction on China banning Taiwanese from the UN, and Antonio Guterres banning Inner City Press.

On September 14, LTG held another schmooze-fest, saying you'll have to ask others why leaders like Macron don't come to this UNGA. Then her spokesman Nate Evans said, Just email me questions. But Inner City Press has, repeatedly - with no answer. Now its questions to the UN PGA resulted in the belated posting of a list showing the office 40% bought by China. From LTG? Nothing... The ban continues.

 Inner City Press on June 19 applied to the UN for access, as it gives 100s, to cover the UNGA week. Inner City Press has a NYC Press Pass and writes about the UN. The ban is contrary to the First Amendment (and even the UN's Article 19) but the US Mission to the UN does nothing.

Watch this site. 

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UN for Sale $800 for Access to Melissa Fleming Who Bans Press and Ignores Law Firm Letter

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, Sept 14 – The week's UN General Assembly meetings will not have French president Macron, nor the UK Prime Minister. But it will feature UNSG Antonio Guterres' head of media access (and censorship) Melissa Fleming, being sold for $800 or even $2000. Photo here. 

 Should UN officials allow money to be charged to hear them, as Fleming does, brag about how they disappear or exclude views they don't like?  

On June 19, 2023 Inner City Press applied to Fleming's MALU unit for access to enter and cover this UN. This was followed up by a pro bono law firm Duane Morris' letter Fed Ex-ed to Fleming, seeking to end her ban on the Press. No answer at all.

 But if you have $800...  Watch this site.

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Celsius' Mashinsky Co-Defendant Pleads Guilty Now Cohen-Pavon To Be Sentenced Dec 11

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 14 – After Alexander Mashinsky of Celsius was arrested on July 13, US Attorney Damian Williams held a press conference.

Inner City Press asked him to explain his office's thinking in agreeing to release on bail for Sam Bankman-Fried and Shakeeb Ahmed, for example, but demanding and obtaining the ongoing pre-trial detention of Avi Eisenberg and Miles Guo.  

 US Attorney Williams responded that every case is different. Inner City Press asked if his office would in the afternoon be seeking the detention of, or agreeing to release, Mashinsky. He declined to say either way, saying you will soon see.

At 2:45 pm the arraignment began, followed the the SDNY AUSAs' deal that Mashinsky would be released right after on bond. Inner City Press was there, thread.

Next was July 25 at 11 am. Inner City Press was there, thread.

On September 13, with no announcement, Mashinsky's co-defendant pled guilty: "Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge John G. Koeltl: Change of Plea Hearing as to Roni Cohen-Pavon held on 9/13/2023. Deft Cohen-Pavone enters plea of guilty to Counts 4, 5, 6 and 7 of indictment. Sentence date 12/11/2024 at 11:00am. Bail cont'd."

He is a cooperator - the plea agreement says it is understand he will share all information asked for....

More on Substack here

On September 5, the post-indictment restraining order was unsealed, showing the US targeting accounts in Goldman Sachs, SoFi Bank, First Republic - and a property 2004 East 8th Street in Austin held with Kristine Meehan Mashinsky. 5 page document on Patreon here. For now the application and affidavit are sealed.

   From the SDNY press release on the indictment " COHEN-PAVON, an Israeli citizen and resident, is currently abroad." 

 This hung over the Olivier Aran Magistrates Court proceeding, the Mashinsky up in the afternoon.

  The case is US v. Mashinsky, et al., 23-cr-347 (Koeltl / Wang)  Indictment on Patreon here

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UN PGA Dennis Francis 40% Owned by China Also Qatar Amid Censorship by Monica Grayley

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, Sept 13 – When Dennis Francis took over at President of the General Assembly, his spokesperson Monica Grayley directed the press to his website.

But days later on September 11, under "Transparency," there were only two pages, both of which said "No posts." 

 This comes after the UN made a slew of promises after PGA John Ashe was indicted - and died before trial - and PGA Sam Kutesa was named in the SDNY prosecution of UN NGO China Energy Fund Committee's Patrick Ho. 

 So on the morning of September 11, 2023, Inner City Press wrote to PGA Francis' spokesperson Monica Grayley: 

"Hi - these are Press questions about UN PGA 78 Dennis Francis and transparency, in light of the UN's statements after the SDNY indictment of PGA John Ashe (and named of PGA Kutesa in another corruption trial in SDNY) --  As of September 11, 2023 there is nothing - "no posts."

Likewise for Trust Fund. When you click "team", the link leads to the lead of PGA Kutesa. 

  Please explain and send - and post - the information asap.  Also, please make PGA Francis aware that Inner City Press, which most closely covered the PGA Ashe and PGA Kutesa cases, applied to MALU to enter and cover his UNGA High Level week on June 19, 2023, here -  and still, no answer.

 I note that in your press conference you thanked "my Department of Global Communications and Under-Secretary-General, Melissa Fleming" -  in charge of MALU. She has received a letter about restoring my access, from the pro bono law firm Duane Morris - and has not even answered. Please immediately confirm receipt.

    PGA Francis should ensure Inner City Press can enter to cover his UNGA. Let me know.  Thanks, -Matthew"

  No answer in the morning, and at noon Grayley while congratulating Guterres spokesman Farhan Haq on his Portuguese pronunciation did not address the lack of transparency and follow through - or even acknowledge the request.

On September 13, still with no answer by Grayley, the team slapped together a list of donors to Dennis Francis. There are only three: China, Qatar and Kuwait. Photo here. And still online, no list of the team. And the no response? Pure censorship. We'll have more on this

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After Wikileaks Verdict Schulte Guilty in CP Day and a Half Trial with No Mention of CIA

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 13 – When jury selection was completed for the retrial of accused CIA Vault 7 leaker Joshua Schulte, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Jesse M. Furman told the jurors, Do not read or say anything about the case. Inner City Press was there.

[July 20, 2022 order on access here; Brutal Kangaroo]

On September 1, the prosecutors wrote to Judge Furman they are streamlining the CP case: "the Government does not intend to introduce the defendant's statements from his prison notebooks... the only witnesses in its case in chief would be Special Agents Richard Evanchec and Aaron Spivack and Computer Scientist Michael Berger."

On September 12, Inner City Press covered the trial. Thread:

Jury entering! Judge Furman: Love when you guys are on time, and glad breakfast was there.  Opening statements.

AUSA Lockard: Joshua Schulte downloaded and viewed videos of children as young as four or five years old, even toddlers.  He's a computer enthusiast [!]

AUSA Lockard: Schulte told the FBI, It's just porn, I encrypt my porn. The FBI decypted it using passwords on his phone, passwords he used for his Uber and his DoorDash. They found the files...

 AUSA Lockard: You'll learn how Schulte used TOR, and the Russian websites. An FBI encryption specialist will explain how it's done. Use your common sense and you will reach the verdict that is compelled by the evidence, that Joshua Adam Schulte is guilty.

Schulte's lawyer: The government has the burden of proof. They must prove every single element.  We are not required to question every government witness. I don't think we'll be asking a lot of questions. You're going to hear about a virtual machine...

 Schulte's lawyer: In the sea of his data, there was a small amount of CP. Did he know? That's up to you to decide. If it is not beyond a reasonable doubt, he is not guilty. Thank you. Judge Furman: First witness. Special Agent takes the stand...

Witness: I am Special Agent Richard Evanchec. I work for the FBI in Frisco, Texas. In 2015, I went to find Mr. Schulte at his place of employment in Manhattan. [At Bloomberg] AUSA Lockard: Where did you interview him? Evanchec: A restaurant. [Pershing Square]

 AUSA Lockard: What type of jobs did he work in? Evanchec: In computer related jobs... in DC... [Does not mention CIA or leaking]

Evanchec: Schulte bought components on New Egg and built his own computers AUSA Lockard: Did you search his residence? Evanchec: We did

 Evanchec: Schulte told us he used BitLocker and VeriCrypt. AUSA Lockard: Did anyone else have the password? Evanchec: He said no one else, only him. There was deviation from the baseline. He looked around the room. He said, "It's just porn, I encrypt my porn."

Evanchec: Schulte said this was a Plex server, that he let friends and family access to store media and even school projects. He said he had root access. He could see all of the data that others put on it. Previously a friend of his, named "Sterm," had had access

 Evanchec: But Schulte said Sterm had fork-bombed the Plex server so he took Sterm's root access away. Judge Furman: Can you explain again what root access is? [Evanchec does] AUSA Lockard: What is this? Evanchec: A Samsung phone we seized.

Evanchec: Schulte said he got the phone to play PokemonGo. [Then describes horrific images & videos] AUSA Lockard: We have a stipulation. Schulte's lawyer: No objection. [Schulte is whispering with counsel]

 Judge Furman: Cross examination? Schulte's lawyer de Castro:  There were 20 terabytes, right? Evanchec: Yes. de Castro: And no CP was found on the rack server, correct? Evanchec: I don't know. de Castro: But you were the supervisor...

 de Castro: No CP on the four phones, nor on the 11 hard drives, right? Evanchec: I don't know how many. de Castro: May I approach the witness? Judge: Yes. de Castro: Does this refresh your recollection? You may have to count. Evanchec: 11, yes.

Now in Josh Schulte trial - sealed - audio:

AUSA: What was in that 7 second clip? [Description: collar... sexual conduct position... "a dog is introduced"]

 AUSA: Let's more on.

  The next day, the second day of trial, closing arguments by noon - and a guilty verdict before 2:30 pm, photo here. Next is sentencing...

From #BrutalKangaroo to #EndlessSentences

Watch this site.

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For Attack on 3 NYPD Bickford Indicted for Terrorism Now Trial Set for 18 March 2024

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell book

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 13 – Trevor Bickford, on charges of attacking three police officers in NYC's Times Square on New Years Eve with a machete, was presented shackled in Federal court in Manhattan on February 6, 2023 Inner City Press was there.  

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang read Bickford the charges, then asked about bail or detention.

Not surprisingly, Bickford through his Federal Defender consented to detention - "without prejudice to making an application" for bail later.

  Bickford appeared medicated, but spoke clearly when he said "Yes" to if he's seen the complaint against him. His feet and hands were chained, making it difficult to raise his hand to swear to his financial affidavit.

  Bickford is 19 years old and according to the complaint began reading the Koran in May 2022, and tried to fly to Jordan to join the jihad - in Afghanistan or closer Syria - in December.

He could not get on the flight and, the complaint says, headed to Times Square on New Years Eve.

On June 6, 2023, Bickford was brought by three US Marshals before the assigned District Judge, P. Kevin Castel. His Federal Defender said she wants to move to dismiss Count 1 as duplicative (Counts 2-4 are about each police officer).

  Judge Castel gave her until July 13 to make the motion, and set a September 13 next appearance.

 Afterward Bickford asked if he would be back in court on July 13. He looked if anything younger than 19. In the MDC, he cannot read PDFs, his lawyer said.

On September 13, Judge Castel heard arguments on but deferred decision on the defense motion to strike either Count 1, or Counts 2-4. Inner City Press was there, thread:

Judge Castel asking who the intended victims were - military-aged men working for the government? AUSA cites Timothy McVeigh case.

AUSA: He psyched himself up by watching Al Qaeda propadanda video. Then he went to Times Square.

Judge: What about the multiplicity doctrine, or double jeopardy? That you can charge Counts 1, 2 and 3, or Court 1, but not both?

AUSA: We could carve out Officers 1-3

Courtroom note: Bickford in MDC tan is motionless as his lawyers whisper in front of him. Judge: I'll take the motion under advisement. Trial now set for March 18, 2024.

  Inner City Press will stay on the case.

 It is US v. Bickford, 23-cr-91 (Castel)

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UN Guterres Back from Cuba Bans Press from GA while Bemoans Charter Keeps Him in NY

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, Sept 13 – The annual ritual of the UN General Assembly week is getting more and more wan under Antonio Guterres.

  After for a second week he spent public money flying and lying from India to Cuba, on September 13 he took pre-picked questions from state media, delivering a punch line for China (that in excluding all Taiwanese from the building, he is following the GA on which he has no view$). 

 In another staged question, Guterres had the UN must stay in New York because the Charter says so. He lives tax free in a mansion on Sutton Place. Video here. Meanwhile at UNESCO's ghoulish confab in Saudi Arabia, fresh from slaughtering refugees in the desert, look what's up for enshrinement: "Portugal The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Head Office and Garden 1659 D (i)(ii)(iv)(vi)."

  This Gulbenkian Foundation paid Guterres cold hard cash, while trying to sell its oil company to convicted bribery firm CEFC China Energy. Inner City Press, which coverd CEFC's conviction in Federal court, asked about the omission of this money from Guterres' financial disclosure and was roughed up and banned, and remains so from UNGA 2023.

In 2023 not only Xi of China and Russia's Putin for obvious reasons isn't coming - even French president Macron, and the UK's not-for-long prime minister are blowing it off.

That's four out of the five Permanent Members of the Security Council, those who on paper benefit most from the decaying UN, not bother to come. Guterres is lying about reform, including of the "international financial architecture."

Only Biden is coming - and the US is the country watching as Guterres hands post after post to China, while concealing his financial links to its convicted bribery firm CEFC China Energy, and banning Inner City Press which uncovered and asked about it. 

 The schedule released on September 1 still listed the "head of state" of Gabon, Ali Bongo, who pleading for (and receiving Guterres' useless) support to keep his family in power for another year after fifty.

Inner City Press on June 19 applied to Guterres' censoring sidekick Melissa Fleming for access to UNGA week, which she gives to countless blood-splattered state media of Saudi Arabia, Iran and even Cameroon.

No answers, even as the supposed September 1 deadline and now September 11 passed. The UN's time has passed. Watch this site.

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In Run Up to UNGA Talk of AI and NY Traffic Across 1st Avenue, Echoes of Ashe UNreformed

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, Sept 12 – With UN General Assembly week approaching, a former president, a former UN Deputy Secretary General and a former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights spoke on a panel across First Avenue, at the International Peace Institute, on September 12. Inner City Press was there and tweeted, here and here.

  It began with new President of the General Assembly Dennis Francis reading a speech - this as he and his spokesperson Monica Grayley have refused for two days to answer the Press why they have not complied with the minimal reform the UN committed to after PGA John Ashe was indicted in SDNY court for bribe taking. 

  Then former Deputy Secretary General Mark Malloch-Brown summarized a report that was available on the way in, and gently mock New Yorkers who will complain about the traffic the UN brings.

What about the impunity, for example the Ambassador who not long ago raped a woman and then flew out of the country, entirely legally immune? 

 Former Liberia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf mentioned AI, as did current Costa Rica Ambassador Maritza Chan, citing a meeting about autonomous weapons held in Trinidad and Tobago, the homeland of PGA Dennis Francis.

   There are other connections between IPI and the SDNY court, where Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted at trial and her partner / IPI donor would have been - but it is not our purpose here to go there.

In fact, going to IPI from a full day of court coverage wasn't easy, but IPI is to be commended for at least not simply falling in line with the thin-skinned censorship regime of UNSG Antonio Guterres.

But shouldn't they, and their CEO with human rights credentials, do more? Watch this site.

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Bankman-Fried Bid for Release for MDC Jail Is Rejected Again as Oct 3 SDNY Trial Looms

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 12 –  Sam Bankman-Fried of FTX on August 11, 2023 for tampering with witnesses in the upcoming trial against him was ordered remained to jail.

 U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Lewis A. Kaplan heard from prosecutors that in Putnam County Correctional Facility, SBF could be given access to discovery material over the Internet.

Kaplan replied that he assumed the defendant would be in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, like fellow crypto-fraud defendant Miles Guo and others.

  On August 12 Inner City Press, which published the first book about SBF's remand ("Crypto Creeps," here, sample on Substack here) found the Bureau of Prisons notice, listing SBF in the MDC.

On August 14, the DOJ prosecutors docketed their superseding indictment against SBF, with Count 8, Campaign Finance, dropped ostensibly at the request of the Bahamas. Inner City Press  published the superseding indictment on its DocumentCloud here.

On August 25 SBF's lawyers wrote in again, saying two days a week in the holding cell with a laptop is not enough. Full letter on Patreon here

On August 29, the US filed that "the USMS has also offered to transport the defendant two days per week to the 500 Pearl Street cellblock" - full letter on Patreon here

On September 5, DOJ wrote in to say SBF will come on Sept 6 - and that in MDC he is exempt from prisoner count - full letter on Patreon here

On September 12, Judge Kaplan denied SBF's (repeated) request to be released, photo of order here, leaving the door (slightly?) open to reapply if there are new facts or more persuasive arguments.

On August 22, SBF was arraigned by SDNY Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn. Thread

More August 22 details on Substack here

More book sample on Substack here. Extended on Patreon here.

Book here

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