By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
SDNY COURTHOUSE, May 4 – Omar Amanat, described as a high flying tech entrepreneur and producer of some of the "Twilight" films until his indictment for fraud, now faces sentencing.
But the law firm seeking to represent him may not be able to.
On May 4, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Paul G. Gardephe held a proceeding. Inner City Press covered it.
At issue was whether Judge Gardephe's long ties with the law firm of Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler LLP means either he would be recused - unlikely, given the word he has put into the wider case - or Patterson Belknap be barred from putting in a notice of appearance.
Judge Gardephe to his credit ran though his connections to Patterson Belknap. He was an associate there from 1983 to 1987, then a partner from 2003 to 2008 when he took the bench. Many of his law clerks have been hired there, and two of him mentors from there have photos on the wall of his chambers.
The Patterson Belknap representative acknowledged the unlikelihood of recusal but said they though appearing for the sentencing would be different.
Judge Gardephe requested submission on the issue, including from Assistant US Attorney Daniel Tracer.
Sentencing was tentatively set for August 19, two days after the sentencing of Omar's brother Irfan Amanat.
A request was made to lift the separation order the brothers have been subject to in the MDC; Judge Gardephe directed Tracer to tell the MDC it is lifted.
The case is USA v. Tuzman et al., 15-cr-536 (Gardephe)
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