By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
FEDERAL COURT, July 20 – For lobbying and more for the United Arab Emirates, Thomas Joseph Barrack and Matthew Grimes were indicted in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York and detained on July 20 with appearances in Federal court in Los Angeles. Inner City Press live tweeted it, here:
Now detention hearing in United Arab Emirates lobbying prosecution of Matthew Grimes - Judge cites EDNY detention memo, on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here.
AUSA: This may be a bailable case at some point, but not now. The relationship between the foreign government and our government was at the highest level, on both sides. Grimes is a flight risk; a government would benefit from his flight.
AUSA: After an FBI interview in 2018 in Los Angeles, the co-defendant [Rashid Sultan Rashid Al Malik Alshahhi] fled the US and has not returned.
Magistrate Judge Patricia Donahue: So he's offered a bond but you deem it insufficient? AUSA: Both quantitatively and qualitatively.
Grimes' lawyer: My client is a low level individual Grimes' lawyer: They allege the company has a plane. But my client didn't have access to it, and the company doesn't even have a plane anymore. He knew there was a risk, but he didn't flee. We've been engaged with the government all day
Grimes' lawyer: We have no problem with a secured bond, which might take 30 to 60 days. His father owns a home in Santa Barbara. He'd getting the deed today, appraisal tomorrow. We'll be seeking a place-holder bond, maybe $2 million in cash or securities
Grimes' lawyer: His brother, who's in Texas, would sign a signature bond. I understand the government wants property. I have my client's passport.
Judge: What is the government's current position? Detention pending a bond? AUSA: We are requesting detention.
Judge: I have reviewed the papers. I do find that the defendant presents a very serious risk of flight. I am inclined to order detention based on risk of flight. The terms recommended by Pre Trial Services are insufficient.
Judge: The defendant's next appearance will be in EDNY. Grimes' lawyer: We are optimistic we can work something out this week, so he wouldn't be transferred to EDNY in custody. Can we calendar something? [Does not want to fly through BOP's Oklahoma "hub"]
AUSA: The bar is high. Set it next week, he would have a better chance.
EDNY AUSA Nathan Reilly: We want him to appear quickly in EDNY; we acknowledge that transfer in custody can take some time- a week? I can ask the Marshals. Judge: I put it over to Mon July 25.
Clerk: He will be housed in San Bernardino. So the times are limited. Judge: It's July 26 (Twenty Six), at 10 am. He should be transferred to EDNY - if he can be transferred before the 26th, I'm inclined to let him go that way.
Next: Co-defendant and not "minor player," Thomas Joseph Barrack. Again EDNY AUSA Nathan Reilly and local AUSA. Barrack represented by Mr. Desai and Matthew Herrington of Paul Hastings firm.
Judge: You're been charged in an indictment returned in the EDNY
Herrington: Here in DC we have not gotten the documents. We can delay until we have a package. We could delay to Monday. [But what if BOP can transfer them to EDNY by then?] Judge: July 26, 8 am.
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