By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Video Photo
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Feb 1– Columbia University doctor Robert A. Hadden was hit on September 9, 2020 with a Federal indictment charging that "sexually abused dozens of female patients, including multiple minors, under the guise of conducting purported gynecological and obstetric examinations."
The case was assigned to U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Richard M. Berman, who handled the case of Jeffrey Epstein until he died in the Metropolitan Correctional Center. Epstein came up during the bail argument, which Hadden won. Inner City Press live tweeted it.
On January 23, 2023, just after Hadden was found guilty, there was an argument about whether to immediately remand him to prison. Victims said yes, the US argued for it; Federal Defenders said no. Judge Berman set a hearing for February 1 and allowed Hadden to leave, telling him to come up with a Plan B. Video of exit here. Inner City Press live tweeted here.
On February 1, victims spoke and then Hadden was remanded, with immediate effect. Inner City Press live tweeted it, thread here:
OK - now bail hearing on sex abusing doctor Hadden. He's been convicted and his victims want him to (finally) to go jail, pending sentencing.
Hadden's Federal Defender: He's done a lot of work on himself, with journaling... They offered him a deal & he took it. He stopped practicing as a doctor. His therapist calls him home-bound, even before the state guilty plea. He is publicly shamed in a way few are
Hadden's Federal Defender: He was on every TV broadcast. Shame does have a deterrent effect. OK, they found suspicious data on his wife's laptop. There was a capacity to mirror, a virtual drive like every Windows operating system. Also searches for porn...
Hadden's Federal Defender: It's like having a corner of a piece of paper that says Lolita on it... I think we have met our burden. Judge Richard M. Berman: On restorative justice it's way too early in the scheme of things. FD: It could begin with a victim letter
Assistant US Attorney: He has been found guilty. He has no expectation of bail. 43 victims have asked the court for remand. Nine wish to be heard in person today. Defendant claims they do not matter, as to remand.
AUSA: After he was arrested, he was allowed to return to work - and assaulted Victim 53. Now on his laptops - we found that the wife's laptop was on the Dark Web. Federal Defender: We haven't been shown this. We need time - Judge: There was litigation on this.
Turning to the victim (one of whom said that's the wrong word) Victim: There was that moment when I asked to be tested for STDs and he asked, Why, you are in a committed relationship, no one would cheat on a beautiful woman like yourself. He was grooming me....
Victim con't: He started talking to me about sexual positions I might enjoy. And then during the physical exam, it happened. I felt him - you! Robert Hadden! - sliding his fingers forcibly into me under the guise of feeling my ovaries
Next victim: He walked out free as a bird last week. When I think of the way he took advantage of his victims, I see that bail is not enough. He is a danger. AUSA: The next victim prefers not to testify under her true name. "I spent Thanksgiving in NJ at 14..
"Can you imagine getting arrested at work, for conduct at work, and coming back and doing it again? It takes balls. He is psychotic. This is a person who has shown that he does not stop committing crimes just because people are aware. He will access porno
Now a victim named in the docket: Marissa Hoechstetter She: This is a masterclass in gaslighting. I've gone back to look at my testimony. I've spoken to the governor, trying to explain what happened to us at Hadden hand and *under Columbia's watch.* He's convicted
Hoechstetter: This person cut me open and delivered my children, and abused me. The swiftness of the jury's verdict is meaningful. I've witnessed him in two different court - the state plea, and this Federal verdict. He cannot continue to get special treatment
Hoechstetter: He should have thought about his family before committing these crimes. He did - he used their photos as props in his office, to groom us. His daughter has disowned him. Those here need something from him. Detain him without further delay
Next is Dayna Solomon. Solomon: I was his patient for a decade. He was in my body for his sexual pleasure. I asked why he did it. He said, To make sure there is no milk coming out. I was made to feel like an idiot, that I was the one who was wrong.
Solomon: I let him in on some pretty personal things about my sex life, I had medical reasons. I feel so naive - I offered this to a sexual predator. He was raising his eyebrows like he was listening to porn. Next time he'd ask, How's it going? It was disgusting
Solomon: He's a con man. There is no acceptance of responsibility. My daughter got a four page letter how and why she needs special services - and he gets a one page letter from a supposed therapist? There's nothing there. His commitment to his family is a joke
AUSA: The last victim is Robyn Lavender. Lavender: Columbia University and the legal system failed us numerous times. He should have been prosecuted in 2012. Columbia should never have let him come back to work. And he should have served jail time after his plea
Lavender: I had 50 appointments with him. My doctor abused me for his own sexual desire. Please don't allow him to continue living in the comfort of his own home for one more day, or to take his own life. Don't let him inflict unspeakable harm on his family
[Judge Berman is jotting things down.] Judge: Here is my ruling. It is a short version and it goes as follows: There is a significant difference in the law pre and post conviction. Two, once convicted, there is a presumption of mandatory remand.
Judge Berman: Three, the defense has the burden. Four, the written decision I will publish tomorrow morning will expand on this. I find that the defendant has not met his burden on flight risk or dangerous. He is remanded immediately Hadden's Federal Defender: Your honor, may we seek a stay -- Judge Berman: I'm done. And you're done. story soon
Back on July 14, 2021 Judge Berman docketed a letter the US had filed, with a full paragraph redacted, that it will seek a superseding indictment on another count of enticement, regarding an adult Victim-6. Letter on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here.
On August 2, 2021 Hadden's publicly funded (for now) counsel filed a series of motions, with redactions, citing Evelyn Yang and request dismissal of the case. It mentioned Evelyn Yang's interview then redacts a two line sentence. Then, "Andrew Yang public a statement, this media attention led to outrage regarding the 'lenient' sentence Mr. Hadden had received in the DANY Prosecution." Yes.
On December 15, 2021, Judge Berman held a proceeding and Inner City Press live tweeted it here (podcast here)
Jump cut forward a year to December 14, 2022, the pre-trial conference before the January 4, 2023 (one day?) jury selection - Inner City Press was in the courtroom, threadette:
Hadden's lawyer says they commit that in front of the jury they will not question the motives of the prosecution.
Hadden plans to call a Dr Berg as his OB-GYN expert. Jury will not get the "speaking" portion of the indictment.
Asst US Attorney: We may want some victim to testify not under their full names [like in US v Ghislaine Maxwell trial a year ago]
On December 22, Judge Berman held another conference and ruled: "1- defense motion to preclude generalized expert testimony of Dr. Eddleman is denied; 2- defense motion to preclude testimony and evidence re: fibroid procedure Victim-1 is denied in part and granted in part; 3- defense motion to strike all surplusage from S2 Indictment is denied as moot; 4- defense motion to preclude impact evidence/testimony is denied; 5- defense motion to preclude introduction of prior consistent statements is denied; 6- defense motion to preclude the 911 call from 3rd party is denied; 7- defense motion to preclude patient witnesses from being referred to as victims, minor victims or survivors is denied in part and granted in part; The Court will schedule a conference for next week to address other outstanding motions."
On December 29, 2022 Judge Berman held a final final pre-trial conference, Inner City Press live tweeted here:
On January 1, 2023, the US filed: "The Government respectfully submits this letter seeking permission to file supplemental motions regarding the defendant’s proposed exhibits and witnesses, which the Government received from the defense on December 21, 2022, after the parties’ motions in limine had been submitted to the Court. The Government has conferred with the defense about its proposed witnesses and exhibits in an attempt to obviate or narrow any motion, and the defense has indicated it opposes the Government’s position on each of the motions the Government intends to file. The Government would like to advise the Court of its challenges to the defendant’s exhibits and witnesses in advance of the parties’ opening statements, so that jury addresses may proceed in an orderly fashion. By way of background, the defendant’s proposed exhibits include highly graphic videos and photographs of a non-testifying doctor performing vaginal, anal, and breast exams on an actual person, in addition to other unduly prejudicial, confusing, misleading, and irrelevant exhibits." Full letter on Patreon here.
On January 3, 2023, Hadden's Federal Defender filed seeking to exclude government expert witness Dr. Lisa Rocchio. In the docket, concerning Dr. Rocchio as witness, is Judge Lewis A. Kaplan's October 4, 2022 order permitting much of her testimony in the Rapp v. Spacey trial he presided over (and that Inner City Press covered, and published a booklet about).
Inner City Press will be similarly covering this Hadden trial. Watch this site.
Back on June 13, 2022, when Hadden was arraigned on a superseding indictment, in preparation of the September 12, 2022 trial. Inner City Press live tweeted it here
The case is US v. Hadden, 20-cr-468 (Berman).
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