Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Monday, April 29, 2024
Saturday, April 27, 2024
Trump Trial Pecker New Book Covers Catch and Kill Testimony on Stormy Daniels Contempt
100 CENTRE ST COURT, April 27 - In the Trump trial the Saturday after the four days of testimony of National Enquirer CEO David Pecker, a book was published of what was said, and more: "Trump Trial: Pecker," by Matthew Russell Lee, e-book here, audio book on Audible here.
It begins: "The day of opening arguments in the Trump trial, the line started before dawn. The area beside 111 Centre Street was locked off; some attributed it to increased security after the self-immolation in Collect Pond Park on Friday.
Judge Merchan began by ruling against Trump on nearly every cross-examination issue, then calling it a compromise.
The opening statement by the prosecutor painted a Donald Trump reeling from the leak of the Access Hollywood tape, arranging to pay Stormy Daniels $130,000 then doubling that to Michael Cohen so he could pay taxes.
Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche said the more than double payment to Cohen showed it wasn't reimbursement. He began to call Cohen a liar until the prosecutor objected, and Merchan sustained it. And then there was Pecker...
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SDNY Press Room 480, front cubicle
As Delgado Sues Trump Over West Wing Job Withdrawal by Lawyer for Campaign & Spicer
By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 26 – Arlene "A.J." Delgado sued the Trump campaign after she did not receive the West Wing job she said she was promised (but Jason Miller got).
On August 16, 2022 U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker held an in-person proceeding. Inner City Press went and covered it.
Jump cut to January 30, 2024: Delgado is now pro se and moving to depose Reince Priebus and Eric Trump. Inner City Press live tweeted, thread
On February 5, 2024, Magistrate Judge Parker denied Delgado's motion that she recuse herself for having practiced employment defense law prior to becoming a Magistrate Judge, and other reasons. Order on Patreon here.
On February 28, after Delgado's submission of a 15 page letter here, there was a discovery conference. Inner City Press live tweeted it here (and, for those who prefer, on Threads here)
On March 6, Arlene Delgado docketed her subpoena to Jared Kushner, including the records he should bring - subpoena on Patreon here
On March 21, Delgado filed a discovery letter with Judge Parker, including that "During the deposition of third-party witness Eric Trump, on March 13, 2024, Mr. Trump (who was represented by Alina Habba, Esq.) stated that, in preparation for this deposition, he had met with his attorney (Ms. Habba) and also with Defendants counsel, the day prior to his deposition. Ms. Habba then claimed that “common interest privilege” applies to shield the communications between her client, Eric Trump, and Defendants’ counsel. Plaintiff requests" - letter on Patreon here.
On March 26 there was another discovery conference, including this
Docketed on March 28 was a letter from Delgado to Judge Parker including on an affidavit she obtained from Stephanie Grisham. She says she is willing to give it to the defense if they commit not to disseminate or discuss it with third parties.
On April 3, Magistrate Judge Parker issued a six page order including "The deadline for discovery is extended to May 7, 2024 for the sole purpose of completing the depositions of Castellano, Glassner, Kushner, McGahn, Conway, and Bannon." Order on Patreon here.
On April 25, another order by Judge Parker: "DISCOVERY ORDER: Plaintiff's motion to compel is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. Plaintiffs motion is GRANTED as to information concerning gender-related complaints against the Campaign during the 2016 and 2020 campaign cycles, including complaints of sexual harassment, gender, or pregnancy discrimination. Plaintiff's motion to compel information related to the amount in legal fees the Campaign has spent on the present litigation or the amount of cash/assets the Campaign currently possesses is DENIED. Plaintiff's request to have direct access to Defendants' storage vendor and her request that Defendants conduct further searches for organizational charts is DENIED. Plaintiff's request for additional time to depose Mr. Parscale is GRANTED. As discussed at the Conference, Plaintiff is permitted to depose Mr. Parscale for an additional three hours and is directed to schedule such deposition by May 7, 2024. By April 26, 2024, Plaintiff shall serve a copy of this Order on Fox."
On April 26, Jared E. Blumetti of LaRocca, Hornik, Greenberg, Kittredge,Carlin & McPartland LLP moved to withdraw, citing "an irreparable breakdown in the attorney-client relationship between the Firm and Campaign." Declaration on Patreon here.
More on X for Subscriber here, Substack here
Inner City Press will continue to follow the case.
It is Delgado v. Donald J. Trump For President, Inc. et al., 19-cv-11764 (Torres / Parker)
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For Urologist Paduch Proposed Suretor DOJ Sealed Press Opposed now Voir Dire Redactions
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTROOM, April 26 – Urologist Darius Paduch was arrested and arraigned on April 11, 2023. Inner City Press was there.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave held Paduch's arraignment.
Though Paduch had filled out the affidavit to get a publicly paid lawyer, the CJA on duty David Stern said he was for now only representing him for the presentment, and possibly to put together co-signers for a bail package. He consented to detention.
Paduch was in a t-shirt, with left arm tattoos and boots untied, now without laces. Stern said there are many medical issues.
The bail application, Stern said, may be Monday. Judge Cave notes that she will no longer be presiding in the Mag Court then. But Inner City Press will be there.
More including analysis on Substack here
The prosecutors said: From at least in or about 2015 through at least in or about 2019, PADUCH, while working as a urologist, enticed and induced multiple victims to travel to his medical offices at Medical Institution-1, so PADUCH could, among other things, sexually abuse the victims. In or about 2019, PADUCH began practicing at a different hospital located in Long Island, New York (“Medical Institution-2”), where he continued to sexually abuse patients."
On April 19 Paduch's counsel submitted a letter to Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis for release on bail, attaching his TIAA retirement ($1,500,000) Citibank home equity ($400,000) and name of his life partner and proposed co-signer, Robert Lischer. "The couple is also parenting a nine year old son they adopted together in 2020."
Another proposed co-signer: Jordan Roosma; "he met Dr. Paduch as a patient at 13 years old." Also, Paduch's cousin Jadwiga Wojcik, employed at Greene, Tweed & Company.
But he was denied.
On May 16, Paduch's counsel filed the motion, stating that Paduch "has a loving husband, Robert Lischer, and a son, William. He currently resides in North Bergen, New Jersey... a very different defendant than Jeffrey Epstein."
On May 24, the bail hearing. Inner City Press was there, thread here.
On December 21, Paduch's counsel wrote in that the AUSA Attorney's Office conveyed to him that "JR" wanted his name redacted. Inner City Press had already published it, above: Jordan Roosma.
On December 22 Judge Abrams temporarily redacted the entirety of the paragraph, at least until January 5, while noting Judge Kaplan's granting of Inner City Press' application to unseal SBF's suretors.
This as the US Attorney's Office similarly "takes no position" on the sealing of all of OneCoin convict Sebastian Greenwood's sentencing letter, which has required Inner City Press to waste its time (and money - a $405 filing fee) appealing to the Second Circuit. There are other cases in the SDNY were after-the-fact sealing is causing free press problems. In US v. Paduch, on January 2 Inner City Press filed opposition, docketed on January 3 (and now on our DocumentCloud here
On March 27, 2024, in a motions in limine response, the US says it will at trial present non-statutory victims, including Victim-15 who accepted a high school internship with Paduch including a gather on a boat "during which the defendant strutted around naked."
On April 26, in trial after jury selection, Judge Abrams docketed this order: "ORDER as to Darius A Paduch: It is hereby ordered that the parties promptly propose narrowly tailored redactions of the voir dire transcripts. In particular, the parties shall propose redactions of discussions at side bar wherein prospective jurors discussed their or their family's sexual history, medical history, or otherwise sensitive personal information. See United States v. Maxwell, No. 20-CR-330, 2022 WL 421123, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 11, 2022) ("The Court will... permit redactions necessary to ensure juror... privacy."). Additionally, given that the Court has permitted Defendant's prior patients to testify under pseudonyms, the parties shall propose redactions of any reference to the patients' real names. The voir dire transcripts shall be filed under seal pending the Court's review of the parties' proposed redactions. (Signed by Judge Ronnie Abrams on 4/26/2024)."
Inner City Press will be staying on the case(s).
The case is US v. Paduch, 23-cr-181 (Abrams)
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In Sen Menendez Case He Beat DOJ Delay Bid US Wants Discovery Review Still Restricted
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 26 – 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. This scoop was true.
Later a superseder was unveiled, including charges of bribes to act for Qatar...
On April 11, 2024 after Nadine Menendez and then the government asked for delay, to July or undefined, Judge Stein severed her case and reaffirmed May 6, Inner City Press thread:
All rise! Judge Sidney Stein: I have request for adjournment of the trial, which is set for May 6. Let's handle that first. It was sparked by a medical issue with Mrs. Menendez. When could she sit for trial?
Nadine Menendez' (outgoing) lawyer: We'll know in 2 months. Bob Menendez' lawyer: We don't want any delay. Every day the unproven allegations are out there, it could remove his ability to run. Also, we think severance is inevitable
Judge Stein: Given the medical issues, I think it is unclear when Mrs. Menendez could go to trial. So I am going to sever Mrs. Menendez - and the May 6 trial will go forward. For Mrs. Menendez, July 8 trial, we'll see in June if it's realistic
On Sunday night April 14 the US wrote in again asking for a delay to July, six page letter on Patreon here.
But Judge Stein told the parties to confer and report by April 16 at 1 pm. Then he set an April 17 conference, which Inner City Press live tweeted and dubbed "Berate-gate," thread
On April 18, Bob Menendez' lawyer wrote in that the agreement not to cross examination Lustberg is done. Then Judge Stein ordered all defendants present on April 19 to seal it. Mendendez's counsel said he is caught up in Senate business.
On April 19: "The Court grants the parties' request to adjourn the trial to May 13, 2024."
On April 23 Menendez' lawyer wrote to Judge Stein that Menendez needs to be able to see the witness material without counsel present, as he has votes to cast in the Senate.
On April 26, the US reiterated that the discovery should remain Attorney's Possession Only, letter on Patreon here.
The case is US v. Menendez, et al., 23-cr-490 (Stein)
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In Trump Trial Pecker Is Grilled by Bove on Prior Catch and Kill and 302s with Nejad Echo
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
100 CENTRE ST COURT, April 26 – On the third day of the Trump trial defense lawyer Emil Bove finally got to cross-examine the National Enquirer's David Pecker.
He got him to admit having provided similar catch and kill services for Ron Perlman of Revlon, and Rahn Emanuel after his Obama administration days.
On Tiger Woods, a story was purchased in order to extort Woods into granting an interview. So it goes in the world of checkbook journalism.
The day ended with Justice Merchan admonishing Bove for "misleading" the jury about a document he handed up to Pecker. A curative instruction to kick off Day 4 was promised.
But it was replaced with a carefully worded apology to Pecker from Bove - and them more drilling into Pecker's memory, and that his deal with Karen McDougal was a legitimate business deal for 65 articles, and more.
By the midmorning break past 11 am, inconsistency between FBI 302 and Pecker's trial testimony was brought out. But for what?
Some wondered, where was this going?
Bove had risen to Chief in the Office of the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the position he was listed in when admonished for discovery violations in US v. Nejad
More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
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As Delgado Sues Trump Over West Wing Job Wins Discrimination Data from 2 Campaigns
By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 25 – Arlene "A.J." Delgado sued the Trump campaign after she did not receive the West Wing job she said she was promised (but Jason Miller got).
On August 16, 2022 U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker held an in-person proceeding. Inner City Press went and covered it.
Jump cut to January 30, 2024: Delgado is now pro se and moving to depose Reince Priebus and Eric Trump. Inner City Press live tweeted, thread
On February 5, 2024, Magistrate Judge Parker denied Delgado's motion that she recuse herself for having practiced employment defense law prior to becoming a Magistrate Judge, and other reasons. Order on Patreon here.
On February 28, after Delgado's submission of a 15 page letter here, there was a discovery conference. Inner City Press live tweeted it here (and, for those who prefer, on Threads here)
On March 6, Arlene Delgado docketed her subpoena to Jared Kushner, including the records he should bring - subpoena on Patreon here
On March 21, Delgado filed a discovery letter with Judge Parker, including that "During the deposition of third-party witness Eric Trump, on March 13, 2024, Mr. Trump (who was represented by Alina Habba, Esq.) stated that, in preparation for this deposition, he had met with his attorney (Ms. Habba) and also with Defendants counsel, the day prior to his deposition. Ms. Habba then claimed that “common interest privilege” applies to shield the communications between her client, Eric Trump, and Defendants’ counsel. Plaintiff requests" - letter on Patreon here.
On March 26 there was another discovery conference, including this
Docketed on March 28 was a letter from Delgado to Judge Parker including on an affidavit she obtained from Stephanie Grisham. She says she is willing to give it to the defense if they commit not to disseminate or discuss it with third parties.
On April 3, Magistrate Judge Parker issued a six page order including "The deadline for discovery is extended to May 7, 2024 for the sole purpose of completing the depositions of Castellano, Glassner, Kushner, McGahn, Conway, and Bannon." Order on Patreon here.
On April 25, another order by Judge Parker: "DISCOVERY ORDER: Plaintiff's motion to compel is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. Plaintiffs motion is GRANTED as to information concerning gender-related complaints against the Campaign during the 2016 and 2020 campaign cycles, including complaints of sexual harassment, gender, or pregnancy discrimination. Plaintiff's motion to compel information related to the amount in legal fees the Campaign has spent on the present litigation or the amount of cash/assets the Campaign currently possesses is DENIED. Plaintiff's request to have direct access to Defendants' storage vendor and her request that Defendants conduct further searches for organizational charts is DENIED. Plaintiff's request for additional time to depose Mr. Parscale is GRANTED. As discussed at the Conference, Plaintiff is permitted to depose Mr. Parscale for an additional three hours and is directed to schedule such deposition by May 7, 2024. By April 26, 2024, Plaintiff shall serve a copy of this Order on Fox."
More on X for Subscriber here, Substack here
Inner City Press will continue to follow the case.
It is Delgado v. Donald J. Trump For President, Inc. et al., 19-cv-11764 (Torres / Parker)
***
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.