Saturday, September 14, 2024
Friday, September 13, 2024
Thursday, September 12, 2024
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Monday, September 9, 2024
Saturday, September 7, 2024
Friday, September 6, 2024
Trump Asked to Remove NY Bragg Case to SDNY Now Stay Request Denied as Academic
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 6 – Donald Trump filed a first notice of removal to Federal court of Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's indictment of him in state court, on May 4, 2023.
The notice was reassigned to U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Alvin Hellerstein, as Inner City Press reported.
Jump cut to August 29, 2024, after Trump was found guilty on 34 counts before NYS Justice Juan Merchan. Trump lawyer's filed a second notice of removal, on Patreon here.
On August 30 this: "Re-file and attach either opposing party's written consent or Court's leave.."
On September 3 leave was sought - and at 5 pm, Judge Hellerstein denied removal. Ruling on Patreon here
At 11:30 pm, Trump's lawyers filed notice of appeal to the Second Circuit. Notice of Appeal on Patreon here.
After 9 pm on September 4 Team Trump asked Judge Hellerstein to stay his own order, 6 page filing on Patreon here. Watch this site.
On September 6, Judge Hellerstein denied the request as "academic."
***
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.
Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com
Honduras Mario Jose Calix Hernandez Flown In and Jailed As Future Extraditions Said Stalled
by Matthew Russell Lee, Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 6 – In the closing arguments on March 6, 2024 AUSA Tarlow said that narco trafficking had grown under Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez. On March 7, out of the hearing of the jury and for then the Press, JOH's lawyer Stabile said he'd heard different overnight.
From who?
The defendant's wife he said.
Was this just a play for a mistrial?
Judge Castel concluded it was, and denied Stabile's motion, Order on Patreon here.
Later on March 8, the verdict, here- then the book Narco Drama in English then Spanish.
On August 28, successor President Xiomara Castro asked Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina to "denounce" the country's extradition treaty with the United States.
Amid that on August 30, another sentencing, thread
OK - - now at sentencing of Honduras military official Freddy Alonso Archaga Hernandez for leaking info to drug trafficking gang - this just after Honduras moved to end narco extraditions to the US
Defense lawyer: Because of who he is, it has been hard for him in jail Judge: What is the status of his immigration case? Defense: He doesn't have a lawyer in that, it is in Florida.
Defendant: I am sorry. Here in the US I have had to work construction jobs.
Judge: I am varying down to 20 months [US asked for 30 months] Mr Hernandez helped drug gangs evade capture, but he did not engage in violence.
In September in the Mag court which Inner City Press covers, "Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo: Initial Appearance as to Mario Jose Calix Hernandez held on 9/5/2024. Detention Hearing as to Mario Jose Calix Hernandez held on 9/5/2024. BAIL DISPOSITION: Detention on consent w/o prejudice
The case is US v. Archaga Hernandez, 24-cr-337 (Clarke)
More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
***
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.
Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com
As Binance and Iran Sued by Oct 7 Victims in SDNY Now Plaintiff Cite Unsealed Hamas Case
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 6 – People taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, 2023 and other victims of that massacre on January 31 sued Iran, Syria and Binance and its founder in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Binance founder CZ is facing sentencing in a case that Inner City Press is reporting on as it will on this one.
Here, the complaint asserts that Binance "processed numerous transactions associated with Hamas, providing a clandestine financing tool that Binance deliberately hid from U.S. regulators." Its DOJ / OFAC settlement is quoted from.
It is notably that UNRWA has not been sued, despite a dozen staffers actually participating in the October 7 massacre. The UN is only not sued due to its claims of total legal impunity.
On February 1, the case was wheeled out / assigned to District Judge John G. Koeltl, who also has, among many others, the case of the Julian Assange visitors (to Ecuador's embassy in London) against the CIA...
On February 2, Judge Koeltl set an initial conference... for July 2, 2024. The date was postponed, as Binance moved to dismiss.
On July 12 the plaintiff opposed Binance's motion to dismiss, arguing that Binance "knew Hamas, PIJ and the affiliates were transacting on Binance. Defendants' internal communications - epitomized by jokes and deliberate indifference - demonstrate this."
Unlike Binance, the UN's UNRWA which has also been sued for facilitating October 7, and has since admitted at least nine staff may have participated, claims immunity / impunity.
On September 6, the plaintiffs raised to Judge Koeltl the unsealed case against Hamas officials: "LETTER MOTION for Leave to File Sur-Reply and to provide the Court with notice of the DOJ's Unsealed Complaint in the related matter of United States of America v. Haniyeh et al., 24-MAG-438 (S.D.N.Y.) addressed to Judge John G. Koeltl from Jake Nachmani on behalf of Plaintiffs dated September 6, 2024 ."
More analysis here (X subscribers) and on Substack here
This case is Raanan, et al., v. Binance Holdings Limited, et al., 24-cv-697 (Koeltl)
***
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.
Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com
Trump Appeal after Carroll Trial Puts Access Hollywood Not as Propensity But Confession
By Matthew Russell Lee Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 6 – After the verdict against Donald Trump for $83.3 million in mostly punitive damages to E. Jean Carroll, Trump's lawyer wrote to the judge that "defense counsel learned for the first time of allegations that Your Honor, while a partner at the Paul Weiss firm, had a “mentor” type relationship with Plaintiff’s lead counsel, Roberta Kaplan."
On September 6 when the appeal was heard - Inner City Press live tweeted it, below -- Roberta Kaplan told the three judges of the Second Circuit that Judge Kaplan was not her mentor. Thread:
All rise! Judge: You may proceed. Trump's lawyer: This case is a textbook example of implausible allegations being propped up by inflamatory claims. The plaintiff has a political story, funded by President Trump's enemies Judge: We defer on factual issues
Trump's lawyer: The Access Hollywood tape should never had come in - Judge: In some cases, propensity evidence is allowed. Trump's lawyer: But not here. Judge: If defendant put his hand up her skirt, why wouldn't that qualify? Trump's lawyer: Look at Rogers case
Judge: Is there anything about the Third Circuit's understanding you would have us depart from? Trump's lawyer: There are a lot of 3d Circuit cases... Look at the Stoynoff, I mean Leeds, testimony-
Judge: You're speaking too fast.
Trump's lawyer: Your honor, I see that my time is expiring [It's 10:10 am] Judge: We'll hear from you on rebuttal. Ms. Kaplan? Roberta Kaplan for E. Jean Carroll: Judge Perez, you don't have to decide the jurisdictional question here. There was a statute in 1979
Roberta Kaplan: Judge Kaplan has a lot of experience - he is neither related to me nor is he my mentor. Donald Trump assaulted E. Jean Carroll and the defamed her. We called 11 witnesses. Ms. Carroll said, When you are not a screamer, you wouldn't scream
Judge: What about Congress? Roberta Kaplan: Susan Molinari of Staten Island was involved - this was an attempt at sexual conduct. Judge Kaplan found a cross reference to knowingly using force, breast or inner thigh. My adversary says, Not a crime in 1979
Judge: I thought your opponent said the predecessor crimes was rape- Roberta Kaplan: Not, simple assault. On an airplane, the defendant touched, I'm sorry, her tush. Mr. Trump didn't lead Ms. Leeds into a private area. But he said the same thing about all three
Roberta Kaplan: We had a psychological witness who said she believed Ms. Carroll. Judge: That witness heard a report, rather than witnessed anything. 2d Judge: You could lose all the propensity evidence and still win? Kaplan: Access Hollywood was an admission
Roberta Kaplan: Mr. Trump is here today. He could have taken the stand. He did not put on a single witness. So we put in the Access Hollywood tape, he said, I grab women by the p*ssy Judge: Thank you for your time.
Trump's lawyer (rebuttal): You have to find that it did not influence the jury. You can't, with a straight face. The outcry witnesses were prejudiced, calling Mr. Trump herpes you can't get rid of. Judge: Isn't the Access Hollywood tape a confession?
Trump's lawyer: That's not how they used it. Judge: Your time has expired. We'll take this under advisement
More, including predication, on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
Back on January 29 a very first book was published about the trial and what it might mean:
"Trump Trial II: Punitive Damages and Vow to Appeal: From the SDNY Trial to the 2024 Trail," by Matthew Russell Lee - Ebook here (with audiobook and paperback ).
***
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.
Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com
After SBF Got 25 Years Salame Got 90 Months Now US Files about Thai Prostitutes & China
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 5 – On the US v Sam Bankman-Fried trial, hours after the guilty verdict, a book was published: "Crypto Criminal: The Conviction of Sam Bankman-Fried: As live tweeted and investigated from inside the SDNY courthouse by Matthew Russell Lee," audio/book here.
On March 28, 2024, Inner City Press live tweeted his sentencing, to 25 years.
On May 28 Salame was "sentenced to 90 months."
On August 21, Salame filed that "the Government used the plea negotiations to threaten Salame’s domestic partner and the mother of his child, Michelle Bond." Full filing on Patreon here.
On August 22, after Inner City Press published a curtain raiser on Michelle Bond being presented in SDNY Mag court, this: "the unsealing of an Indictment today charging MICHELLE BOND.
On August 29, Saleme purported to withdraw his motion. Filing on Patreon here.
But Judge Kaplan reiterated that papers and appearance are required. On September 5 the US Attorney's Office opposed, and submitted notes from talks with Salame's lawyers, including "charged FCPA Chinese bribery scheme. You previously said RS was generally aware that an account on a Chinese exchange was frozen and FTX/Alameda made a payment of $50M. We have evidence that RS was involved in efforts to unfreeze the accounts, including by opening crypto accounts to enable self-trading. Our understanding is that he used the PII of people he identified as Thai prostitutes to open the accounts." Document on Patreon here.
More on X for Subscribers here, Substack here
This case is US v. Bond, 24-cr-494 (Daniels)
We'll have more on this.
***
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.
Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com
UN Guterres Slobbers on Belt and Road & Xi Concealing His Link to CEFC China Energy
UN GATE, Sept 5 -- How corrupt is today's UN? Well, SG Antonio Guterres while failing on Gaza and Ukraine is on a junket through Tonga and Timor Leste, on the way to visiting Xi Jinping in China.
On August 16 the UN announced the trip, leaving the China leg for last. Inner City Press remains banned by Guterres from entering to ask, no action on this application to enter.
Now at the FOCAC - Forum on China - Africa Cooperation, Guterres has gushed or slobbered, "as outlined in President Xi’s remarks at last year’s Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation that I had the honor to attend." Cha-ching.
Guterres' office / bagman in China blocks the Press, as does he, after Inner City Press exposed his undisclosed link to convicted UN briber CEFC China Energy.
Earlier when the UN moved against Inner City Press for its coverage, Timor Leste's Jose Ramos Horta which had answered its questions inquired - and was lied to, that some unspecified rule had been broken. But did he follow up? We'll have more on this.
***
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.
Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com
NYS Removal of Kennedy from Ballot Challenged in SDNY Argument
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 4 – After suspending his campaign in ten states and endorsing Donald Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. being restored to the ballot in New York State was argued on September 4 before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Andrew L. Carter. Inner City Press was there, thread:
All rise!
Judge: It seems there is no dispute Mr. Kennedy collected enough signature. But he is challenging the Constitutionality of the other requirement, being taken off the ballot. I'll give counsel time to think about it
Team Kennedy lawyer: When Ohio knocked John Anderson off the ballot, the Supreme Court reversed it.
NYS lawyer: Kennedy has already endorsed another candidate... Voters have an interest in accurate information. Anyway, voters are free to write in, on their ballots, "Kennedy."
Team Kennedy rebuttal: Mr Kennedy is only withdrawing his name in 10 states. He has a path to victory, if there is a contingent election. This case is not moot.
Judge: Defense, why do you argue it's moot if Mr Kennedy were to say he didn't want to win, or doesn't expect to win?
NYS lawyer: He is not trying to win - so no irreparable harm Judge: I'll be right back.
Judge returns and says, "Obviously I'll have to take this under advisement. I'll get a decision out."
Inner City Press is on alert for the decision -
analysis on X for Subscribers here & Substack here
The case is Team Kennedy v. Berger, et al., 24-cv-3897 (Carter)
***
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.
Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com
Man Charged With Tax Lien Bank Fraud Moved to Dismiss Now Denies Superseding Indictment
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 3 – Just before Christmas in 2023 DOJ announced the arrest of JOHN ARTHUR HANRATTY for charges in connection with a fraudulent scheme to steal money from a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”)-insured bank through lines of credit totaling $20 million granted to HANRATTY’s municipal tax lien investment firm. HANRATTY was arrested this morning and is expected to be presented today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the District of Puerto Rico.
Hanratty was released on $2 million bond. A post indictment restraining order was imposed, against transferring any assets. He filed a motion to dismiss, and then the superseding indictment, which prosecutors wrote they "believe addresses the concerns raised in the defendant's motion to dismiss."
Jump cut to September 3, 2024, when Hanratty - not in detention - came in to plead not guilty to a superseding indictment before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo. Inner City Press was there, the only media in the SDNY Mag court.
With retained counsel, Hanratty pleaded not guilty. The next date is October 15 before the assigned District Judge, Lorna G. Schofield.
The case is US v. Hanratty, 24-cr-153 (Schofield / Figueredo)
***
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.
Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com
Slovenia Takes Over UNSC No Answers on Gaza or UN Rapes or Jansa After No UNTV
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
UN GATE, September 3 – Slovenia took over the UN Security Council presidency on September 3, 2024 - while Inner City Press is still banned from the UN, despite its June 19 application.
On August 30, Inner City Press wrote to the Sierra Mission: "This is a timely request that you allow Inner City Press to enter and cover, and/or provide the WebEx pass code(s) to access Slovenia UNSC Presidency press briefing by your Ambassador Samuel Zbogar on September 3, 2024. I have questions to ask on what you will do this month about Gaza and Sudan, DRC and Rwanda, as well as the coups in Gabon and Niger and the conflicts in Ukraine, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Yemen and Libya - and on ongoing cases of sexual abuse and exploitation by UN peacekeepers, and Missions' abuses in NYC, on many of which Inner City Press first reported
Inner City Press asked asked, in writing, about the "role of now convicted (of corruption) and incarcerated ex-PM Janez Jansa in Slovenia currently occupying a UN Security Council seat.
Please note that Inner City Press and I participate in the WebEx briefings of, for example, the IMF: March 31, 2022 and since with new IMF spokesperson Sept 28, 2023:
Slovenia, even about Jansa's role, did not answer; it previous promoted its role in a "press" conference with not even UNTV, so one had to be in. We will not cease.
Watch this site.
Inner City Press on June 19, 2024 again 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. From Sierra Leone and its UN Mission, nothing.
Watch this site.
***
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.
Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com