Thursday, April 24, 2025
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Monday, April 21, 2025
Sunday, April 20, 2025
Saturday, April 19, 2025
Friday, April 18, 2025
Delay Denied In Sean Combs Case As Experts Mulled and Some Anonymity Upheld
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 16 – At 4:30 pm on September 16 Inner City Press was told by its SDNY source to expect "the big one" - Sean Combs - the next day in the courtroom here.
At US Attorney Damian Williams' press conference Inner City Press asked if his office would be seeking detention - Yes, he said. Detention memo on Patreon here.
[Inner City Press published book / audio book Diddy Do It? on Sept 20 on Amazon here]
On April 7 Combs moved to exclude evidence, Redacted Memo on Patreon here
On April 8 Warner Brothers filed a motion to quash Combs' subpoena about "The Fall of Diddy," memo of law on Patreon here
On April 9 the US Attorney's Office joined the motion, on Patreon here
On April 14, on less than a day's public notice, Combs was arraigned on the superseding indictment. Thread. His lawyers floated the idea of a two week adjournment.
Extra/analysis on X for Subscribers here & Substack here
On April 16, a still redacted copy of Combs' sealed April 14 letter was docketed, about the Victim-4 communications the defense wants, letter on Patreon here
On April 18, Combs' motion to delay the trial was denied and some anonymity was upheld, thread
The case is USA v. Combs, 1:24-cr-542 (Subramanian)
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Bob Menendez Got 11 Years now Nadine Jury Ends Friday Without Verdict US Calls Case Sad
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 18 – 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, now facing trial alone. This scoop was true.
Later a superseder was unveiled, including charges of bribes to act for Qatar.
On January 10 Menendez filed a motion to dismiss, on Patreon here
On February 1, Judge Stein granted some unsealing - including of some of the material in the vault which Inner City Press requested. Order here.
Jump cut: Menendez et al were convicted; Inner City Press published a book, here.
Inner City Press live tweeted on January 29 as Daibes got eight years, Hana 97 months - and Bob Menendez 11 years, after which he told the press that "Trump was right" about political witch hunt
Early on April 10 Nadine Menendez' lawyer wrote in that the US Attorney's Office is opposing the introduction of evidence it allowed in Bob Menendez's trial, and other issues - letter on Patreon here
In the April 10 trial day, former US Attorney for the District of New Jersey Philip Sellinger testified about being recused from the Daibes case and then Bob Menendez skipping his investiture in Trenton. Thread.
On April 11 Menendez' former staffer Soliman testified, about Signal and the Biden White House's priorities, pulling the plug on Sellinger, thread. Things are coming to a close...
On April 15, for the closings on April 17, Judge Stein held the charge conference, and quashed Nadine Menendez' subpoena for Jose Uribe's lawyer. He said the jury will only begin deliberating on Friday. Thread here
On April 17 after the Government's closing Nadine's lawyer Coburn took a different approach in reasonable doubt-land, saying there was no quid pro quo with Grewal and citing and even pantomiming Uribe's small bell. Thread.
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On Discover Merger Federal Reserve Ex Parte Met Capital One so Good Friday Rubber Stamp
SOUTH BRONX, April 18 – Before Capital One announced and applied to buy Discover, they and their law firm were allowed to meet secretly with the Federal Reserve.
After they applied late March 20, Inner City Press submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the Fed. While they granted expedited treatment, they delayed nearly a near before on March 4 dumping over 1000 redacted pages.
These begin with ex parte meetings between the bank, its law firm and the Fed - telephone calls in February 2024, and a meeting inside the Fed on March 7, 2024 (the Fed waited until March 4, 2025 to disclose this). 1000 page on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here. 200+ more pages here. FOIA determination letter here
Inner City Press immediately appealed. More than a month later, and apparently preparing its rubber stamp, the Federal Reserve upheld its own withholding in full and denied the appeal, letter here
- teeing up the April 18 approval, with Discovery consent order as fig leaf.
The fix was in: on March 3, days after the CFPB dropped its lawsuit against Capital One, the OCC suddenly declared Capital One "Outstanding" under the Community Reinvestment Act. Who's in the OCC's and Fed's wallet, now?
Back on July 26, after a FOIA appeal - and after closing the public comment period - the OCC belatedly gave Inner City Press documents showing Capital One briefed the OCC on a "big" deal in November 2023; it was code named "Project Sirius."
Then overly chummy texts from Andy Navarrete, who testified at the public meeting, and Pient Tran to the OCC's Marci Heppner and others.
For example, Andy to Marci, sorry for the late ping, if Richard wanted to call, could you do a 1:1 Zoom at 7:30 [pm]. But of course. That and more on the OCC on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here.
Then FOIA appeal denial and Good Friday rubber stamp.
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UN Sexual Stalker in HQ and in Sudans Where UN Ambassador From Juba Fled With Immunity
By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
SDNY / UN GATE, April 17 –Whistleblowers continue to reach out to Inner City Press, while SG Antonio Guterres refuses all questions and bans the Press. Here's one:
Dear Matthew Russell Lee: We are a group of women working at UNDSS and are concerned about a serial stalker and drug addict a national of the Democratic Republic of the Congo who works at the UN Secretariat and is a former UN peacekeeper with MINUSMA. Please do something about this because nobody is listening to us if we report this we will loose our posts. He is a sexual pervert and stalker. He is a groper who gropes women in public and elevators at the UN secretariat and when they refuse his advances. OIOS has been made aware of this on several occasions and nobody has take action till now. This man has even followed one colleague to her place of worship to intimidate her for sexual favors and has lashed insults. If this is reported it creates an environment where the women get blamed. This is a predator alert. Thank you." We have the name and are asking, on deadline.
Also: After a UN Ambassador from South Sudan raped a woman in upper Manhattan then was released, citing his UN diplomatic immunity, Inner City Press at noon on August 23, 2022 asked UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming for
"UN comment on South Sudan dip evading rape charge (mis)using diplomatic immunity? He followed victim into her Manhattan apartment about noon, and then raped her twice. #NoonBriefing."
A full day later, no answer at all. Other media asked the South Sudan Mission (Inner City Press published a list of its UN Ambassador here, including the rapist Charles Dickens Imene Oliha).
Guterres' head of communication or propaganda Melissa Fleming has not answered a letter from pro bono law firm Quinn Emanuel seeking re-admission of Inner City Press to cover it, and this. Watch this site.
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UNRWA Moved to Dismiss Case for UN Aid to Hamas Oct 7 Attacks Now US Asks for 1 Week
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 17 - For the UN's role in Hamas' October 7 attacks, non-US citizen plaintiffs and estates on June 24 filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, Pierre Krahenbuhl, Filippo Grandi, Leni Stenseth, Sandra Mitchel, Margot Ellis and Greta Gunnarsdottir.
The individual plaintiffs are sued for, inter alia, their "constant travel to New York" to raise and get money and "their material support of Hamas' terror infrastructure." Also cited, for jurisdiction and venue, is "over one billion dollars from UNRWA's New York bank account in Manhattan that Defendants then caused to be delivered to Gaza in cash U.S. dollars to benefit Hamas."
Inner City Press, which daily cover the SDNY court in-person and the UN from outside the gate, banned from entry by SG Antonio Guterres, asked Guterres' spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming about the lawsuit, without any response per usual.
Nor have they responded to Inner City Press' June 19 application to enter the UN to ask these questions.
On November 14, after the election, UNRWA used public money to hire Curtis, Mallet-Provest. On December 16 they filed a 38 page memo now on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here
On January 21, 2025, hours after UNRWA's actions on October 7, 2023 were repeatedly raised to Elise Stefanik in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, UNRWA's and Guterres' lawyers, with taxpayer funds, filed a reply that "the U.S. has taken the position that Defendants qualify for immunity. Dkt. No. 17. Nothing more is needed." Reply memo on DocumentCloud here. Will that remain the US' position?
No. On February 18, the (new) SDNY wrote in, "The Government is currently reviewing the views expressed in the July 30 and October 18, 2024 letters. For that reason, the Government respectfully requests that the Court defer taking any action concerning the immunities of the defendants until the Government has had time to complete this review. The Government respectfully requests the Court’s leave to provide an update in sixty days, by April 21, 2025, regarding its review process." Letter on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here
On April 17 DOJ wrote in asking for one more week to finalize. Inner City Press, still banned from the UN by Antonio Guterres, tweeted it.
The UNRWA case is ESTATE OF TAMAR KEDEM SIMAN TOV, BY HEIR-AT-LAW GAD KEDEM v. UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY (UNRWA) et al., 24-cv-04765 (Torres)
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After Mixed Verdict on Drill Rapper Kay Flock US Opposes Motion to Acquit Doubt Like Book
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 17 – Two days after the mixed jury verdict in US v. Kevin Perez, the Bronx-based drill rapper known as Kay Flock, a book was published about the trial, "Courthouse Rap." On Amazon here.
Two weeks later, Kay Flock's lawyer filed a motion for acquittal, including arguing that "The individual in the 4646 Park Avenue Surveillance footage wearing a blue jacket was not Mr. Perez; The assailant in the RPT shooting was the individual wearing a blue jacket in the [4]6[4]6 Park Avenue surveillance footage; There is no evidence in the record, however, which would lead a rational juror to reasonably infer that Defendant brandished or discharged a firearm in connection with the RPT Shooting." Full filing on Patreon here.
On April 17, the US Attorney's Office opposed the motion: " The Court properly instructed the jury on those theories, and the evidence overwhelmingly supported Perez’s guilt on both counts. Accordingly, the Motion should be denied" - full US filing here.
For now, the book compares this 2025 trial to the previous trial involving Tekashi 6ix9ine as a cooperating witness, before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Paul A. Engelmayer. Inner City Press covered both cases, as it is covering that of Sean Combs and others. The book begins:
In outlaw music there is always the question of authenticity. Daniel Hernandez became Tekashi 6ix9ine and hooked up with the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods to shoot a video. Then he became their cash cow, and some of them became his muscle, shoot-out in a Barclay's Center hallway.
They turned on Tekashi and he became a cooperator against them, returning to SDNY on violations of supervised release then back out on the concert tour. [And now back in SDNY later in April]
For drill rapper Kay Flock it was different. He really was from Sev Side, 187th Street. He wasn't an appendage to his group: he was central to it. When with seven he was indicted, he did not cooperate. He took it to trial.
Inner City Press covered both cases. While the Tekashi 6ix9ine trial was covered by other journalists, there was only one media in the courtroom for US versus Kay Flock, born as Kevin Perez. His mother came each day, and three dozen supporters from the neighborhood.
The author [Matthew Russell Lee] knows, or knew, the neighborhood well, having lived there for years: first car on Beaumont Avenue, first storefront on Courtlandt then Washington Avenues. Now after a stint at the UN ending in UN gangsters ousting, covering the SDNY courthouse for these trials. This book starts with the just-completed Kay Flock trial, then compares it to Tekashi 6ix9ine. Should music be on trial? Should authenticity?
Book and audiobook on Amazon here
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Luigi Mangione Federally Indicted for Killing UnitedHealth CEO With Special Findings
by Matthew Russell Lee, Substack Book Patreon
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 17 – Luigi Mangione was presented in Federal court on December 19 on four charges, one of them death penalty eligible, for the killing of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson. Inner City Press was there, covering the case toward a book.
On February 4, death penalty qualified (learned) counsel was appointed for Mangione in SDNY, endorsed letter on Patreon here
On April 1 DOJ announced it will seek the death penalty against Mangione.
In the interim, after some push back, Inner City Press published a book Luigi Mangione Lone Wolf here, audiobook here.
On April 15 the US responded to Mangione's anti-death penalty filing with a ripeness argument: "The defendant has identified no authority for the notion that it can prevent the Government from seeking capital punishment before indictment." Full filing on Patreon here
On April 16 Mangione's lawyers wrote in about the Court's authority, noting the deadline
"to indict or conduct a preliminary hearing expire this Friday, April 18, 2025." 4-page filing on Patreon here.
On April 17, Inner City Press vlogged in the morning to expect something - and past 5 pm the SDNY prosecutors docketed an indictment of Mangione, with "Special Findings Regarding the Murder of Brian Thompson" - here.
The Federal case is US v. Mangione, 1:25-cr-176 (Garnett)
More / extra on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
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Bronx District Leader Nicole Torres Pleads Down to Selling Poll Worker Jobs for 70 Months
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY EXCLUSIVE, April 17 – A Republican District Leader in the 81st Assembly District in The Bronx has been indicted for accepting bribes to give out poll worker jobs, as an employee of the Board of Elections.
On August 27 at 2 pm, Nicole Torres was brought by U.S. Marshals before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron. Inner City Press was there, the only media in the SDNY Mag court.
The Assistant US Attorney agreed to release on unsecured $50,000 bond, with a next conference before District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil set for September 10 at 3 pm. The now unsealed indictment alleged that Torres "illegally demanded payments from Bronx residents to herself and a local organization in exchange for selecting individuals as poll workers." Full indictment on Patreon here
On September 10, Torres was arraigned by Judge Vyskocil in a nearly empty courtroom. Inner City Press was there, thread
On December 9 the US Attorney's Office wrote in to cancel the December 17 appearance.
And on March 13 the US Attorney's Office submitted a joint letter to schedule a guilty plea proceeding for April 16.
Inner City Press went, thread
Judge: Are there victims in this case, and if so have they been notified? AUSA: Yes and yes. [A person emailed Inner City Press that he intends to try to speak at this hearing, we'll see]
Judge: Do you take any drugs or medications? Nicole Torres: Medical marijuana, twice a day. Judge: For anxiety? Torres: And pain. Judge: Do you wish to change your plea to guilty? Torres: I do.
Judge: You were charged in seven counts, but I understand the Government has you pleading guilty only to Counts 1 and 5, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, 18 USC 1341. And they have agreed to a sentencing guideline of 70 to 87 months
Sentencing was set for July 8.
More on X for Subscribers here and on Substack here
The case is USA v. Torres, 1:24-cr-499 (Vyskocil / Aaron)
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Forfeiture After Chinese Consulate Sought to Visit Fentanyl Duo in Hubei Biotech Case
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 16 – The day after fentanyl and China were denounced by all eight GOP candidates in their debate in Milwaukee, two defendants were brought shackled into a federal courtroom in New York, charged with conspiracy to important at least 200 kilograms of fentanyl precursors. Inner City Press was there.
Qingzhou Wang had recently changed lawyers, from a free Federal Defender to retained counsel Daniel Arshack.
Citing the change of counsel, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Paul G. Gardephe set another court date in the future, October 24 at 10 am.
The Assistant US Attorney described trying to brute-force crack the defendants' cell phones, two each.
Also charged in the case is the company Hubei Amarvel Biotech Co. LTD, which is unrepresented in the docket like a Last Name Unknown co-defendant also known as Er Yang or Anita.
Back on June 28 , counsel to co-defendant Yiyi Chen asked Judge Gardephe, "I've spoken to representatives of the Chinese Consulate. They're here in court today. They'd like to know if they can have a brief non-contact visit with Ms. Chen and the co-defendant if it's okay with the Court and the marshals."
On September 5, now Yiyi Cheng brought in as retained counsel Shaoming Cheng (whose only SDNY case this is).
On October 12, counsel to Qingzhou Wang wrote to Judge Gardephe complaining about the government's delay in providing funds for translations to Mandarin (initially justified by the possible government shutdown). Counsel remains "available" on October 24, though.
On October 24, Inner City Press was on the 7th floor of 40 Foley Square when the two defendants would brought up by elevator, in MDC tan, by Marshals. Afterward, "Status Conference as to Qingzhou Wang held .
On July 25, Judge Gardephe held a status conference and Inner City Press went, thread
On November 18, Judge Gardephe denied severance and heard of discovery and health issues. Inner City Press was there, from the thread
Judge: I deny Wang's motion to sever. Trial is set for Jan 13.
On January 14 Inner City Press went; jury selection continued, with the legal question eliciting "yes" answers from a Westchester defense attorney and former prosecutor. Wang had written in to the judge in Chinese (docketed); the US put in the docket exhibits from Google Ads, rejecting an ad for fentanyl.
On January 15, Yiyi Chen requested, and Judge Gardephe granted, the right for the defendant to have her discovery laptop in Courtroom 105 during trial.
On January 17, Inner City Press was there amid testimony about a meeting on meth and fentanyl, thread:
AUSA: What were you buying from them? Witness: Fentanyl. Also chemicals for meth. AUSA: Please play the video 502 [mostly audio, of witness talk drug shop with the defendants]
After a break, more audio played for jury. Chen: We can ship it to Mexico, but it has to go through America Rodriguez: Mr Wang is the boss, right? Chen: There is another boss in Japan
AUSA: Did you end up meeting this other boss, during the meeting in Bangkok? Rodriguez: Yes, by Facetime.
Jump cut to January 29, when the US proposed to Judge Gardephe to add more to his answer to the jury question, Does supplying chemical constitute manufacturing?" Judge Gardephe denied the US motion to supplement his answer.
On January 30, a mixed verdict: "JURY VERDICT as to Qingzhou Wang (2) Guilty on Count 2s and Yiyi Chen (3) Guilty on Count 2s. Qingzhou Wang (2) Not Guilty on Count 1s and Yiyi Chen (3) Not Guilty on Count 1s." They will be sentenced in May and June - and they remain in detention...
On April 16 the US Attorney's Office wrote in asking for forfeiture of $67,168.25 from Wang, and two domain names from Chen.
The case is USA v. Hubei Amarvel Biotech Co. LTD, et al., 1:23-cr-302 (Gardephe)
More details on Substack here
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