Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Monday, April 28, 2025
Saturday, April 26, 2025
Friday, April 25, 2025
As Luigi Mangione Arraigned for Killing UnitedHealth CEO He Wants SDNY Case First
by Matthew Russell Lee, Substack Book Patreon
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 25 – 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 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.
On April 24 the US filed "NOTICE OF INTENT TO SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY" - here.
On April 25 Inner City Press live tweeted the arraignment, including Karen Friedman Agnifilo saying the defense will move to have the Federal case go first - and that a telephone call between her and Mangione was inappropriately monitored. Thread.
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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by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 25 – 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
On April 25 Judge Subramanian held another pre-trial conference, ruling out expert testimony on coercive control, thread. The AUSA asked for Combs to be allocuted on plea offer(s) - it will happen on May 1.
More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
The case is USA v. Combs, 1:24-cr-542 (Subramanian)
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Bob Menendez Got 11 Years Now After Nadine Guilty His Bid for Bail Pending Appeal Denied
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 25 – 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 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.
On April 21 Nadine Menendez was found guilty; sentencing was set for June 12 with her lawyer implying he will be asking for delay, presumably on health grounds.
On April 22 Bob Menendez wrote in asking for a ruling on his motion for bail pending appeal, "so that, if it is not in his favor, he has time to brief and argue an appeal of that decision before the Second Circuit in advance of his surrender date. Given the 45 days remaining before his surrender, that time is running dangerously short" - filing on Patreon here.
On April 23 Hana through counsel echoed the request, and asked that his surrender date be pushed from May 19 to July 3.
On April 24 Judge Stein denied Hana's request: "as to Wael Hana. adjournment of surrender date: Application denied.(Signed by Judge Sidney H. Stein on 4/24/2025)."
And on April 25 Judge Stein denied bail pending appeal: "OPINION & ORDER as to Robert Menendez, Wael Hana, Fred Daibes re: [719] MOTION for Bond Release Pending Appeal filed by Robert Menendez, [745] MOTION for Bond Release Pending Appeal filed by Fred Daibes, [743] MOTION for Bond Release Pending Appeal filed by Wael Hana. Accordingly, defendants have failed to meet their burden and their motions for release pending appeal pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3143(b) are denied" - order here.
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For 2008 Kidnapping of Journo Najibullah Cited 3rd Geneva Convention now Pleads Guilty
By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 25 – Haji Najibullah was arraigned in November 2020 on charges of having kidnapped and held hostage American journalist David Rohde from November 10, 2008 to July 2009 in Afghanistan, demanding the release of Taliban prisoners and money from Rohde's family.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Katherine Polk Failla held the arraignment. Inner City Press covered it.
Najibullah had been captured in Ukraine, and presented before SDNY Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang on October 28, 2020. He was assigned a Federal Defender, Mark Gombiner; he was been informed of his rights of the Due Process Protections Act.
Jump cut nearly a year later on October 15, 2021, when Najibullah and Gombiner appeared again before Judge Failla. Inner City Press again covered it. Judge Failla admonished Gombiner not to give speeches for the media. But he argued about the absurdity of a country bombing another, then calling the fight-back a crime. He also questioned how the US gave only 200 documents under discovery.
Judge Failla said she envisioned a defense motion to compel and a CIPA motion from the US, and urged that the parties confer.
Jump cut all the way to April 10, 2024, when Judge Failla held a conference in advance of an April 18 hearing that, it seems, will be partially sealed. In the interim, Judge Jesse M. Furman has granted in large part Inner City Press' motions to unseal CIPA hearing transcripts. Why not here? Thread:
Federal Defender: We'll have an interpreter in court Judge:
AUSA Robles, if Mr. Najibullah testifies, can he use his own interpreter? AUSA: I don't object to that Judge: An interpreter may also testify. AUSA: We have clearer our day for this Judge: You and me both
Judge: Are you still pursuing the specialty arguments? Federal Defender: Yes. We had moved for evidentiary hearings on that, and also the law of armed conflict. Judge: Who might I be hearing testimony from on the combatant issue? Federal Defender: Expert witnesses
Judge: I don't know if I want a hearing on that. I take note that's what you are offering. Anything else? Federal Defender 2: We also have Miranda waiver issues
Judge: Yes, Agent Wyka [apparently Joint Terrorism TF Officer James Wyka] will address that
Federal Defender 1: Once the litigation around our CIPA 5 motion is resolved, we'll put in a schedule for Rule 15 motion practice. Also, there will be the May 6 CIPA hearing.
Judge: You are of course mindful of other classified cases you have before me
AUSA: Courtroom 24B, that's a classified courtroom, is that right? Judge: No. But there are rooms adjacent to the courtroom we could use. AUSA: I don't expect Wyka implicating classified courtroom. But you've seen the rest. Judge: We could use the jury room
Judge: I'm told that 24B is the Marshals' preferred way to move Mr. Najibullah in and out of the holding cell. We are adjourned.
On April 17, on the eve of the partially sealed hearing, the US Attorney's Office submitted four exhibits - three it asked to seal, and the other (a France 24 video in which Najibullah identified as "Abu Tayeb" speaks of suicide bombing and holy war.
On June 27, a proceeding that Inner City Press live tweeted, here
now SDNY proceeding in US v. Haji Najibullah, Judge Failla will be issuing an oral decision (Najibullah not present due to MDC Brooklyn snafu)
Federal Defenders: We waive Mr. Najibullah's appearance due to BOP's inability to produce him. Judge Failla: We have an interpreter on stand-by. You are willing to go forward? FD: Yes.
Judge: I find that I have jurisdiction, despite the prisoner of war issues
Judge Failla: I reject the defense's arguments under the Third Geneva Convention (GPW), and under the political questions doctrine, and AR 190-8. My jurisdiction is not curtailed.
Judge Failla: I call for a hearing, then. I am reluctant to cede authority on this to the Executive Branch. It would be great if the parties could agree on written materials, without need for a witness. Get back to me. I have a three week civil trial in July
Judge Failla: The trial date in US v. Najibullah may have to move. I'd like a joint letter by July 8. Federal Defender: We could do this in August.
On July 10, Judge Failla endorsed that the hearing will take place on August 7 at 10 am.
On July 11, Federal Defenders asked to delay the trial
Jump cut to April 25, 2025, when Najibullah pled guilty "to hostage taking and providing material support for acts of terrorism resulting in death in connection with NAJIBULLAH’s role in the hostage taking of an American journalist and two Afghan nationals in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2008 and 2009, and his leadership of Taliban fighters who carried out attacks on U.S. servicemembers in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2009, resulting in the deaths of American soldiers."
The case is US v. Najibullah, 14-cr-401 (Failla)
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UNRWA Is Not Immune US Tells Judge In SDNY Case for UN Aid to Hamas Oct 7 Attacks
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 24 - 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 February 18, the (new) SDNY wrote in, "The Government is currently reviewing the views." 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.
On April 24 the Administration wrote in that it "has since reevaluated that position, and now concludes UNRWA is not immune from this litigation. Nor are the bulk of other defendants" - 10 page filing on DocumentCloud here.
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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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
Bob Menendez Got 11 Years Now After Nadine Guilty His Bid for Bail Pending Appeal Denied
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 25 – 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 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.
On April 21 Nadine Menendez was found guilty; sentencing was set for June 12 with her lawyer implying he will be asking for delay, presumably on health grounds.
On April 22 Bob Menendez wrote in asking for a ruling on his motion for bail pending appeal, "so that, if it is not in his favor, he has time to brief and argue an appeal of that decision before the Second Circuit in advance of his surrender date. Given the 45 days remaining before his surrender, that time is running dangerously short" - filing on Patreon here.
On April 23 Hana through counsel echoed the request, and asked that his surrender date be pushed from May 19 to July 3.
On April 24 Judge Stein denied Hana's request: "as to Wael Hana. adjournment of surrender date: Application denied.(Signed by Judge Sidney H. Stein on 4/24/2025)."
And on April 25 Judge Stein denied bail pending appeal: "OPINION & ORDER as to Robert Menendez, Wael Hana, Fred Daibes re: [719] MOTION for Bond Release Pending Appeal filed by Robert Menendez, [745] MOTION for Bond Release Pending Appeal filed by Fred Daibes, [743] MOTION for Bond Release Pending Appeal filed by Wael Hana. Accordingly, defendants have failed to meet their burden and their motions for release pending appeal pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3143(b) are denied" - order here.
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Harvey Weinstein Retrial Has Entin Telling Miriam Haley Sounds Like Rape Over Objection
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
100 CENTRE STREET, April 24 – The retrial of Harvey Weinstein in New York State court began on April 23; Inner City Press was in the courtroom and live tweeted it, thread here.
The first witness was former Miramax assistant Stefan Sterns, who testified he dropped Weinstein at the Mercer Hotel to meet Mirian Haley, one of the victims in the case.
Sterns testified about a silver suitcase that always accompanied Weinstein, without saying - or being directly asked - what was in it.
Weinstein was bought in from Bellevue Hospital in a wheelchair. Many jurors spent the afternoon looking at him and not the witness.
After repeated technological snafus with the exhibits proffered by Weinstein lawyer Jennifer Bonjean on the screens in the courtroom of Justice Curtis Farber, a female witness who had been waiting was said to have to leave. She will or can return in two weeks, the prosecution team of ADA Shannon Lucey said.
On April 24 after a Getty witness, Elizabeth Entin recounted Miriam Haley shaken in 539 Avenue B, advising her to call a lawyer. Weinstein's lawyers objected then bought up health --
More courtroom detail on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
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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