SDNY COURTHOUSE, March 9 – The US
Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York on
March 9 announced "charges against EMIR BALAT and IBRAHIM
KAYUMI alleging that they attempted to detonate two
explosive devices in the vicinity of Gracie Mansion, and
that they were acting in support of ISIS, a designated
foreign terrorist organization."
Inner City Press went to their presentment in SDNY
and live tweeted:
1:07 pm Balat is lead out where a white prison
jumpsuit, sits next to Essmidi. Then Kayumi is brought out,
similarly clad, and put next to the Federal defender (who,
in the CBP case, has made a motion about improper
prosecutorial comments
1:17 pm All rise! Magistrate Judge Gary Stein: Date
and time of arrest? AUSA: They were arrested Saturday, and
taken into Federal custody this morning at 9 am. Judge
Stein: You have the right to remain silent...
Judge Stein: Mr. Essmidi, you are retained? [That is,
paid] Essmidi: Yes. Judge Stein: Mr. Kayumi on the other
hand is seeking publicly funded representation. I accept
your financial affidavit and appoint the Federal Defenders.
The criminal complaint has 5 counts
Judge: East End Avenue and 88th Street, attempt to provide
personnel - that is, yourselves - to ISIS, and bringing
explosive from out of state to throw into a crowd. Mr.
Essmidi, have you and your client read it? Yes. FD: Yes.
[Two more AUSAs have walked in] AUSA: We seek detention of
both defendants. Judge: Mr. Essmidi? Essmidi: We
postpone our bail application and consent (to detention) FD:
We as well.
Then Inner City Press ran to One Police Plaza for
the press conference, was admitted into the orange cube of a
building, to the second floor - then was told to leave, the
event had already begun and it would not be admitted.
Covering both the presentment and the press conference was
apparently discouraged. Complaint on Patreon
here.
More analysis on X for Subscribers here
and Substack here
The case is US v. Balat, et al., 1:26-mj-701 (Gary
Stein)
