SDNY COURTHOUSE, June 24 – A
defendant charged with terrorist attacks in Rotterdam, The
Netherlands and elsewhere was presented on May 15 in the
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Inner City Press was there and live tweeted it (link to
Sealed Complaint here
and below) OK -
Now presentment of MOHAMMAD BAQER SAAD
DAWOOD AL-SAADI, subject of 29 page complaint complete
with a quote about Mexico [!] and many photos with
Soleimani.
Federal Defender Andrew Dalack going in and
out of the holding cell. Al-Saadi may have to fill out the
CJA financial affidavit to get appointed counsel.
1:15 pm All rise! Deputy: This is US v.
Al-Saadi. Defense: Andrew Dalack for Mr. Al-Saadi. Judge:
I am Judge Sarah Netburn [Chief Magistrate Judge]. Date
and time of arrest? AUSA: He arrived in SDNY last night at
11 pm
Judge Netburn: You are charged with
Conspiracy to Provide Material Support to a Foreign
Terrorist Organization, for Acts of Terrorism, to Bomb a
Place of Public Use, Material Support for Acts of
Terrorism and Destruction of Property by Means of Fire or
Explosive
FD Dalack: Mr. Al-Saadi wants to be treated
as a prisoner of war, for his support of Soleimani. Judge:
Noted. I understand he consents to detention? Dalack: He
was detained in Turkey which passed him along to the US.
I'm not aware of any extradition proceeding
Judge: I assume you'll get that information
in due course. Preliminary hearing? Dalack: 14 days. [They
may indict him before them] Dalack: This is an unusual
case, we'd like discovery before indictment, about
apprehension in Turkey and transport to the US AUSA:
We'll consult. Judge: I could stay involved, even though
the case is not assigned. Dalack: If they agree to
pre-indictment discovery, we'd consider a protective
order.
Judge: I'm available to assist. Dalack: He
does not want solitary, he wants to call home
Dalack: Absent some evidentiary showing that his continued
detention in this situation... we may cmoe back to the
court. Al-Saadi gesticulates Dalack: He is a prisoner of
war Judge: The record's been made. Adjourned
We put the complaint while still sealed on
Patreon here
On June 1 he appeared before the assigned
District Judge Coleen McMahon. Inner City Press attended,
and live tweeted here.
It emerged that he may be an Iraqi government employee -
possible immunity claim - and that DOJ may be seeking
Special Administrative Measures as on Joshua Schulte and
Somalia's Cholo.
Afterward the Press spoke with four
attendees, one in a T-shirt saying Proud Zionist. Inner
City Press asked Glenn Richter about the UN's claim of
immunity for its UNRWA staffers' role in the October 7
attacks.
On July 22 the Federal Defenders wrote in
that their client was unable to timely receive two Arabic
language books due to the SAMs, and that it is "giving Mr.
Al-Saadi the misimpression that he would be better off
without any counsel at all."
On July 24 the US Attorney's Office replied
that the books were supposed to be delivered by mail, not
by hand, but nevertheless would be delivered.
Expect a motion against the SAMs to be
filed before the next conference on September 9.
More on X for Subscribers here
and Substack here
The case is now USA v. Al-Saadi,
1:26-cr-220 (McMahon)
