NEWS: Stan Woodward, appearing late to a sentencing in a Jan. 6 case, says he was delayed because special counsel Smith team started asking his client (believed to be Trump aid Will Russell) questions that infringe on executive privilege.
Judge MCFADDEN, who ordered Woodward to explain his belated appearance, said he absolved the attorney of anything improper and was upset with prosecutors who had assured him they would not let the grand jury matter interfere with the sentences set for 2pm today
“Talking about obstructions of official proceedings,” McFadden said sharply. “The government has not acted as I required.”
NOTABLE: Woodward was reluctant to reveal this in open court. McFadden asked him if that was due to grand jury secrecy rules. And Woodward said yes.
McFadden then said he would absolve Woodward of any secrecy requirements so he could explain his belated appearance.
MORE: McFadden has sent a court officer to summon special counsel prosecutors from the grand jury room to his court. (h/t @ryanjreilly)
Lot of bewildered people in this building at the moment.
BTW, this is all happening during the sentencing of Freddie KLEIN, a former state department official who spent a long time in the Lower West Terrace tunnel on Jan. 6.
UPDATE: Thomas WINDOM, prosecutor on Smith’s team, is heading to McFadden’s courtroom.
ANOTHER UPDATE: McFadden is calmly reading his lengthy verdict for Klein and a codefendant while Smith’s prosecutors wait in the front row.
Two tweets above incorrectly described McFadden’s proceeding as a “sentencing.” It’s actually a verdict in a bench trial that occurred last week.
IT’S OVER: Judge McFadden called up Windom for a sealed 6-7 minute bench conference. Windom talked a lot, McFadden talked a lot. Then Windom and one other official left and returned to the grand jury room.
NEW: Bizarre moment at the courthouse today when an irate Judge McFadden ordered special counsel Smith’s prosecutors to leave the grand jury and come into his courtroom to explain why they made Stan Woodward 25 minutes late to a Jan. 6 verdict.
politico.com/news/2023/07/2…
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