Thread by @KlasfeldReports

Halkbank proceedings over:

That was Schrödinger’s hearing, with the bank's representatives from King & Spalding saying they were there but they were not.

Attorney Andrew Hruska: "My purpose is to make sure that nothing we do or say can be construed as accepting jurisdiction."

Halkbank wants to be able to attack the proceedings charging them with a record-breaking money laundering scheme in U.S. history, without acknowledging them.

At issue today: Can the bank's attorneys have a "special" appearance allowing them to do so?

Halkbank's team wants to file two motions: challenging jurisdiction and seeking the judge's recusal.

Their attorneys would not confirm that their clients would appear in court even if this were allowed.

Judge Berman called it a "Heads I win, tails you lose" request.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Lockard: "There's certainly an air of gamesmanship here."

"None of us are aware of any legal authority for that prospect," the prosecutor added.

Judge Berman: "Why would any court do that? Why would that make sense?"

Halkbank's attorney Andrew Hruska acknowledged not having any Second Circuit authority allowing such a special appearance.

Little resolution today: The parties are going to submit briefings whether such a request can even be entertained.

Interesting detail: King & Spalding, which has represented the bank for years, briefly registered as an agent for the Turkish foreign ministry in 2017.

The firm's fee for that representation is redacted from FARA records. efile.fara.gov/docs/6501-Exhi…

I don't recall seeing any fee redactions like that anywhere in the FARA database, which would seem to defeat the purpose of a law about disclosure.

Their attorney declined to comment on that after the proceedings.