New: At SDNY, where politically sensitive cases and matters with geopolitical importance abound, the threat of political interference raised by the Roger Stone situation has especially high stakes. w/ @KaraScannell
cnn.com/2020/02/15/pol…
cnn.com/2020/02/15/pol…
DOJ leadership has twice in the past two weeks ordered U.S. attorneys offices across the country to participate in what some perceive as political activity, instructing them to publicly support “sanctuary cities” actions & comment on pending legislation cnn.com/2020/02/15/pol…
At SDNY, Barr has tried to micromanage certain cases. U.S. Atty Berman has bristled at Barr’s demands & pushed against Main Justice on sensitive matters, most notably in struggle over whether to indict state-owned Turkish bank Halkbank. Berman got his way.
cnn.com/2020/02/15/pol…
cnn.com/2020/02/15/pol…
New York has already seen three high-profile defendants – Michael Cohen, Michael Avenatti & Lev Parnas – attempt to use perceived political influence at Barr’s DOJ to their advantage in court. They haven’t succeeded, but attorneys fear that may change: cnn.com/2020/02/15/pol…
