Thread by @innercitypress

OK - it's #Iran sanctions trial US v. Ali Sadr Hashemi Nejad, Day 3. Steptoe defense lawyer Reid Weingarten is cross-examining a US witness, asks "it would be illegal to buy a Persian carpet, right?" Inner City Press will live tweet: thread

Judge Nathan (to the lawyer, jurors have been sent out) - Both sides have been guilty of this, but when there are objections, just make them. Yesterday, the government introduced the law. But it cannot contradict what I'm going to tell the jury the law is

Judge Nathan: I must inform you that one of the prospective juror in this case has been contacted by the CDC about #Coronavirus. We will need to clean the courtroom

It is proposed to Judge Nathan that the trial move to Courtroom 110. She says that everything that has been in her courtroom on the 9th floor of 40 Foley Square might also have to be cleansed

Steptoe defense lawyer Reid Weingarten: This has caught me off guard.
Someone else says he only has an hour of cross examination left [!]
Judge Nathan has taken a break to find out more. Watch this thread, or @InnerCityPress generally

Judge Nathan (now in courtroom 110) - Well, now the press knows about this... My immediate proposal is communicating to the jury and I think, just the simple explanation, that someone in the "venire" has been asked to self quarantine and we will be kept apprised

Defense lawyer Reid Weingarten: I think you should tell the jury in the jury room, more intimate.

So what, no pool reporter? @SDNYLIVE

Judge Nathan is back: "I think it went fine with the jurors. They seemed accepting of the information."

Note: Judge Nathan was supposed to hear an appeal of a release of a defendant linked to a loaded gun at 12:45 pm. So now what? Where? innercitypress.com/sdny223fifthfo…

And they're back into it, defense lawyer Reid Weingarten cross-examining US witness:
Weingarten: Bank Saderat, it's a large bank?
Witness: Yes.

Now with jury out again, defense lawyer Brian Heberlig is arguing to keep out evidence about St Kitts & Nevis "citizenship by investment" passports, for sale for $250,000 to $400,000. He says, "May I finish?" and to some it appears aimed at Judge Nathan. Or AUSA?

Judge Nathan says she'll tell jurors only half day tomorrow Friday; US may close its case on Monday, "depending on whether @mdubowitz testifies." Defense says they could begin Monday if they are given notice on Saturday. So, watch the docket - and watch this feed