Thread by @innercitypress

OK - now Iran "professor" Afrasiabi, charged will illegal lobbying for, and undisclosed payments from, Iran's Mission to the UN, has a proceeding in the EDNY Court. Inner City Press has reported on the case innercitypress.com/edny5iranmissi… and will live tweet, thread below

EDNY District Judge Edward R. Korman is strongly advising Afrasiabi to *not* represent himself.
Judge: I'm not sure you have any experience with juries in this district. I had a murder case where affluent defendant hired his own jury consultant to advise his lawyer

Judge Korman: You have to develop a theory of the case, for an opening statement. Then you'd have to cross examine the witnesses against you, on the charge you were an unregistered agent of a foreign power. You'd need an experienced lawyer

Judge Korman: The Foreign Agent Registration Act is not a run of the mill statute, not similar to most cases in this District. The Supreme Court requires that you be fully apprised of what he or she is doing, without a lawyer. You don't have to tell me today

Judge Korman: Did you understand what I've said? I can't hear you.
Afrasiabi: Your Honor, I want to express my utmost gratitude. I assure you I am in my full cognitive capacity in making the decision to represent myself in this case.

Afrasiabi: I feel I should be in total candor with this court. My first reason is I am a political scientist, a veteran litigator (?). I have cross examined witnesses in a civil conspiracy case, and filed thousands of motions.

Afrasiabi: I have prevailed without a lawyer. My record against the government is four to zero. Now it will be five zero. I have been tarnished to the public. I write peer reviewed articles. On Google, it just says I am arrested. I must retrieve my name

Afrasiabi: I had a part time consulting role with Iran, yes. My legacy is important to me. I know the law. Shakespeare said, There's no better sign of a brave mind than a hard hand.
Judge Korman: You might be better off with a lawyer.

Afrasiabi: I am aware of all the risks - the main risk is the humiliation of the prosecutors. I am battle hardened in the Federal courts. I will conduct myself with honor.
Judge Korman: You don't want to think about it?
Afrasiabi: There is no necessity for that.

AUSA: He will be expected to comply with the Classified Information Procedures Act.
Judge Korman: I don't have any idea how that would come into play here. But you'll have to comply with it.
Afrasiabi: Yes, of course. I only request equal justice.

Afrasiabi: I only want the same privileges as other lawyers, to valiantly defend myself.
Judge Korman: You may have the privilege but not know how to use it. But you are doing so knowingly, you may represent yourself.

Now the question of Afriasiabi's conditions of release. He can only leave his house four hours a week.
Afrasiabi, it emerges, speaks Spanish: "Yo pienso, yo tengo the same concerns."
There'll be a pause in the proceeding. Thread will continue.

Afrasiabi is back. He pleads not guilty.
AUSA: His conditions of release as the result of negotiation with his then retained counsel. To assure his appearance. There is a risk of flight.

AUSA: This is more than a regulatory offense. He is charged with secretly working for the Iranian government for 15 years. He deceived editors and news media personalities. He did it for money.

AUSA: The Iranian government has condemned this prosecution, called him a hostage. The Iranian government does not want him detained. He dealt with the Permanent Representative to the United Nations
[Inner City Press has asked @antonioguterres & @UN_Spokesperson]

AUSA: Afrasiabi could just walk into the Iranian Mission to the UN, which is diplomatic property.
[It's on Third Ave near 40th Street. Inner City Press before ouster from UN by @antonioguterres went there for a press conference, watched journos eat out of hands

AUSA: He has emailed that he is a victim of human rights violations here. He owns no significant property here. His main employment has been with the Iranian Mission to the UN. Those who live in his house didn't sign the bond for him.

AUSA: He is an alien, under FARA he is subject to removal by law. Moreover, it is unlikely he will continue to get paid by the Iranian Mission or anyone else. He was a paid agent of Iran.

AUSA: Afrisiabi has had multiple arrests for harassment in Cambridge, Massachusetts. We've reviewed the police reports. He commences frivolous civil actions against witnesses against him. This is not your typical defendant. His employer can help him flee.

Afrasiabi's stand-by / shadow counsel: He was paid by the Iranian Mission to the UN, by check, for 15 years.
[UN Federal Credit Union was involved, but @UN_Spokesperson @StephDujarric, @MelissaFleming and @antonioguterres have refused to answer]

Afrasiabi's stand-by / shadow counsel: He can't go to the library, he would have to have your Honor's permission to celebrate any holiday away from home.
Judge Korman: I could add conditions... I don't see how a person of his age should be wandering around Boston.

Afrasiabi: I have an academic book contract. I need to do bookstore research. I graduated Thayer Academy, I worked at Harvard. I wrote a book about the United Nations [!]

Afrasiabi: I have complained to the UN Human Rights Council... I am defending the honor of others here. My part time consulting role for the UN... Iran ... what impact did it have? I urged the UN Secretary General [!]

Afrasiabi: I went on TV, I tried to free Mr. Levinson... I will deliver a humiliating defeat to the prosecution.
Judge Korman: OK, he wants to leave his house to go to the library. I will allow that.
Shadow: Widener Library is open until 10.

Afrasiabi's shadow counsel: How about he can go out for research activities?
Judge Korman: Libraries or bookstores. There is, of course, Amazon. I think we're finished for today.
[Will ask UN again]
Story soon on InnerCityPress.com and patreon.com/MatthewRussell…

But wait there's more: Afrasiabi suggested April 14 for next date. But Judge Korman will be sitting on the 9th Circuit then. So, April 21. Inner City Press will stay on thie case, and keep asking the UN despite... human rights violations? pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/…