Thread by @innercitypress

OK - now detention hearing in United Arab Emirates lobbying prosecution of Matthew Grimes - Judge cites EDNY detention memo. Inner City Press will live tweet, thread below documentcloud.org/documents/2101…

AUSA: This may be a bailable case at some point, but not now. The relationship between the foreign government and our government was at the highest level, on both sides. Grimes is a flight risk; a government would benefit from his flight.

AUSA: After an FBI interview in 2018 in Los Angeles, the co-defendant fled the US and has not returned.
Judge: So he's offered a bond but you deem it insufficient?
AUSA: Both quantitatively and qualitatively.
Grimes' lawyer: My client is a low level individual

Grimes' lawyer: They allege the company has a plane. But my client didn't have access to it, and the company doesn't even have a plane anymore. He knew there was a risk, but he didn't flee. We've been engaged with the government all day

Grimes' lawyer: We have no problem with a secured bond, which might take 30 to 60 days. His father owns a home in Santa Barbara. He'd getting the deed today, appraisal tomorrow. We'll be seeking a place-holder bond, maybe $2 million in cash or securities

Grimes' lawyer: His brother, who's in Texas, would sign a signature bond. I understand the government wants property. I have my client's passport.
Judge: What is the government's current position? Detention pending a bond?
AUSA: We are requesting detention.

Judge: I have reviewed the papers. I do find that the defendant presents a very serious risk of flight. I am inclined to order detention based on risk of flight. The terms recommended by Pre Trial Services are insufficient.

Judge: The defendant's next appearance will be in EDNY.
Grimes' lawyer: We are optimistic we can work something out this week, so he wouldn't be transferred to EDNY in custody. Can we calendar something?
[Does not want to fly through BOP's Oklahoma "hub"]

AUSA: The bar is high. Set it next week, he would have a better chance.
EDNY AUSA Nathan Reilly: We want him to appear quickly in EDNY; we acknowledge that transfer in custody can take some time- a week? I can ask the Marshals.
Judge: I put it over to Mon July 25.

Clerk: He will be housed in San Bernardino. So the times are limited.
Judge: It's July 26 (Twenty Six), at 10 am. He should be transferred to EDNY - if he can be transferred before the 26th, I'm inclined to let him go that way.

Next: Co-defendant and not "minor player," Thomas Joseph Barrack. Again EDNY AUSA Nathan Reilly and local AUSA. Barrack represented by Mr. Desai and Matthew Herrington of Paul Hastings firm.
Judge: You're been charged in an indictment returned in the EDNY

Herrington: Here in DC we have not gotten the documents. We can delay until we have a package. We could delay to Monday.
[But what if BOP can transfer them to EDNY by then?]
Judge: July 26, 8 am.
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