While waiting for US v. Avenatti charging conference, here is UN press briefing from from which Inner City Press is banned, today from briefing by incoming UN Security Council president. Aim to live tweet below the Q&A of those the UN *does* let in 1/x
Even as of 1:12 pm Feb 1, the most recent UNSC "Program of Work" on the UN's website is from January, that of @NorwayUN's @Mona_Juul, a month of failure and coups and censorship. And February? First question goes to UN Censorship Alliance, UNCA 2/x
New: Corporate wire, essentially high-frequency trading platform with news now behind a platform, asks if Lavrov will deign to come to NY this month. No. (But look who's going to the #GenocideGames in Beijing) 4/x
Now: France 24 correspondent is allowed to Zoom (or WebEx) in from home with ponderous question. So Inner City Press could easily have been given access to this presser, as it has at IMF - it's a choice, the UN is a place of censorship for dictators (like Guterres)
Next is another WebExed in question, on Afghanistan. Nebenzia says he didn't understand most of the question, but "I have answers... We urge Taliban to fight terrorism and drug trafficking." Could by 1980 all over again. #OlympicBoycotts
February's UNSC "Program of Work" is still not up on the UN's website - fail - but Inner City Press is tweeting this screen shot of it - ironically, while all Presidencies including US includes "Letters of Ukraine and Russia" as footnote, Russia doesn't.
Now the Program of Work press conference Inner City Press was banned from is over. There were no questions about the countries in Africa off which the UN of Guterres makes most of the money that it wastes - total failure and censorship. Story coming.
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#Breaking: Accused Egypt spy Pierre Girgis is here in SDNY on no public notice, to plead guilty. His Federal Defender says he'll waive PSR. Inner City Press has covered the case from the start
and will live tweet, thread below innercitypress.com/sdny9egyptspyu…
#broken2:
Judge: I understand this is a plea to a misdemeanor [!]
See, e.g., beyond Inner City Press,
According to DOJ Girgis "tracked and obtained" information about Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's political rivals.independent.co.uk/news/new-york-…
Judge: I went 11 years without taking a misdemeanor plea... There is no need to waive indictment. How old are you?
Girgis: 42
OK - now at sentencing of man for stealing mail with Arrow key - and also drug dealing and gun. There are 4 victim letters, but no victim here to speak. Inner City Press as only media here will live tweet, thread below
Judge: The guideline is 87 to 108 months.
AUSA: He stole poor people's stimulus checks. He dealt in Arrow keys all over.
Defense lawyer: Judge, we tried a case against each other in 1988 in EDNY. I find you no nonsense
Defense: Later I saw the memo about a kilo for $17,500. You don't hear much about that. His car only had three grams of crack-
Judge: A low level drug dealer perhaps aspiring to be more.
OK - now at Honduras JOH case Tigre Bonilla sentencing - Inner City Press wrote the book / libro Narco Drama and will live tweet, thread below amazon.com/dp/B0CXMT3VRH
Judge Castel: I am asking the defense on what basis you're asking me to disbelieve Ardon, when two juries believed him?
Bonilla's lawyer: Ardon as to this murder with armor piercing ammo referred to Tony Hernandez, there were no witnesses
Assistant US Attorney: Tony Hernandez and Alex Ardon used Tigre Bonilla for the murder. Mr Diaz Morales testified that Tigre would carry out murders
OK - now in 9/11 case oral arguments @SDNYLIVE - amid 10/7 fallout in Tehran - Inner City Press is covering the case(s) including (over) sealing and UN complicity
and will live tweet, thread belowinnercitypress.com/sdny5enetburns… amazon.com/Belt-Roadkill-…
Judge Daniels: Why did Bayoumi renew his passport on his particular date? When was it to expire?
Lawyer for Saudis ("Saudi lawyer"): My colleagues will look that up. Bayoumi went to the Consulate -
Judge: Why did he travel?
Saudi Lawyer: To get info for the mosque
Judge: So Bayoumi spoke with the hijackers about San Diego?
Saudi lawyer: Yes, he said it was very pretty. So the hijackers moved to San Diego to learn English and take flight training.
Judge: Where did they meet again?
Saudi lawyer: Bayoumi's mosque in San Diego
OK -now at sentencing of Bevelyn Williams under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act. Inner City Press covered the trial and will live tweet the sentencing, thread below
Judge: Will any victims speak?
Assistant US Attorney: Planned Parenthood is not here yet... On the substance, we note she crushed a victim's hand with the door.
Defense: We dispute it was a violent assault. She was boisterous- it was a protest by disparate groups
Judge: It was an assault with a dangerous weapon - here, the door. She pushed it while singing "We Shall Not Be Moved." So the Guideline is 37 to 46 months in prison.
OK - now verdict to be announced in US v. Menendez. Inner City Press has covered the trial; will soon publish sequel to "Gold Bar Bob 1" and will live tweet, thread below amazon.com/dp/B0D7X51R2D
As the lawyers and defendants take their places in the courtroom, Bob Menendez is leaning back in his chair, resting his arms on the chair's arms. Drum roll
[While we wait, here's front of the verdict sheet in US v. Robert Menendez, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes. There are 18 counts so this could take awhile. Drum still rolling