Thread by @innercitypress

OK - for US v Pras Michel, jury instructions just given, openings in minutes, judge says. DOJ says ex-Fugee Michel was strawman to Obama for Jho Low; agent of China v Guo Wengui? Inner City Press is here in DDC courthouse and will live tweet, thread below

https://twitter.com/innercitypress/status/1640327260409327616

More delay - based on Judge's rulings, emailed last night & not apparently in the docket yet, Michel's lawyer Kenner says he might not do an opening statement. Judge urges him to take a look at the ruling & for example just not mention Frank White as a witness...

Michel's lawyer Kenner says Frank White's lawyer, when asked if his client will testify, said Don't be surprised if he takes the Fifth. So the judge does not want the jury told in openings that White will be a witness, until this is thrashed out. #HurryUpAndWait

OK - it's on - US opening.
Assistant US Attorney: The defendant took money from Jho Low, and from the Chinese government, to try to convince President Trump to return to China a Chinese national.
[That's Guo Wengui- now detained and prosecuted @SDNYLIVE for fraud]

AUSA: The defendant wanted money and was willing to become a paid agent of the Chinese government. He had a successful album but then wanted money. In 2012 he funneled Jho Low's money into the presidential campaign. In 2017, to get the Chinese national extradicted

Here is the Judge's pre-opening statement order, just docketed and now on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud including for... crowd sourcing? documentcloud.org/documents/2373…

AUSA: The defendant and his fixed sent talking points to the US Secretary of State; they tried to get the Malaysian Prime Minister a golf game with President Trump so he could raise the IMDB matter off the record

AUSA: In 2017 hewas spirited to Shenzhen from HK to meet with China's Vice Minister of Public Security, about getting back from the US a Chinese national "who at the time was a vocal critic" of Chinese gov't.
Inner City Press: And not any more? Cases conflict...

AUSA: The defendant and fixed tried to set up a meeting with the Attorney General to get the Chinese national extradicted. "And it almost worked." In Sunday meeting at Chinese embassy, message was that US NSC was meeting about sending the Chinese national back

AUSA: In 2012 the defendant took $18 million. In 2017, he took $70 million, after paying off his co-conspirators. Three banks closed his accounts, finding his explanations not-credible. He tried to intimidate witnesses with demand letters

NOTE: Pras Michel's legal team has NOT given any opening statement, after the prosecution's, following an order last night by the judge, only docketed this morning (and above in this thread). First US witness is Special Agent Heuchling, who probed Jho Low 2012-17

With Agent Heuchling testifying on direct about the US' Jho Low investigation(s), here's from when Inner City Press was covering the related trial of Roger Ng of GoldmanSachs (for helping Jho Low) in EDNY

https://twitter.com/innercitypress/status/1495428785533034500

Looks like an all-US day. Heuchling still on stand, still direct examination. He has described Jho Low trying to buy a meeting with Obama in Miami though Pras Michel - and shown photo of Michel with Obama, Jho Low didn't get in, despite private jet from Singapore