@KlasfeldReports's Threads
55 subscribers
Logging off for the next few weeks. More on why in few minutes.
First, some unfinished business.
First, some unfinished business.
ICYMI: Check out this @CBCSteve story on the Epstein case, where I noted that the proceedings to unseal the remainder of the Giuffre v. Maxwell files have yet to begin.
(Next scheduled hearing: Sept. 4.)
cbc.ca/news/world/jef…
(Next scheduled hearing: Sept. 4.)
cbc.ca/news/world/jef…
@cbcsteve ICYMI: My rundown of other high-profile MCC security failures besides Epstein. In the case of Roberto Grant, MCC claimed the late inmate died of an overdose. Then an autopsy found “blunt force trauma to the head, neck, torso & extremities.” cc: @LauferLaw courthousenews.com/jail-where-eps…
Just a quick recap of where things stand currently.
1. Federal investigation continues.
2. Proceedings to unseal new files next month.
3. Attorneys say they will keep fighting on victims’ behalf.
Developing. More comments from parties and observers to come.
1. Federal investigation continues.
2. Proceedings to unseal new files next month.
3. Attorneys say they will keep fighting on victims’ behalf.
Developing. More comments from parties and observers to come.
In the next update, a couple of other big issues:
4. A New York law extending statute of limitations for civil claims for sex abuse damages goes into effect this week. Look out for Epstein-related developments there.
5. Florida judge still deciding on fate of "sweetheart" NPA.
4. A New York law extending statute of limitations for civil claims for sex abuse damages goes into effect this week. Look out for Epstein-related developments there.
5. Florida judge still deciding on fate of "sweetheart" NPA.
(NPA=non-prosecution agreement, a.k.a. the 2008 plea deal.)
That's not a moot point with Epstein's death, as the agreement--many say outrageously--immunized his suspected and unnamed co-conspirators.
That's not a moot point with Epstein's death, as the agreement--many say outrageously--immunized his suspected and unnamed co-conspirators.
Recent security lapses with high-profile MCC inmates:
1) Reza Zarrab: The man behind the biggest money laundering scheme to Iran in U.S. history testified that another inmate pulled a knife on him in MCC because he was cooperating.
Story from 2017: courthousenews.com/turkish-gold-t…
1) Reza Zarrab: The man behind the biggest money laundering scheme to Iran in U.S. history testified that another inmate pulled a knife on him in MCC because he was cooperating.
Story from 2017: courthousenews.com/turkish-gold-t…
2) Victor Casado: Zarrab, who implicated Turkish President Erdogan in the scheme, bribed MCC guard Casado for contraband. Casado ultimately pleaded guilty to corruption.
Story from last year: courthousenews.com/us-prison-guar…
DOJ release: justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/c…
Story from last year: courthousenews.com/us-prison-guar…
DOJ release: justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/c…
3) Joshua Schulte: Accused of the WikiLeaks "Vault 7" leaks of CIA files, Schulte somehow managed to allegedly spill new information from his MCC cell via multiple contraband cellphones – including at least one heavily encrypted device.
From last year:
courthousenews.com/feds-say-suspe…
From last year:
courthousenews.com/feds-say-suspe…
This is my most failed prediction as a reporter to date.
Look out for my upcoming interview on @SkyNews on the Epstein case at 1:30 pm EDT.
I’ll share a link to the interview when it becomes available. Thanks to all who watched!
This unplugged weekend in the mountains did not go exactly as planned, with breaking news and an unexpected wifi connection.
TV interview coming up soon. More details in a bit.
TV interview coming up soon. More details in a bit.
While you’re all here, a very happy anniversary to my extraordinary parents, who are celebrating well into their fourth decade of marriage today.
Heading onto @CTVNews at 1 pm EDT.
First reaction: There should be hearings as to how this was allowed to happen to a key witness in an investigation involving a global sex-trafficking conspiracy.
Second reaction: A former federal prosecutor informs me about this secord-order effect in terms of legal procedure. 
Third question:
Were reports accurate that Epstein was on suicide watch, a status that typically would have put him under 24-hour watch and removed any objects that could be used for self-harm from his cell?
Were reports accurate that Epstein was on suicide watch, a status that typically would have put him under 24-hour watch and removed any objects that could be used for self-harm from his cell?
BREAKING: The Second Circuit issues its mandate to unseal a large tranche of Jeffrey Epstein-related docs, as an old docket becomes public for the first time.
Developing, and will provide details and documents as they emerge.
Background @CourthouseNews courthousenews.com/court-orders-s…
Developing, and will provide details and documents as they emerge.
Background @CourthouseNews courthousenews.com/court-orders-s…
@CourthouseNews More than a dozen docket entries have hit the appellate court's record in this case already within the last 10 minutes.
(Second Circuit case number 18-2868.)
(Second Circuit case number 18-2868.)
@CourthouseNews Just an example from the table of contents of a single docket:
A filing by Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre from Jan. 2017.
A filing by Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre from Jan. 2017.
Good afternoon from New York.
Inside New York Supreme Court to cover a hearing in Michael Cohen's civil suit against Trump demanding that the president underwrite his legal expenses.
Hearing starts in 10 minutes.
Background, @CourthouseNews courthousenews.com/michael-cohen-…
Inside New York Supreme Court to cover a hearing in Michael Cohen's civil suit against Trump demanding that the president underwrite his legal expenses.
Hearing starts in 10 minutes.
Background, @CourthouseNews courthousenews.com/michael-cohen-…
@CourthouseNews More specifically, the defendant is Trump Organization LLC, which is represented by Marc Mukasey, Giuliani ally and son of former AG Michael Mukasey.
@CourthouseNews Judge Joel Cohen kicks things off by asking about the Trump Org's alleged oral agreement to indemnify Cohen in July 2017, well before the FBI’s raid on his home, hotel and office threw both men into legal jeopardy.
He notes it's chronologically "nebulous."
He notes it's chronologically "nebulous."
BREAKING: Sarah Palin's defamation suit against the New York Times has been revived by the Second Circuit, on procedural grounds.
Doc: ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions/isys…
Background @CourthouseNews: courthousenews.com/palin-presses-…
Doc: ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions/isys…
Background @CourthouseNews: courthousenews.com/palin-presses-…
@CourthouseNews Context: This wasn't entirely unexpected.
Judge Rakoff held an evidentiary hearing two years ago to learn about the editorial decisions that led to the op-ed at issue.
This is unusual for before a motion to dismiss, where facts are assumed.
That's what troubled the 2nd Cir.
Judge Rakoff held an evidentiary hearing two years ago to learn about the editorial decisions that led to the op-ed at issue.
This is unusual for before a motion to dismiss, where facts are assumed.
That's what troubled the 2nd Cir.
@CourthouseNews Needless to say, this is a bad time for the New York Times to lose support from their subscribers.
Read this passage from the now-vacated ruling on the importance of this case to press freedom. Full opinion here: courthousenews.com/wp-content/upl…
Read this passage from the now-vacated ruling on the importance of this case to press freedom. Full opinion here: courthousenews.com/wp-content/upl…
Good morning.
Domestic terrorist Cesar Sayoc faces sentencing today for mail bombs to:
*Barack Obama
*Hillary Clinton
*Joe Biden
*Kamala Harris
*George Soros
*Tom Steyer
*Robert De Niro
*Eric Holder
*Maxine Waters
*Cory Booker
*John Brennan
*James Clapper
*CNN
Covering it live
Domestic terrorist Cesar Sayoc faces sentencing today for mail bombs to:
*Barack Obama
*Hillary Clinton
*Joe Biden
*Kamala Harris
*George Soros
*Tom Steyer
*Robert De Niro
*Eric Holder
*Maxine Waters
*Cory Booker
*John Brennan
*James Clapper
*CNN
Covering it live
Prosecutors have described Sayoc’s spree of mail bombs as a “two-week terrorist attack.”
Sayoc’s attorneys recently said their client “found light in Donald J. Trump.”
ICYMI, @CourthouseNews courthousenews.com/attorneys-say-…
Sayoc’s attorneys recently said their client “found light in Donald J. Trump.”
ICYMI, @CourthouseNews courthousenews.com/attorneys-say-…
Sayoc sent mail bombs to two CNN newsrooms and has said: “The Press is enemy,” echoing Trump’s slogan the “enemy of the people.”
Dayton authorities are providing an update on the city's Facebook page now. facebook.com/pg/cityofdayto…
Dayton's Mayor @NanWhaley is speaking now about the outpouring of support from other mayors across the country that have been the site of mass shootings.
"That's quite frankly, a little sad, if you think about it," she said.
"That's quite frankly, a little sad, if you think about it," she said.
@nanwhaley .@SenRobPortman made reference to a recent KKK rally in Dayton during his remarks.
More information on that here. cincinnati.com/story/news/201…
More information on that here. cincinnati.com/story/news/201…
While you were sleeping...
@TheJusticeDept filed a memo opposing sanctions for alleged “delay and obfuscation” in the citizenship question case in New York.
They filed it 4 hours, 28 minutes after the judge’s deadline (4:28 am EDT), seeking a post-facto deadline extension.
@TheJusticeDept filed a memo opposing sanctions for alleged “delay and obfuscation” in the citizenship question case in New York.
They filed it 4 hours, 28 minutes after the judge’s deadline (4:28 am EDT), seeking a post-facto deadline extension.
This is how the DOJ’s brief opposing sanctions begins. I’ll link to the documents when I have the opportunity.
Here it is, courtesy of @big_cases. assets.documentcloud.org/documents/6239…
BREAKING: Eric Garner's killer Daniel Pantaleo has been suspended from the NYPD, "effective today," per this spokesman's statement. cc: @CourthouseNews @jruss_jruss
@CourthouseNews @jruss_jruss A statement from Eric Garner's mother calls for end to "misleading talking points" from Mayor de Blasio, via the advocacy group @ChangetheNYPD.
@CourthouseNews @jruss_jruss @changethenypd In answer to many questions from readers, the NYPD's Department of Public Information informed me that Pantaleo has been suspended *without* pay.
For night owls in the U.S. 🇺🇸, early risers in the U.K. 🇬🇧, and others internationally, I will be talking about the Jeffrey Epstein case on @BBCWorldService’s radio program Newsday.
Tune in! Show starts at 10pm EST tonight—that’s 3am Friday, London time.
Tune in! Show starts at 10pm EST tonight—that’s 3am Friday, London time.
This just in: I’ll be on the BBC World Service twice tonight discussing Epstein.
If you missed the first, catch the second shortly after midnight New York time—more early risers in the UK can catch the show.
See the tweet above for details on the first segment.
If you missed the first, catch the second shortly after midnight New York time—more early risers in the UK can catch the show.
See the tweet above for details on the first segment.
I’ll post a reminder when the show gets closer.
Good evening from New York
Good evening from New York
>>>>>>
That means Trump kept tweeting long after the incident.
Did the president know, and when did he know it?
Did the president know, and when did he know it?
Trump’s tweet attacking Cummings went out after the burglary.
At some point, had Trump been briefed that Cummings’ house had been burglarized as he continued attacking the congressman?
At some point, had Trump been briefed that Cummings’ house had been burglarized as he continued attacking the congressman?
There's a hearing up in about 10 minutes in a lawsuit filed by state attorneys general challenging the Sprint/T-Mobile merger.
The last hearing in June, Sprint's counsel signaled a deal with the DOJ was "imminent."
courthousenews.com/doj-deal-immin…
That happened. Let's see what's next.
The last hearing in June, Sprint's counsel signaled a deal with the DOJ was "imminent."
courthousenews.com/doj-deal-immin…
That happened. Let's see what's next.
No live coverage this time, but I'll report any upcoming developments when I return from the courtroom.
This may have gotten lost in the character crunch. So to clarify, when I said “that happened,” I was saying that the DOJ subsequently struck that deal.
The state AGs’ lawsuit, however, lives on.
The state AGs’ lawsuit, however, lives on.
NEW: Prosecutors reject the argument that Cesar Sayoc’s “two-week terrorist attack” involved only “hoax” bombs.
Prosecutors quote admissions from the transcripts in this reply brief.
Doc, via @big_cases: usatoday.com/documents/6231…
cc: @CourthouseNews
Prosecutors quote admissions from the transcripts in this reply brief.
Doc, via @big_cases: usatoday.com/documents/6231…
cc: @CourthouseNews
Unlike the last brief, prosecutions mention Trump here in reference to Sayoc shifting blame to other people, yet... (1)
(2) ... prosecutors also cited Sayoc’s prison writings accusing George Soros of funding “radical left wing organizations to attack conservatives & Trump supporters” as evidence that he still harbors “hateful and violent views.” ...
NEW: The Second Circuit comes out against a "two-tiered bail system" allowing wealthy defendants to fund their own bespoke, pre-trial jails, in the case of an accused money launderer.
Makes Epstein's appeal even more remote. cc: @CourthouseNews ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions/isys…
Makes Epstein's appeal even more remote. cc: @CourthouseNews ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions/isys…
@CourthouseNews Notable: This ruling cites the Zarrab bail denial by Judge Berman, who is presiding over Epstein's case.
#AlwaysReadTheFootnotes
More on the Zarrab bail decision here: courthousenews.com/cushy-bail-pac…
#AlwaysReadTheFootnotes
More on the Zarrab bail decision here: courthousenews.com/cushy-bail-pac…
@CourthouseNews Even beyond the Epstein case, this is a big deal. Wealthy defendants have funded their private pre-trial jails for a long time in multiple cases.
No longer, where the Second Circuit has jurisdiction.
No longer, where the Second Circuit has jurisdiction.
Same question about night two.
Just as Castro made decriminalizing border-crossings a live issue in the last debate, qualified immunity made some waves this time around with the Eric Garner protests, and it will -- or at least should -- prompt more discussion.
Related note:
Five years after Eric Garner’s death, will running for president be what finally forces New York City Mayor de Blasio to act on Daniel Pantaleo?
De Blasio promised some unspecified action within 30 days, after being slammed by the other candidates all night.
Five years after Eric Garner’s death, will running for president be what finally forces New York City Mayor de Blasio to act on Daniel Pantaleo?
De Blasio promised some unspecified action within 30 days, after being slammed by the other candidates all night.
Once more onto the breach, dear friends.
Ten minutes to go.
Ten minutes to go.
The candidates enter:
Biden, Harris, Booker, Yang, Castro, Gabbard, Gillibrand, Inslee, Bennet, and de Blasio.
3x Grammy-winning jazz singer Dee Dee Bridgewater's on the anthem.
Biden, Harris, Booker, Yang, Castro, Gabbard, Gillibrand, Inslee, Bennet, and de Blasio.
3x Grammy-winning jazz singer Dee Dee Bridgewater's on the anthem.
Biden appeared to be mouthing the anthem right along with her.
Good morning from New York.
The judge recently ordered the parties to come up with a trial date today, but scheduling aside, will we also learn more about Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged incident and suicide watch in MCC?
I’ll be covering the Epstein hearing live for @CourthouseNews.
The judge recently ordered the parties to come up with a trial date today, but scheduling aside, will we also learn more about Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged incident and suicide watch in MCC?
I’ll be covering the Epstein hearing live for @CourthouseNews.
@CourthouseNews Roughly an hour until the hearing, which begins on 11 a.m.
@CourthouseNews Given reports that Epstein's on suicide watch, this would be a good time to brush up on Bureau of Prisons guidance on this topic.
(Start on page 11 here) bop.gov/policy/progsta…
(Start on page 11 here) bop.gov/policy/progsta…
Forget about who won for a second.
What ideas was expressed tonight by a candidate surprised you, moved the national conversation in a different direction or struck you as particularly significant?
What ideas was expressed tonight by a candidate surprised you, moved the national conversation in a different direction or struck you as particularly significant?
I did not expect such detailed, lengthy and substantial dialogues on reparations going into tonight's debate.
Buttigieg invoking the specter of a soldier dying in Afghanistan, who was born after 9/11--bracing.
So was imagining an end to that war as a top priority for taking office.
So was imagining an end to that war as a top priority for taking office.
Less than five minutes until the debate:
I'll be live-tweeting some observations as I watch it unfold from New York City, but a Detroit-based colleague will have coverage later on @CourthouseNews.
I'll be live-tweeting some observations as I watch it unfold from New York City, but a Detroit-based colleague will have coverage later on @CourthouseNews.
@CourthouseNews Sanders and Warren, who have signaled to viewers not to expect intra-left clashing, were all smiles, as the first candidates to be called out onto the stage.
@CourthouseNews Of course Detroit has an outrageously good rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.
BREAKING: A federal judge DISMISSES the DNC's lawsuit against the Trump campaign, Russia, WikiLeaks et al. with prejudice, and DENIES the Trump campaign's sanctions motion.
Background on the lawsuit, via @CourthouseNews.
Opinion soon.
Background on the lawsuit, via @CourthouseNews.
Opinion soon.
@CourthouseNews Judge Koeltl says the "primary wrongdoer" in the hacking was Russia, which he said is immune under the FSIA.
Here was the link to the background on the filing of the suit: courthousenews.com/dnc-suit-accus…
Developing story soon.
Here was the link to the background on the filing of the suit: courthousenews.com/dnc-suit-accus…
Developing story soon.
@CourthouseNews As for the "second-level participants" in the alleged racketeering scheme, Koeltl says that they are shielded by the First Amendment from liability related to disseminating the stolen emails.
