From Roger Fitch and our friends down under at Justinian

 

Courtroom capers 

ROGER FITCH ESQ • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2024

Trump ... Looking for the cash bond ... Lenders likely to be stiffed ... Supreme Court bends over for Trump ... Novel arguments for immunity ... Idiocy has its appeal ... From Washington, Roger Fitch reports 

"I often say Al Capone, he was one of the greatest of all time, if you like criminals" - Donald Trump 

"Trump represents the culmination of gangster Gemeinschaft" - John Ganz

The first criminal prosecution of a former US president is about to begin, briefly delayed by the late production of federal court documents that Trump subpoenaed in January.

The defendant has a sordid history, and the NY trial concerns hush-money paid to a prostitute before the 2016 election; Trump's co-conspirator, Michael Cohen, has already been convicted and served time.

Trump's trial will be about election influence, an attempt to corrupt a presidential election.

Clearly, Judge Juan Merchan has Trump's measure: one pre-trial order requires jury anonymity, in light of the "likelihood of bribery, jury tampering, or of physical injury or harassment of juror(s)".

Another is a comprehensive gag order against Trump's endless insults and harassment of court witnesses, prosecutors and jurors.

NY federal judge Lewis Kaplan also ordered anonymous juries and a gag rule, in the writer Jean Carroll's successful civil cases against Trump. After the second Carroll verdict, Kaplan thanked the jurors for their service, and recommended they never tell anyone they had been jurors, for the rest of their lives.

This is New York. They know Donald Trump. 

Moreover, the Times added, with MAGA threats:

"The intimidation is systemic and ubiquitous, an acknowledged tactic in the playbook of the Trump right that flows all the way down from the violent fantasies of Donald Trump himself. It is rare to encounter a public-facing Trump critic who hasn't faced threats and intimidation." 

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READ THE REST HERE...

Support for the uncharged men still at Guantanamo

 My last posting was about support for the men that have been released from Guantanamo but still suffering. My last client was released just about a year ago and although he is now at home with his family the continued struggle is real. Thank you for any support you are able to provide to Saeed and the other men.

This post is about the 16 men still at Guantanamo who have never been charged with a crime. These men have been languishing for up to 23 years. Waiting to be released.  There suffering is also very real. The attorneys, like me, who have represented men at the base continue to provide support to those men- especially during Ramadan.

Here is your way to help:

We need your support to give Ramadan gifts to the men still at Guantanamo (those who are not charged). While the Ramadan gift packages cannot make up for continued imprisonment, they do bring comfort and let the men know they are not completely forgotten. The gift package for each man includes zamzam water, tahini, halawa, dates, pastries, sweets, coffee (and similar food items), perfume, shoes or sandals, a thobe and a shirt.

You can make a tax-deductible donation here. If you prefer to use Zelle, the email is donation@hrtlaw.org, and please include contact information so your contribution can be acknowledged. Checks can be made out to Healing and Recovery after Trauma and sent to 2300 18th St NW, Unit 21074, Washington DC 20009. 

Guantanamo Survivors Fund

Just reminding everyone that the men who have been freed from Guantanamo continue to suffer. Most cannot find work and depend on the generosity of all of us. 

Please give if you can:  

As you know, the Guantanamo Survivors Fund raises money to help meet the needs of the many Muslim men who are suffering after being transferred from Guantanamo to their own or third countries. We recognize the particular pain of those who continue to be separated from their loved ones during this traditionally joyful month of Ramadan. 

The neglect and abandonment of Guantanamo survivors by the US government has resulted in some men, like Salem Ghereby from Libya, dying without appropriate medical and other support.  We do not want this to happen to anyone else. With your help we can continue to provide relief to Guantanamo survivors who need our help.  

 So far during this year's Ramadan fundraising campaign Guantanamo Survivors Fund has raised 10% of the $10,000 goal. Thank you to everyone who has contributed. As the days of Ramadan progress, we hope you will continue to give generously.