EDNY COURTHOUSE, July 8 – On the Eastern District of New York’s public courtroom calendar for July 7 was an entry with no name: “* SEALED *,” 2:00 p.m., Courtroom 6H North, before Judge William F. Kuntz, II. On PACER, the case — 18-cr-277 — returns only “Sealed v. Sealed. This case is under seal.”

No caption, no parties, no docket entries. A criminal case, apparently opened in 2018, invisible for eight years. Inner City Press, which covers the federal courts, wrote to Judge Kuntz that same day: docket the letter, unseal the docket sheet, and test the continued sealing against the Second Circuit’s standards — citing Hartford Courant Co. v. Pellegrino, 380 F.3d 83 (2d Cir. 2004), in which the Second Circuit held that the press and public have a qualified First Amendment right of access to docket sheets themselves, without which “the public cannot know what it is being denied.” Judge Kuntz did not ignore the letter. He did not deny it in a sealed order.

He did something better — and, in Inner City Press’s experience across a dozen districts, close to unique: he opened a new, public miscellaneous case, captioned In re Inner City Press [26-cv-4094], docketed Inner City Press’s letter as Document 1, and put Assistant United States Attorneys on the case to respond. Consider the elegance of it. The underlying case is sealed; even an order about it, entered on its docket, would be invisible.

Rather than let the access request disappear into the same black hole it challenges, Judge Kuntz created a public vehicle in which the question of secrecy will itself be litigated publicly, with the government required to appear and be counted. That is Pellegrino’s principle made procedure: whatever ultimately remains sealed, the public gets to watch the deciding. Judge Kuntz, appointed in 2011, on senior status since 2022, presumably could have done what some of his colleagues around the country have done with Inner City Press’s requests — nothing, or worse. Instead the docket now shows a case named for the press asking the question. Inner City Press will report on the government’s response and the Court’s ruling.

The contrast is instructive. In the District of Columbia, Judge Dabney Friedrich has had Inner City Press’s miscellaneous case on sealed filings in U.S. v. Al-Marimi, 26-mc-89, before her since June 4 — with the government’s brief in and nothing since.

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SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 8 – Amid reports of investigation against Sen. Robert Menendez for taking gold bars, Inner City Press’ sources on September 21 it to expect on Friday, September 22 an appearance in Federal court in Manhattan by Menendez and his wife Nadine Arslanian, now facing trial alone. This scoop was true.

Later a superseder was unveiled, including charges of bribes to act for Qatar.

On January 10 Menendez filed a motion to dismiss, on Patreon here

On February 1, Judge Stein granted some unsealing - including of some of the material in the vault which Inner City Press requested. Order here.

Jump cut: Menendez et al were convicted; Inner City Press published a book, here.

On Nadine Menendez, on March 31 there was ex USDA official Ted McKinney (thread) then an FBI Agent with Gurbir Grewal and then Jose Uribe on deck.

Jump cut to February 10, 2026: after Nadine Menendez was convicted and sentenced, her lawyer wrote in asking for more travel, filing on Patreon here

On April 14, 2026 Nadine Menendez asked to put off any prison time or forfeiture pending appeals, arguing “- 17 page filing on Patreon here

On April 20 the US Attorney’s Office opposed, with a filing summarizing Damien Williams’ discussions with Gurbir Grewal (”the USAO SDNY did not view Grewal as a target... Grewal’s name was not included in any of the warrants being executed that day” -- then a 98% redacted document, both on Patreon here

On April 29, Judge Stein denied Nadine Menendez’ request for bail pending appeal, writing that while “According to defendant, the Government manufactured an attorney-client conflict between defendant and defendant’s preferred trial counsel, David Schertler, that forced Schertler and his law firm to withdraw from defendant’s defense team and deprived defendant of her Sixth Amendment right to the counsel of her choosing. (See Dkt. No. 938 at 6- 11.) The Court disagrees that defendant raises a substantial question of law.” Full order on Patreon here

On June 10, after Judge Stein held a hearing (and attempt to resolve in chambers) on the issue of Nadine Menendez’ seized jewelry, the Second Circuit’s denial of bail pending appeal was docketed.

On July 6, Judge Stein docketed: ORDER as to Nadine Menendez: On July 2 defendant’s attorneys filed a multi-page request for an adjournment of defendant’s surrender date to the Bureau of Prisons that contained extensive intimate details of defendant’s medical condition and surgical interventions. Astonishingly, defendant’s attorneys filed this document on the public record.

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But the information remained in the docket.

On July 8, “the Court denies defendant’s request for an extension of her surrender date to the Bureau of Prisons. The defendant shall surrender for service of sentence at the institution designated by the Bureau of Prisons before 2:00 p.m. on July 10, 2026. (Signed by Judge Sidney H. Stein on 7/8/2026).”

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by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

ONE HOGAN PLACE, July 7– Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg and NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli held a joint press conference on July 7 in DA Bragg’s Office. Inner City Press went, live streamed and asked about the cases.

The duo announced that “CADELIE NEAT, 60, an Accounts Payable Manager at John Jay College of Criminal Justice used her position to divert and steal approximately $710,000 by submitting fraudulent requests for stipend checks purportedly on behalf of students who were enrolled in the college’s Academic Preparation Program for Law Enforcement. Separately, CHERYL CARR, 73, and ANDREA WILLIAMS, 47, allegedly stole $288,529 from the Harlem Children’s Zone Promise Academy Charter School by incorporating a fraudulent, similarly named school in Idaho, and diverting and depositing two checks intended for the Manhattan-based non-profit.”

When came time for Q&A, Inner City Press asked why Carr and Williams were not yet in the NYS WebCrims database, while Neat was, having been ROR-ed.

DA Bragg said they had been presented, it just wasn’t in the system yet.

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SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 2 -- The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office has responded to a binding public records order requiring it to produce documents about its Ticketmaster/Live Nation investigation by filing three sworn affidavits and a ten-page supplemental legal brief — but no documents. This amid America 250 celebrations in Philadelphia.

The Right-to-Know Law Officer for the Pennsylvania OAG issued a Final Determination on June 4, 2026, ordering the office to produce records within thirty days. That deadline falls on July 4. Rather than comply, the OAG — now headed by Republican Attorney General David Sunday — filed on July 2 a new submission arguing, in essence, that the Final Determination was wrong and that all responsive records are exempt. Three senior attorneys in the OAG’s Consumer Protection and Antitrust divisions submitted sworn affidavits in support.

The problem is that the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law does not provide for supplemental briefing after a Final Determination has issued. It provides one remedy for an agency that disagrees with a Final Determination: an appeal to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania within thirty days. The OAG has not filed such an appeal. Instead it has done something the law does not contemplate — re-argued its case to the same officer whose decision it is legally bound to follow.

Inner City Press sought the records in connection with its ongoing coverage of the federal antitrust trial against Live Nation Entertainment, United States v. Live Nation, 24-cv-03973 (S.D.N.Y.), which concluded with a jury verdict in April 2026. The Pennsylvania OAG was a participant in the multi-state investigation that preceded and ran parallel to the federal case, having issued a subpoena to Ticketmaster in February 2023 and joined the federal complaint. The records Inner City Press sought concern that investigation — including consumer complaints about ticket pricing and service fees, and the OAG’s own communications about the investigation’s progress. The OAG’s new argument — that all remaining records are shielded by the federal Antitrust Civil Process Act because some were obtained through a DOJ Civil Investigative Demand — is a novel and aggressive claim that the Final Determination did not address.

The ACPA protects materials that CID respondents produced to the DOJ from being disclosed to third parties. It was not designed to let a state AG’s office use a federal investigation as a shield against its own state public records obligations. Inner City Press has filed a response with the RTKL Officer asking that the Final Determination be confirmed as standing, that the July 4 deadline be enforced, and that the OAG be put on notice that further non-compliance will be pursued through the Commonwealth Court — including a potential request for attorney’s fees under the RTKL’s fee-shifting provision. Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law exists so that citizens and journalists can find out what their government has been doing.

An AG’s office that litigates against a ticketing monopoly on behalf of Pennsylvania consumers, then files three sworn affidavits to avoid telling those same consumers what it found, has some explaining to do.

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SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 1 – Journalist Michael Wolff filed a defamation lawsuit against Melania Trump in New York State court on October 21, 2025.

On December 29, Melania Trump through counsel filed a Notice of Removal to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, which Inner City Press closely covers and where it found it. The notice says that she is a resident of Florida and therefore diversity jurisdiction applies.

Her lawyers also wrote that “plaintiff falsely and maliciously asserted that Mrs. Trump was somehow ‘involved’ in the ‘scandal’ relating to Jeffrey Epstein [and] initiated this action in an improper effort to preempt a potential defamation lawsuit against him by Mrs. Trump.”

On January 26 Melania Trump’s lawyers moved to dismiss, or to transfer the case to the Southern District of Florida.

On February 9 Wolff’s lawyer opposed - and filed Melania Trump’s emails with Ghislaine Maxwell, and an FBI 203 about Paulo Zampolli, who Inner City Press reported on at the UN before being thrown out of the UN by Antonio Guterres, introducing the first couple, on Patreon here

On February 17 Melania Trump’s lawyers replied, leading with the argument that there was be effective service of process. Full memo of law on Patreon here

On February 24, Wolff argued “If specific personal jurisdiction over Trump has not been established, Wolff has made a sufficient showing of 302(a)(3) New York contacts to warrant a fair opportunity for discovery on that issue. See Cross-Motion, ¶6 and ¶7 (ECF 13). Wolff has shown that the 770.01 Notice– a notice that had legal consequences for Wolff in New York – establishes 302(a)(3) jurisdiction over Trump in New York” - 14 page filing on Patreon here

On May 22, Judge Vyskocil dismissed the case, begining “n this case, a chronicler of the First Family sues the First Lady because she threatened to sue him for defamation. While Plaintiff and the First Lady have a real dispute, they must litigate it according to the same procedures as everyone else. Plaintiff asks for a declaration that, if the First Lady sues him, he deserves to win. That is not how the federal courts work” - 45 page Order on Patreon here

On June 5 Melania Trump’s lawyers wrote in asking for leave to seek sanctions, and a conference on it. Wolff opposed, but on June 16 Judge Vyskocil scheduled the conference: “Counsel for the Parties are directed to appear for a pre-motion conference on July 1, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.”

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On June 17, Wolff appealed to the Second Circuit.

On July 1, Inner City Press live tweeted:

All rise! Judge Vyskocil: I ruled for the First Lady, and this case is over. But there is this request to file a motion for sanctions. Let me just say, sometimes people don’t think about the cost / benefit analysis, or the stress the put on the courts & resources

Judge Vyskocil: The standard until Rule 11 is an objective one, not based on the beliefs of the parties. Under Section c(5) it says the court must NOT impose a monetary sanction under certain circumstances. There’s a 2000 Second Circuit case...

Judge Vyskocil: I note that the First Lady said she was not subject to the jurisdiction of this Court. I wonder if making this motion was change that. So, when if you decide to move forward with this motion do you want to file it? Melania Trump’s lawyer: Thanks

Melania Trump’s lawyer: We will file in two weeks. Judge Vyskocil: So, July 20. Opposition? Wolff’s lawyer: Can we have three weeks? I have a pre-planned vacation in August. Judge Vyskocil: August 17, reply by August 28. Anything else? No

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SDNY COURTHOUSE, June 29 – After a circus-like civil case involving Guo Wengui in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, which Inner City Press closely covered, here, March 15, 2023 saw the unsealing of a twelve-count Indictment of Miles Guo onvarious wire fraud, securities fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering charges.

On May 22, Inner City Press live tweeted jury selection, here.

It also live tweeted his June 29, 2026 sentencing to 30 years in prison on nine counts of jury conviction.

Many were excused from the jury pool.

More detail / some analysis on X for Subscribers here & Substack here

At the end of May 23, Judge Torres told the remaining jurors that the trial would start Friday. Thread.

Guo was convicted. And on September 10 Judge Torres granted a defense letter motion and moved Guo’s sentencing.

Letter and endorsement (order) on Patreon here

Jump cut to February 25, 2025 when DOJ wrote in on Wang asking for “remission” - victims to apply for funds, filing on Patreon here.

On March 3 Inner City Press live tweeted the Guo proceeding, here

Judge: I am sealing the courtroom. [Must leave]

Update: All the judge said when door opened again was that defense lawyers’ motion to withdraw remains pending

Docketed on March 20, a motion to intervene from Beijing, on Patreon here

On April 8, Guo was appointed three new lawyers. Inner City Press was there and live tweeted, thread

On July 25 Guo’s new lawyers asked for an delay in sentencing to Decmeber while noting that the US Attorney’s Office opposes any 90 day delay and will file in the future.

On July 30 they did - opposing any further delay, insisting on September 8.

On July 28 the US Attorney’s Office wrote in asking for a judgment of $1.3 billion including Guo’s interest in the G entities.

On August 11 Judge Torres signed the order for $1.3 billion, on Patreon here.

On July 31, Judge Torres moved sentencing “to January 20, 2026.”

But on December 3, Guo’s lawyers wrote in, letter on Patreon here

On December 22, “the Court orders that the sentencing currently scheduled for January 20, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. is ADJOURNED to April 13, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.”

Docketed (after a hearing without call-in line) on January 21: By February 10, 2026, the parties shall confer and jointly file a letter recommending candidates to serve as a special master under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 53(b)(1), and making a recommendation as to the scope of the special master’s appointment and the terms of the special master’s compensation.

On March 11, sentencing was pushed back. Order on Patreon here

Over a weekend, Guo’s lawyers put in a 100 page sentencing submission, on Patreon here

On April 17 Guo’s lawyer submitted a reply, including an echo of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ recent Second Circuit argument that “ACQUITTED CONDUCT MUST BE EXCLUDED” - Guo’s 27 page reply on Patreon here

On April 23, Judge Torres pushed the sentencing back again: “Due to the complexity of the outstanding issues raised in the parties’ voluminous sentencing submissions, see ECF Nos. 826, 828, 833, Defendant Miles Guo’s sentencing currently scheduled for April 27, 2026 is ADJOURNED to June 29, 2026.” Order on Patreon here

On April 29 defense counsel submitted to Judge Torres some 1250 letters - but all sealed, in their entirety, including “ ; 6 reported being forced to file false complaints against Mr. Guo; and 26 reported being arrested and/or prosecuted by the CCP. We believe that the statements provide meaningful additional context reflecting the complex motivations, values, and autonomy of investors in the G Series entities. Because of the sensitive personal nature of the information contained in these statements, and specific requests by numerous individuals to keep their identities out of public view, we request that all statements be maintained under seal” - submission on Patreon here

30 years, minus three already served in MDC. He said, I will appeal.

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SDNY COURTHOUSE, June 29 – Luigi Mangione was presented in Federal court on December 19 on four charges, one of them death penalty eligible, for the killing of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson. Inner City Press was there, covering the case toward a book.

On April 1 DOJ announced it would seek the death penalty against Mangione. But SDNY Judge Margaret Garnett dismissed the death eligible charges, and set an October 13 court date.

After some push back, Inner City Press published a book Luigi Mangione Lone Wolf here, now Amazon here

More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here

On February 6 NYS Justice Gregory Carro - who on May 18 suppressed the search in McDonalds and more, see below - convened a hearing and, after a long whispered sidebar, announced that NY and

February 6 extra on X for Subscribers here and Substack here

On February 9 Mangione’s lawyers wrote to SDNY Judge Garnett, recounting what Justice Carro said and opposing it, promising another filing - this one on Patreon here

On March 2, the NY prosecutors filed their brief to Justice Carro, on Patreon here

On April 1 Judge Garnett held a proceeding, and Inner City Press again live tweeted. The jury questionnaire deadlines were moved up, ending June 5 in deference to Justice Carro’s June 8 trial date, and move the Federal trial from October 13 to October 26 or November 2.

And then, later on April 1, Justice Carro changed his trial date from June 8 to September 8, possibly requiring another SDNY proceeding and change. What explains Justice Carro’s timing? See book on Carro’s proceedings here, and Inner City Press’ April 2 morning vlog.

After 5 pm on April 2, Judge Garnett docketed her trial schedule, evidence start November 4. Four months straight of Mangione trials?

April 1 more on X for Subscribers here and Substack here

On May 11, the US Attorney’s Office filed opposition to some proposed jury selection questions, on Patreon here.

On May 18, Mangione’s counsel Karen Friedman Agnifilo requested and got an SDNY order to BOP to give Mangione a suit and shoes (no laces) for his May 18 appearance before NYS Justice Carro, “decision on suppression motion.” Couldn’t the decision just be docketed, as happens most often in Federal court? Letter on Patreon here.

On May 18 Inner City Press was in the courtroom and live tweeted - Justice Carro suppressed the fruits of the search in McDonalds, and post detention Q&A other than pedigree and safety related exchanges.

17-age ruling on Patreon here

On May 26 Mangione’s lawyers wrote to SDNY Judge Garnett in support of their proposed juror questions including that “Questions 78, 80, 81, 82 and 83: The Government seems to have forgotten that the former Attorney General violated this Court’s local rule concerning prejudicial pre-trial publicity. Getting to the bottom of the damage she has caused is critical”- full letter on Patreon here

On June 25, after in NYS court extreme emotion disturbance as a defense was put forward then withdrawn, this: “The parties write jointly to advise the Court that, at the conference currently scheduled for Monday, June 29, 2026, the parties will be prepared to address any questions the Court may have concerning the parties’ respective proposed juror questionnaires and to discuss matters related to scheduling.”

With the questions get into perceptions or knowledge of Team Mangione’s two-step in 100 Centre Street?

On June 29, SDNY Judge Garnett pushed her trial back to January 2027 (jury selection starting January 5, opening statements January 25) - Inner City Press live tweeted here, with extra

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SDNY COURTHOUSE, June 25 – Days before the expiration of Temporary Protected Status in the US for people from Syria, a court hearing was held on a request to enjoin the termination, before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Katherine Polk Failla. Inner City Press covered it live, on BlueSky here

Judge Failla: The Biden administration allowed extensions on Haiti and Venezuela. I’m not sure how I can consider what’s happened in Venezuela and Haiti except as a history of this Administration’s treatment of TPS. Plaintiffs’ lawyer: There’s South Sudan... The Vice President says there would be no more TPS writ large only case by case... The Secretary has terminated TPS each time it has come up. That is not an objective review. There are other deviations, in this Trump administration

Plaintiffs’ lawyer: These are no consultation on Nicaragua, Nepal, Venezuela and Cameroon. Perhaps others. There’s emails that termination determination had been made on Nicaragua, no letter. On Venezuela the letter was late

Plaintiffs’ lawyer: This was a pre-determined decision, not in accord with the statute.

On November 19 Judge Failla read out her lengthy ruling - Inner City Press again live tweeted on Bluesky, blocked from its main X account with no help from X Support. Once she ruled - to keep Syria TPS from ending Friday - she denied the AUSA’s request for a two week stay, saying she hoped he understood.

Docketed on February 20, the US’ appeal and the Second Circuit’s denial of a stay: “it is hereby ORDERED that the Government’s motion for a stay pending appeal is DENIED.”

More on Substack here

On July 25, the Supreme Court allowed the termination of TPS for Syria, and Haiti. “ALITO, J., announced the judgment of the Court and delivered the opinion of the Court except as to Part III–A. ROBERTS, C. J., and THOMAS and KAVANAUGH, JJ., joined that opinion in full, and GORSUCH and BARRETT, JJ., joined except for Part III–A. THOMAS, J., filed a concurring opinion. KAGAN, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which SOTOMAYOR and JACKSON, JJ., joined.”

From the decision, KAGAN, J., dissenting; “The aide stated (in two separate emails) that Haiti’s and Syria’s TPS designations were up for review; the official then replied as to each that the State Department had “no foreign policy concerns” with a termination of TPS. 2 App. 763; Administrative Record in No. 25–cv–8686 (SDNY), ECF Doc. 72–2, p. 156. The problem with those exchanges is that they were not about the right thing.”

What other recent decisions might go the same way?

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SDNY COURTHOUSE, June 23 – There was a hearing in Coe v. Todd Blanche on a Temporary Restraining Order and provisional class certification of families of transgender youth seeking to block turn over of health info to DOJ / subpoena to NYU Langone. Inner City Press live tweeted it on X:

Judge Failla: This case was reassigned to me 25 and a half hours ago. Before Judge Vargas, I hear the production of documents was extended. How about tomorrow by noon - acceptable?
Nixon Peabody: No objection from NYU.
Judge: How do I say Stangio?
Just so

Judge Failla: Would I have to find bad faith in the Executive Orders, or the transition to grand jury subpoenas?
Chase Strangio of ACLU: No. The Court has jurisdiction, under the Dow Jones factors. Care was here, the information is here.

Gonzalez-Pagan of Lambda: There is bad faith, but we can prevail without that finding. The Government has not shown why it needs this information. Plaintiffs’ transgender status triggers private rights.
Judge Failla: Rule 6(e) is about grand jury secrecy

Gonzalez-Pagan: There is also a subpoena to Rhode Island. They are purportedly investigating health care offenses-
Judge Failla: How do I know that? Given grand jury secrecy?
Gonzalez-Pagan: We have the Bondi memo, about aiming to end gender-affirming care

Gonzalez-Pagan: The 2d Circuit had held transgender status is incredibly private. This seeks info beyond gender dysphoria.
Judge Failla: The Government says this should be in the Northern District of Texas. How can I introject myself into their criminal case?

Gonzalez-Pagan: This is the weaponization of the grand jury, as to the subpoena to NYU. We are trying to protect the private information of our plaintiffs. At the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, they withdraw part of their request

Judge Failla: The Government’s response is, Your clients could go to Texas and challenge this.
Gonzalez-Pagan: We are seeking something broader, to protect our client’s information and rights. We cannot look at the subpoena in a vacuum. Mt. Sinai has a subpoena

Judge Failla: What about anonymized information?
Gonzalez-Pagan: That wasn’t offered. Anyway the information is granular and cannot be anonymized. There is no reason for the Government to be compiling a list of transgender people

Gonzalez-Pagan: The Texas Attorney General has said that this care is child abuse.
Judge Failla: I’m not an activist judge. I take seriously the lanes in which I can operate. So again, why isn’t this in Texas? I want to understand. Is this forum shopping?

Chase Strangio: They want to force us into wackamole, looking for grand juries all over the country.
Judge Failla: How could I certify with other health institutions if we don’t know if they have gotten a subpoena? Maybe Mt Sinai.
Strangio: Carl Coe went to both

Gonzalez-Pagan: It is clear that the Constitution can constrain the grand jury. Perhaps the informational right hasn’t been directly applied. But there is this case. The Government suggests they can seek any info through the grand jury

Judge: Break

Back.
AUSA: The Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure says the challenge to a subpoena should be where it was issued - they say, Northern District of Texas.
Judge Failla: But we have the Gonzalez decision here in the 2d Circuit. I don’t know other Circuits as well

Judge Failla: The subpoena was on a website
AUSA: But they’re seeking preliminary injunctive relief. In Gonzalez they sought only a declaratory judgment.
Judge Failla: The subpoenas aren’t going to the patients
AUSA: Grand jury secrecy exists for a reason

Judge Failla: How do I balance if I don’t know what subpoenas there are?
AUSA: That’s a question for Judge O’Connor in the North District of Texas. Allegedly.
Judge Failla: An alleged subpoena in an alleged District. Can you say patients wouldn’t be prosecuted?

AUSA: Let me confer with my co-counsel.... Patients will not be prosecuted. In this context, we view them a victims.
Judge Failla: Do you acknowledge they have an expectation of privacy in their information?
AUSA: Broadly...

Judge Failla: Aren’t you working with a de-transitioning group in Texas?
AUSA: Yes.
Judge Failla: So the plaintiffs may be concerned they would be forced into that. Take a moment while I consider what to ask NYU
[some laughter in the courtroom]

Judge Failla: OK, Mr. Cunha [RI-based lawyer for NYU], your client has been caught between two poles. But if you have a view on these issues, I’d love to hear from you
Cunha: We are betwixt and between. To this date we have not produce any patient information

Cunha: I cannot say we could ensure anonymization, in this era of artificial intelligence.
Judge Failla: If I agree with the Government, are you ready to produce information tomorrow?
Cuhna for NYU: Some.

Judge: 11 am oral decision

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80 CENTRE STREET, NYC, June 22 – Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg on June 22 held a press conference about the indictment in state court of four defendants for a Georgia to NYC gun trafficking scheme. So far of the defendants presented in 100 Centre Street, one was ordered remanded and the other offer bail.

Inner City Press asked DA Bragg how it is decided when to prosecute these cases Federally - that is, did SDNY prosecutors look at this case and pass on it? DA Bragg noted that he was a formerly a Federal prosecutor, then said it is decided on a case by case basis.

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by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, June 18 – On the 24th floor of Federal court in Manhattan a trial concluded on June 18, in which hedge funds tried to show the jury they carefully avoiding group formation despite the appearance of implicit agreements / concerted action. The case is Augenbaum v. Anson Investment Master Fund LP et al..

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Arun Subramanian, still presiding over the Live Nation antitrust case - and a related FOIA lawsuit - denied a motion to dismiss back in December.

On June 18 the defense argued, The trial record is devoid of evidence that could support Plaintiff’s claim against Empery. Investors do not form a Section 13(d) group by participating in a parallel transaction, yet that is all Plaintiff’s case in chief demonstrated as to Empery. Instead, a Section 13(d) group is formed for purposes of Section 16(b) where beneficial owners agree to act together to pursue a common objective with their investment power. Plaintiff has failed to meet his burden. After five days of trial and admitting more than ninety exhibits into evidence, Plaintiff did not adduce any proof that Empery agreed to act in concert with any other investor or pooled its holdings in furtherance of a common objective. In fact, the record establishes the opposite.

Later on June 18 Judge Subramanian had the closing arguments run back to back into the early afternoon. By 5 pm the verdict: no liability for the defendant hedge funds. They and their lawyers congratulated each other and then headed out, in the streets still full of detritus from the New York Knicks victory parade.

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Defense lawyer Andrew Gladstein closing - court art courtesy to Inner City Press from Elizabeth Williams

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SDNY COURTHOUSE, June 17 – Luigi Mangione was presented in Federal court on four charges, one of them death penalty eligible, for the killing of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson. Inner City Press was there, covering the case toward a book.

On December 3, 2025 Inner City Press requested some unsealing from NYS Justice Gregory Carro - and on the morning of December 4, a sidebar then this confirmation, from NYS Courts public information: “Judge made me aware there’s a plan formulating for certain approved evidence to be placed in a dropbox on the district attorney’s office’s channels. Please stay tuned.” We’re trying - but the June 3 hearing was in camera, no press or public. Next was June 16.

Note: Justice Carro came out and said that the defendant had been present for the virtual conference.

More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here.

On June 16, the Press waited - but Mangione was not produced; they’ll try against June 17.

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They did, and Inner City Press live tweeted. Mangione will assert the extreme emotional disturbance defense before Justice Carro - but can’t in Federal court. Expect jury selection fireworks in SDNY. Now things will be unsealed, as Inner City Press long ago asked.

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SDNY COURTHOUSE, June 16 – Luigi Mangione was presented in Federal court on four charges, one of them death penalty eligible, for the killing of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson. Inner City Press was there, covering the case toward a book.

On December 3, 2025 Inner City Press requested some unsealing from NYS Justice Gregory Carro - and on the morning of December 4, a sidebar then this confirmation, from NYS Courts public information: “Judge made me aware there’s a plan formulating for certain approved evidence to be placed in a dropbox on the district attorney’s office’s channels. Please stay tuned.” We’re trying - but the June 3 hearing was in camera, no press or public. Next was June 16.

Note: Justice Carro came out and said that the defendant had been present for the virtual conference.

More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here.

On June 16, the Press waited - but Mangione was not produced; they’ll try against June 17. Justice Carro referred to things he had received by email. Inner City Press went to the Clerk’s Office on the 10th floor and asked for all recent filings. The most recent were from April 1, one page orders. These were kept in a white cardboard box.

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FEDERAL COURTHOUSE, June 12 – The fintech Mercury has put up its signs on a flashy low-rise building on the corner of Delancey and Christie Street on NYC’s Lower East Side. In small print it discloses that Mercury is not a bank, but uses Column Bank N.A.

So who does the Community Reinvestment Act compliance for this set-up?

Inner City Press / Fair Finance Watch decided to look into it. Column’s website does not even mention the CRA, unlike nearly every bank. Its regulator the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has essentially stopped enforcing CRA for the past 18 months, intent on handing out new bank charter to crypto firms.

Fair Finance Watch has commented to the OCC on those charters and the lack of CRA, and on the OCC’s decision to eliminate its Weekly Bulletin providing public notice of applications, and many break-downs of its replacement.

Fifth Third, in the midst of closing the 76 branches Inner City Press made the Federal Reserve disclose under FOIA while the Fed was rubber stamping 5/3’s Comerica acquisition, had a deal with Brex, which also uses Column Bank, N.A. (and artificial intelligence, without disclosure).

So how to address this Colum Bank NA fintech CRA loophole? Fair Finance Watch has already written to the OCC, cc-ing the FDIC.

The beginning of action is information. So here are a few paragraphs, the beginning of a new project:

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FEDERAL COURT, June 12 – Peoples Bancorp of Ohio proposes to expand into Kentucky by buying Citizens Bank there - then dumping its securities business to game the system and stay under the $10 billion line and away from the defanged CPFB.

Fair Finance Watch, after the Federal Reserve refused to act to ensure public access to Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data, has commented to the Fed on the 2024 HMDA data of Peoples - and on the scam - and now, on Peoples Bancorp’s contempt for local communities:

Dear Chairman Warsh, Secretary Misback:

This is early opposition to the application of Peoples Bancorp Inc. of Marietta, Ohio to acquire Citizens National Corporation, and thereby indirectly acquire Citizens Bank of Kentucky, Inc., both of Paintsville, Kentucky.

What is most striking about this proposed acquisition, and calls for inquiry, hearing and denial, is the gaming of the system. The proposed acquisition would take Peoples over $10 billion - to avoid that, and fly under the radar, Peoples proposes to buy Citizens and then immediately sell off its securities portfolio and more.

It’s like consciousness of guilty - what is People’s so afraid of? The CFPB?

Seemingly relatedly, Fair Finance Watch hereby entered into the record, at the earliest time, Peoples Bank’s disparate records of lending in its home state, Ohio.

In 2024 in Ohio, People’s Bank (LEI I70W3N0Z6KOX8FYIH023) made fully 981 mortgage loans to whites, while denying only 272 - meanwhile it made only 28 loans to African Americans, while denying fully 14.

Evidentiary hearings are needed on this application. There are consumer complaints, but the FRB has declared that even CFPB database complaints, no matter the volume, are not “substantive.” We disagree - and ask for a hearing on these issues as well.

And on these - beyond Chair Warsh, it would seem that Governor Bowman should take a close listen to, for example

Sharon Collins, who worked at and is a shareholder in the target bank: “I am totally against this merger approved by the board . As a stockholder I am making my voice known. Every person in my community that I hear from is not pleased. Help us stop this unwanted merger in our community. Help the voice of the community be heard.”

Angela Johnson: “”Citizens is not in any kind of financial trouble, so it makes no sense. As a shareholder of Citizens, I was not informed of this decision beforehand and have still not been permitted to vote on it. It is very disheartening to learn about this decision second hand and on social media.”

Antitrust - Deborah Ferguson wrote, “customers will not have abundant amounts of choices when it comes to a bank because People’s bank will be too abundant in these areas. As a member of this area I wish you would please consider not letting this merger go through.”

On June 8 the FRB of Cleveland provide a portion of the application - but withholding even Peoples current and “prospective” list of shareholders. Inner City Press immediately appealed, citing inter alia its FOIA lawsuit against the Fed on Enova, 26-cv-4556 (SDNY).

Meanwhile, more protests against the application:

W.C. Rice, from the email address Casey Jones: “Some years back 2018 or in that area people’s bank came into our small town buying a local bank “First Commonwealth” . I had accounts there. I kept them for a while after the merge of First Commonwealth but eventually decided I really just wanted to bank local and not with an out of state financial institution from ohio. So i decided to just close them out and keep my anchor accounts in the local bank, Citizens. Now I learn People’s bank is now buying out/ merging yet with another hometown bank in my community ultimately forcing me to bank with them or switch out to find banking services with someone else. Then I see the ad in the local paper last week with the information for federal reserve. Unfortunately there was a typo in and I had a returned email as undeliverable which i caught by accident and looked into it so im guessing you may have had several more emails had they not put a hyphen in the email address.”

[Note: the Fed has been known to reject public comments as purported spam - and has not come forward with any fix or safeguard as Fair Finance Watch requested]

Johnna Sloan: “ I am a concerned citizen of Paintsville, Kentucky. I recently learned that People’s Bank was acquiring Citizens Bank of Kentucky. This has me worried for our small town. Citizens Bank of Kentucky is a staple in our town and has been since the early 1900’s when it began as Citizens National Bank. I was blessed to have worked for Citizens Bank for 15 years. I very much enjoyed my job as a teller. We worked hard to maintain a personal connection with our customers. We prioritized taking time to speak with our customers as friends and not just as a number. We took the time to get to know them, to ask how their families were doing. And , we sincerely cared how they were doing!! We celebrate the Johnson County Apple Festival the 1st Friday and Saturday in October each year. This festival all Started over 50 years ago when Mr Elmond Davis, an officer of the bank, allowed local farmers to bring their apples into town and sell them in the street in front of Citizens National Bank ( That’s what the bank name was at that time) This act of kindness to the farmers resulted in the making of our town “Apple Festival that takes place the 1st weekend each October every year. This merger would devastate our community!! Jobs are scarce right now!! I ask you to please help our people to keep their jobs by allowing this merger to not be allowed.”

Anthony Daniel: “I’m writing as a concern citizen of paintsville kentucky to block Peoples Bank for acquiring Citizens National Corp., This will have a negative effect on the town as well as cost major job loss in a already poor area. We have the right to have community based bank that has been in this town for 116 years . If you drive 20 mins up the road in prestonsburg Ky people’s bank will have 3 locations within a mile radius . In paintsville this means people’s bank will have multiple locations with mins from apart which isn’t right.”

Are Governor Bowman, and new chair Kevin Warsh, listening to this? Fair Finance Watch has written in again:

On June 11, 2026, Peoples Bancorp filed a response to the public comment letters with the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. Its letter runs four pages. The 2024 HMDA data is dismissed as “narrow” and “misrepresentative,” without any counter-analysis.

More striking: Peoples does not address a single community member by name. Sharon Collins, who wrote that every person in her community is opposed. Johnna Sloan, the 15-year Citizens Bank teller who fears for her job and her town. Anthony Daniel, who noted that Peoples already has three locations within a mile radius in Prestonsburg and doesn’t need more. W.C. Rice, who was forced to bank with Peoples after it bought another local bank in 2018 and is now watching it happen again.

None of them merited a sentence in Peoples’ response. What Peoples did address: its Forbes ranking. Its employee benefits package. Its 4,000 CRA volunteer hours. Its eleven consecutive years of dividend increases. These are the things Peoples chose to put before the Federal Reserve as its answer to a community saying: please don’t take our bank. Fair Finance Watch has filed a detailed reply to the Federal Reserve, noting what Peoples said — and what it didn’t.

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SDNY COURTHOUSE, June 11 – Former NYC Comptroller, now Congressional candidate Brad Lander was in the SDNY courthouse back on February 12, on the complaint following his detention in 26 Federal Plaza. Inner City Press was the first media in the courtroom and live tweeted:

Defense: We propose May 11 for trial, March 4 for our motion. AUSA: Schedule would be OK - but we disagree on the law

The trial in fact took place on June 10, and Inner City Press live tweeted all of it, here.

On his way in, Inner City Press asked Lander about FISA and the DNI. After the trial - the ruling was put off to the following morning at 9 am - Inner City Press asked him if he had prepared for a longer cross examination than he got: very short, allowing an answer about “Knicks colors.” He laughed.

Then he was asked about fellow endorsee Claire Valdez, and his lawyer answered as well.

June 10 more on X for Subscribers here and Substack here

On June 11 Judge Ricardo read out his finding of fact - FPS’ messaging was unclear, no one was obstructed, Lander sat because he was “tired” - which Lander disputed afterward. Inner City Press asked Lander if he thought the SDNY prosecutors phoned it in by not cross examining him more extensively. Good question, Lander said.

June 11 more (personal) on X for Subscribers here and below the paywall /

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SDNY COURTHOUSE, June 10 – Former NYC Comptroller, now Congressional candidate Brad Lander was in the SDNY courthouse back on February 12, on the complaint following his detention in 26 Federal Plaza. Inner City Press was the first media in the courtroom and live tweeted:

Defense: We propose May 11 for trial, March 4 for our motion. AUSA: Schedule would be OK - but we disagree on the law

The trial in fact took place on June 10, and Inner City Press live tweeted all of it, here.

On his way in, Inner City Press asked Lander about FISA and the DNI. After the trial - the ruling was put off to the following morning at 9 am - Inner City Press asked him if he had prepared for a longer cross examination than he got: very short, allowing an answer about “Knicks colors.” He laughed.

Then he was asked about fellow endorsee Claire Valdez, and his lawyer answered as well.
Below: court art courtesy of Elizabeth Williams to Inner City Press: Lander watches (one of) his lawyers, Michael Bass

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By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon

SDNY COURTHOUSE, June 9 – Haji Najibullah was arraigned in November 2020 on charges of having kidnapped and held hostage American journalist David Rohde from November 10, 2008 to July 2009 in Afghanistan, demanding the release of Taliban prisoners and money from Rohde’s family.

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Katherine Polk Failla held the arraignment. Inner City Press covered it - and her sentencing on June 9, 2026, to 42 years, see below.

Najibullah had been captured in Ukraine, and presented before SDNY Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang on October 28, 2020. He was assigned a Federal Defender, Mark Gombiner; he was been informed of his rights of the Due Process Protections Act.

Jump cut nearly a year later on October 15, 2021, when Najibullah and Gombiner appeared again before Judge Failla. Inner City Press again covered it. Judge Failla admonished Gombiner not to give speeches for the media. But he argued about the absurdity of a country bombing another, then calling the fight-back a crime. He also questioned how the US gave only 200 documents under discovery.

Judge Failla said she envisioned a defense motion to compel and a CIPA motion from the US, and urged that the parties confer.

Jump cut all the way to April 10, 2024, when Judge Failla held a conference in advance of an April 18 hearing that, it seems, will be partially sealed. In the interim, Judge Jesse M. Furman has granted in large part Inner City Press’ motions to unseal CIPA hearing transcripts. Why not here? Thread:

Federal Defender: We’ll have an interpreter in court Judge:

AUSA Robles, if Mr. Najibullah testifies, can he use his own interpreter? AUSA: I don’t object to that Judge: An interpreter may also testify. AUSA: We have clearer our day for this Judge: You and me both

Judge: Are you still pursuing the specialty arguments? Federal Defender: Yes. We had moved for evidentiary hearings on that, and also the law of armed conflict. Judge: Who might I be hearing testimony from on the combatant issue? Federal Defender: Expert witnesses

Judge: I don’t know if I want a hearing on that. I take note that’s what you are offering. Anything else? Federal Defender 2: We also have Miranda waiver issues

Judge: Yes, Agent Wyka [apparently Joint Terrorism TF Officer James Wyka] will address that

Federal Defender 1: Once the litigation around our CIPA 5 motion is resolved, we’ll put in a schedule for Rule 15 motion practice. Also, there will be the May 6 CIPA hearing.

Judge: You are of course mindful of other classified cases you have before me

AUSA: Courtroom 24B, that’s a classified courtroom, is that right? Judge: No. But there are rooms adjacent to the courtroom we could use. AUSA: I don’t expect Wyka implicating classified courtroom. But you’ve seen the rest. Judge: We could use the jury room

Judge: I’m told that 24B is the Marshals’ preferred way to move Mr. Najibullah in and out of the holding cell. We are adjourned.

On April 17, on the eve of the partially sealed hearing, the US Attorney’s Office submitted four exhibits - three it asked to seal, and the other (a France 24 video in which Najibullah identified as “Abu Tayeb” speaks of suicide bombing and holy war.

On June 27, a proceeding that Inner City Press live tweeted, here

now SDNY proceeding in US v. Haji Najibullah, Judge Failla will be issuing an oral decision (Najibullah not present due to MDC Brooklyn snafu)

Federal Defenders: We waive Mr. Najibullah’s appearance due to BOP’s inability to produce him. Judge Failla: We have an interpreter on stand-by. You are willing to go forward? FD: Yes.

Judge: I find that I have jurisdiction, despite the prisoner of war issues

Judge Failla: I reject the defense’s arguments under the Third Geneva Convention (GPW), and under the political questions doctrine, and AR 190-8. My jurisdiction is not curtailed.

Judge Failla: I call for a hearing, then. I am reluctant to cede authority on this to the Executive Branch. It would be great if the parties could agree on written materials, without need for a witness. Get back to me. I have a three week civil trial in July

Judge Failla: The trial date in US v. Najibullah may have to move. I’d like a joint letter by July 8. Federal Defender: We could do this in August.

On July 10, Judge Failla endorsed that the hearing will take place on August 7 at 10 am.

On July 11, Federal Defenders asked to delay the trial

Jump cut to April 25, 2025, when Najibullah pled guilty “to hostage taking and providing material support for acts of terrorism resulting in death in connection with NAJIBULLAH’s role in the hostage taking of an American journalist and two Afghan nationals in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2008 and 2009, and his leadership of Taliban fighters who carried out attacks on U.S. servicemembers in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2009, resulting in the deaths of American soldiers.”

On October 9, the sentencing was delayed to February 19, 2026, to allow sealed comment by the defense and prosecution on a classified portion of a pre-sentencing report.

Jump cut to June 3, 2026 when Najibullah’s Federal Defender, now also representing al-Saadi, filed his sentencing memo with
David Rohde’s name for some reason redacted and asked for an 18 year sentence.

On June 9, in a sentence proceeding set to begin at 10 am that ran past 4 pm, with two sealed sessions - Inner City Press live tweeted it - Judge Failla ultimately sentenced Najibullah to 42 years.

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SDNY COURTHOUSE, June 8 – The US Army soldier indicted for making $400,000 on Polymarket with inside information on the capture of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela is due in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, according to his release order in North Carolina found and tweeted by Inner City Press.

Gannon Ken Van Dyke’s profits are put at $409,000. But on April 24 he was found to be “eligible for appointment of counsel at government expense.” 5(c)(3) filings on Patreon here.

His financial affidavit, of the type Inner City Press has gotten unsealed for example in the SDNY case of Michael Avenatti, was not included. By April 28, he had retained Zach Intrater - and Mark Geragos. Inner City Press was there, and live tweeted here

AUSA Finkel: We allege he used information about the Operation to place $33,000 in bet on Polymarket, took in $400,000.

Judge Garnett: Any CIPA litigation? It’s an unusual case, the defendant allegedly had the information.
AUSA: We’ll tell you in 2 or 3 weeks

On May 13, this: “’I recommend Mr. Matthew W. Mullery, Security Specialist, for the position of Classified Information Security Officer in the above-captioned case. I also recommend Security Specialists Jennifer H. Campbell, Daniel O. Hartenstine, Daniella M. Medel, William S. Noble, Harry J. Rucker, and Winfield S. “Scooter” Slade as alternate Classified Information Security Officers. I certify that the above - named individuals, all of whom are employees of the Litigation Security Group, retain the required security clearances’... ENDORSEMENT: The Court accepts Mr. Bensley’s recommendation regarding appropriate CISOs for this case. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Margaret M. Garnett on 5/13/2026).”

On May 15 the US Attorney’s Office wrote in that it intends to file a CIPA Section 4 motion about discovery “when such a motion is due.” That will require a declaration by the (still Acting?) Attorney General; the AUSA notes that it is permitted “in certain circumstances, to withhold the identity of its informants.”

More on Substack here

On June 8 Inner City Press live tweeted the status conference at which a December 7 trial date was set. Defense lawyer Mark Geragos argued that CIPA does not apply, and stressed that the military is revoking Van Dyke’s clearance. Judge Garnett did not appear to take that argument seriously, alluding to a similar case in SDNY which Inner City Press took to be US v. Josh Schulte. Next conference was set for September 28.

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