DOJ Says It Opposes Bannon Lawyers Quitting Until He Gets New Ones Or Shows He’s Entitled to Public Funded Ones like Avenatti (whose filings Inner City Press has filed to unseal)
The free lawyer filing of Parnas co-defendant Correia have already been unsealed after Inner City Press request
By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - The Source
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Nov 29 – The Southern District of New York courthouse, which Inner City Press has covered nearly alone this summer amid the COVID-19 pandemic, was jumping on August 20. Video here. In the afternoon, Steve Bannon would appear in person before a judge. After pleading not guilty, he told the press as he left the courthouse, "This entire fiasco is to stop people who want to build the wall."
This came after more than two hours of chanting by three then six people with flags, pro-Bannon: "CCP violence, stop the killing." Inner City Press spoke with them, video here.
On August 31, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Analisa Torres held a proceeding, and Inner City Press live tweeted it, below.
Now on November 29 the US Attorney's Office has indicated it may oppose the withdrawal of Bannon's lawyers until he hired new ones, or shows that he is entitled to a tax payer funded lawyer, like Michael Avenatti (whose affidivit(s) Inner City Press has filed to unseal, see here) —
"Re: United States v. Stephen Bannon, 20 Cr. 412 (AT) Dear Judge Torres: The Government respectfully submits this letter in response to defense counsel’s motion to withdraw from this case (Dkt. No. 55) on the ground that “alternative counsel would be better suited to [the defendant’s] defense strategy” (Dkt. No. 56 ¶ 2). To ensure an orderly transition of representation and to prevent undue delay, the Government respectfully requests that the Court not permit defense counsel to withdraw until new counsel is retained and appears in this case on behalf of the defendant (or the defendant is appointed counsel after demonstrating eligibility by filing the required financial affidavit). In the absence of the appearance (or appointment) of new counsel that will represent the defendant throughout the pending proceedings and can assure the Court that no delay will be occasioned by the transition to new counsel, the Government would object to the withdrawal of counsel." Watch this site.
On November 6, Bannon asked to adjourn his November 9 court date as his law firm moved to withdraw and others told Inner City Press to expect a filing about Bannon's comments about Fauci. For now, this: "Re: United States v. Kolfage, et al., No. 20 Cr. 412 (AT) Dear Judge Torres: On behalf of Defendant Stephen Bannon, we write respectfully to request an adjournment of the status conference currently scheduled for Monday, November 9 at 1:00 p.m. Mr. Bannon is in the process of retaining new counsel, and Quinn Emanuel intends to move to withdraw. As a result, Mr. Bannon respectfully requests that the status conference in this matter be adjourned for three weeks so that he may formally retain new counsel. We have conferred with counsel for the government and for Defendants Brian Kolfage, Andrew Badolato, and Timothy Shea, all of whom consent to an adjournment. This is the second request Mr. Bannon has made for an adjournment of this status conference."
Just before close of business on November 6, Judge Torres granted the request, noting that the US Attorney had not opposed it (much less filed anything about beheading) - "ORDER as to Brian Kolfage, Stephen Bannon, Andrew Badolato, Timothy Shea. On November 6, 2020, Defendant Bannon requested an adjournment of the status conference scheduled for November 9, 2020, to allow for his current counsel to withdraw and for him to retain new counsel. ECF No. 47. This request was unopposed. Id. The conference scheduled for November 6, 2020, is hereby ADJOURNED to December 2, 2020, at 1:00 p.m." Watch this site.
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