Extra: Duo Detained on ISIS Charges for IED by Gracie Mansion - More Analysis Here
More analysis on X for Subscribers here and below the paywall / Subscribe (support) line here
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, March 9 – The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York on March 9 announced “charges against EMIR BALAT and IBRAHIM KAYUMI alleging that they attempted to detonate two explosive devices in the vicinity of Gracie Mansion, and that they were acting in support of ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization.”
Inner City Press went to their presentment in SDNY and live tweeted:
1:07 pm Balat is lead out where a white prison jumpsuit, sits next to Essmidi. Then Kayumi is brought out, similarly clad, and put next to the Federal defender (who, in the CBP case, has made a motion about improper prosecutorial comments
1:17 pm All rise! Magistrate Judge Gary Stein: Date and time of arrest? AUSA: They were arrested Saturday, and taken into Federal custody this morning at 9 am. Judge Stein: You have the right to remain silent...
Judge Stein: Mr. Essmidi, you are retained? [That is, paid] Essmidi: Yes. Judge Stein: Mr. Kayumi on the other hand is seeking publicly funded representation. I accept your financial affidavit and appoint the Federal Defenders. The criminal complaint has 5 counts
Judge: East End Avenue and 88th Street, attempt to provide personnel - that is, yourselves - to ISIS, and bringing explosive from out of state to throw into a crowd. Mr. Essmidi, have you and your client read it? Yes. FD: Yes.
[Two more AUSAs have walked in] AUSA: We seek detention of both defendants. Judge: Mr. Essmidi? Essmidi: We postpone our bail application and consent (to detention) FD: We as well.
Then Inner City Press ran to One Police Plaza for the press conference, was admitted into the orange cube of a building, to the second floor - then was told to leave, the event had already begun and it would not be admitted. Covering both the presentment and the press conference was apparently discouraged. Complaint on Patreon here
More analysis on X for Subscribers here and below the paywall
/ Subscribe (support) line here
