| Melzer Who Wanted 10 Year
Middle East War Indicted For Passing Secrets
As PlayStation Searched
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- The
Source
SDNY COURTHOUSE,
Sept 9 – Ethan Melzer a/k/a
Etil Reggad was charged with
conspiring to target his U.S.
Army unit, allegedly because
"another 10 year war in the
Middle East would definitely
leave a mark."
Since his
indictment his lawyers at
Federal Defenders have sought
information about the
selection of the grand jury,
and the constitution of the
Master and Qualified Jury
Wheels (others are seeking
this too, as covered by Inner
City Press here).
On July 6
he was arraigned before U.S.
District Court for the
Southern District of New York
Magistrate Judge Sarah
Netburn. Inner City Press live
tweeted it, below.
On
September 9 the assigned
District Judge, Gregory H.
Woods, arraigned Melzer on the
superseding indictment. Inner
City Press live tweeted it:
Judge Woods says
this will be an arraignment on
superseding indictment.
Federal Defender says if
Melzer came into the
courthouse, he'd have to be
quarantined 14 or 21 days
after it. So, it's by phone
[earlier today a video
sentencing in another case
broke down]
AUSA Hellman: The
superseding indictment
contains the original charges
- conspiracy to murder U.S.
nationals / service members
abroad, terrorist acts - but
adds 2 counts: illegal
transmission of national
defense info, to a faction or
person in a foreign country
AUSA Hellman: The
defendant wanted to set off a
race war and bring down
Western civilization. Judge
Woods: Mr Melzer, you have the
right for me to read the
superseding indictment to you
on the record. Melzer: No
thank you, Judge.
Melzer pleads not
guilty to each count. AUSA
Hellman: The US has made 2
discovery productions,
"significant and voluminous,"
including Telegram messages.
AUSA Hellman: The
US got warrants for
defendant's two cell phone and
his PlayStation game console.
The government will continue
to produce discovery.
Judge
Woods: How does the government
propose to deal with
classified information? [Inner
City Press note: In the CIA /
Schulte case they set up a
SCIF in 500 Pearl Street, but
now counsel in that case says
the room does not have the
ventilation needed amid COVID]
AUSA
Hellman: There will be only
100 pages of classified
material. It can be stored in
a SCIF. We have a protective
order under CIPA. Judge Woods:
I don't have the CIPA order in
front of me. I don't see it
filed on the docket. [Me
either].
Inner City
Press Federal Defender:
We'd ask for 90 days to review
the discovery. Mr. Marvinny
will have to renew his
classified status / access.
AUSA Hellman: I checked, we
did not submit the CIPA order
and won't under Mr. Marvinny
is re-certified.
The next
date in Melzer case is
December 9. Inner City Press
will continue to cover it.
From July:
Voice: "This is
the MCC. We have Melzer here.
Ethan." "Hello?"
He is represented
by Federal Defenders, two
lawyers.
The US Attorney's
Office says Melzer wrote “I
would’ve died successfully . .
. cause [] another 10 year war
in the Middle East would
definitely leave a
mark.”
Judge Netburn:
You are charged with six
counts, including conspiracy
to murder and maim in a
foreign country. Have you
received a copy of this
indictment? Melzer: Yes,
Judge.
Judge Netburn:
How do you plead?
Melzer: Not
guilty, Judge.
And that was it -
less than 14 minutes, no
request for release of bond
(seems clear that would be
denied), no mention of next
date. Case is assigned to
District Judge Gregory Woods.
Inner City Press will continue
to report on it.
The case is US v.
Melzer, 20-cr-314 (Woods /
Netburn)
***
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