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Man Charged with al Shabaab Attack Plan Set to Represent Self at Trial Wanted To Ask on Israel

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 24 – Cholo Abdi Abdullah is charged with planning with al Shabaab to attack the US with a commercial jet. 

 On September 5, 2023 he appeared in court saying he has lost faith in lawyers, and intially saying he now wants to represent himself. Inner City Press was there, the only media in the courtroom.

  U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Analisa Torres advised him that without a lawyer he would be at a major disadvantage.

On November 21, 2023 Inner City Press went at 9 am to Abdullah's Faretta hearing. But it was asked to leave the courtroom, from 9:22 am to 9:50 am. It filed a letter to get the transcript of the closed proceeding, here.

On August 5, 2024Judge Torres set a schedule for an October 28 start of trial.

On October 18, the US Attorney's Office wrote in with issues for the final pre-trial conference on October 21, and trial set to start October 28: he "wants to merely sit passively during the trial... because he does not believe that this is a legitimate system."

He has not requested assistance in filing a proposed clothing order. So will he sit on trial in MDC tan? 

On October 21, he appeared in MDC tan for the final pre-trial conference. Inner City Press was there. Thread:

All rise! [Inner City Press is the only media - the only civilian - in the courtroom] Judge: Mr Abdullah, the trial begins next week.  Abdullah: I wish to remain passive

 Judge: If your stand-by counsel becomes active, I will assume it is with your consent. Abdullah: I am deliberating if I might question some witnesses. It is up to me. They are not going to participate in this case.

 Judge: If you engage in misconduct you may lose your right to represent yourself. You are at an extreme disadvantage if you represent yourself. You are putting yourself in extreme danger. Abdullah: I have my reasons. I keep them to myself

 Abdullah: I would prefer to not even have stand-by counsel. But you do not allow that. Judge: Did you receive the US motions in limine? Abdullah: I have objections, but no stamps to mail them. Judge: You may make them now.

Abdullah: The US is going to use Al Shabaab propaganda videos. Fine. But they should not show video of suicide bombers to the jury. It is going to play with verdict. I want them to cut the part with the shooting,start with the reporter

 Abdullah: There is CCTV provided by the Kenyan government. I do not want the suicide bomber video in AUSA: We want it in. He searched for the video almost contemporaneously. It is probative. [White noise is turned on]

 Abdullah: I don't object to the jury being shown the anti American and anti Zionist statements... But using the other Al Shabaab statements of CC-1 and CC-2, it is hearsay.

 Judge: Having received no objections, I issued an order on October 16. I assume you got it- Abdullah: I did not. Judge: You should read it. We will take a break.

On October 24 stand-by counsel wrote in that Abdullah has only been given access to legal research six days before trial. He had wanted jurors to asked about "bias about Israel and Palestine" but withdrew his request.

Watch this site.

More on Substack here

  The case is US v. Abdullah, 20-cr-677 (Torres)

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