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Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 8h

Judge Paula Xinis to DOJ's Drew Ensign: "While I'm writing, if I don't get a yes [that admin is willing to deport to Costa Rica] then I'll take it as a no. Because you're on notice now."

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Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 9h

Rossman says govt. isn't acting in good faith. Points out previous witness said third-country designation would be made by ICE desk agent:

“We’re now hearing that that determination is being made by the Homeland Security Council with the input of the White House.”

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Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 9h

Rossman says if the government won't explain why they won't send Abrego Garcia to Costa Rica, especially in the face of three African countries saying no: "I think the only logical inference to draw is that they are using detention as a means of punishment.”

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Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 9h

Abrego Garcia attorney Andrew Rossman: “100%, is my understanding. Mr. Abrego Garcia is prepared to go to Costa Rica if that’s where the government decides to send him.”

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Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 9h

MORE: Attorneys for Kilmar Abrego Garcia say affirmatively if DHS decided to remove him to Costa Rica tomorrow he would go.

That the Trump administration isn't trying to deport him there, they say, shows they're trying to punish him.

Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 9h

NEW: A senior ICE official testified today the WH Homeland Security Council — and not the State Department — informed him Uganda was the deportation target for Abrego Garcia.

DOJ then asserted presidential privilege over any other details about the call. www.wusa9.com/article/news...

DOJ asserts presidential privilege over details about how Uganda was selected in Abrego Garcia deportation case

A senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official said third-country designations are typically made by the State Department.

www.wusa9.com

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Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 9h

NEW: A senior ICE official testified today the WH Homeland Security Council — and not the State Department — informed him Uganda was the deportation target for Abrego Garcia.

DOJ then asserted presidential privilege over any other details about the call. www.wusa9.com/article/news...

DOJ asserts presidential privilege over details about how Uganda was selected in Abrego Garcia deportation case

A senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official said third-country designations are typically made by the State Department.

www.wusa9.com

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Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 11h

Schultz says he believes the third-country destination was changed from Uganda to Eswatini because Uganda said no. He was told that Abrego Garcia's name was submitted to Eswatini on Wednesday. Eswatini has also said no.

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Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 11h

The DOJ has just asserted presidential communications privilege over details of a phone call between a White House Homeland Security Council staff member and Schultz about the selection of Uganda. After a sidebar, Judge Paula Xinis agrees the privilege applies.

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Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 11h

BREAKING: Following OMB Director Russ Vought's tweet today announcing RIFs, AFGE has filed an emergency motion seeking a TRO. They argue the RIFs violate the Antideficiency Act by requiring unlawful work during a government shutdown.

Link: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

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Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 13h

Schultz testifies that ICE does not pick the countries for third-country removal -- that's done by the State Dept. In Abrego Garcia's case, though, he says he was notified by the Homeland Security Council (which operates out of the White House) that Uganda had been selected.

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Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 13h

Schultz says he's "not actively" involved in the Abrego Garcia case. Says the officer assigned the El Salvador docket would be in charge of the case, but isn't sure who that is.

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Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 13h

Schultz also says ICE has considered Ghana as a third-country destination, although Ghana's foreign minister has already publicly announced the country won't take Abrego Garcia.

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Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 13h

During an evidentiary hearing now for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, ICE Deputy Assistant Director for Removal Management John Schultz says Eswatini has not yet agreed to take him:

“We’ve had initial conversations with Eswatini and we haven’t gotten to a ‘yes,’ but discussions are continuing.”

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Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 1d

Ben Schrader, who had been criminal division chief for the U.S Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, posted this on LinkedIn following his resignation in June.

As chief, Schrader would have had to sign off on any prosecution of Abrego Garcia the office filed.

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Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 1d

NEW: DOJ says it will turn over the resignation letter of the criminal division chief who resigned the same day Kilmar Abrego Garcia was indicted.

It argues it shouldn't have to turn over any comms by high-level admin officials about the case. Link: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

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Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 2d

The government has responded to Sidney Reid's motion, saying officers didn't think there was much of anything on the video and that it was never really in their possession.

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Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 2d

Former FBI director Jim Comey pleaded not guilty today to lying to Congress.

In a rare move, his defense has laid out their strategy. They'll argue the case is politically motivated and that interim U.S. Attorney Lindsay Halligan was unlawfully appointed. www.wusa9.com/article/news...

Former FBI director Comey pleads not guilty, will argue prosecution is politically motivated

Attorneys for James Comey said they intend to challenge the appointment of President Donald Trump's former attorney to lead the federal prosecutor's office.

www.wusa9.com

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Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 2d

Comey's lawyer, former U.S. Attorney and U.S. Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald, called it the "honor of my life" to represent him.

He said they view it as a "simple case." Also said they may file additional motions claiming grand jury abuse and outrageous government conduct.

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Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 2d

Former FBI director James Comey pleaded not guilty this morning to two counts for alleged false statements to Congress.

Jury trial set for Jan. 5. Before that: Motions from the defense to dismiss for vindictive prosecution and disqualify interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan.

Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 2d

In Alexandria this morning, where former FBI director Jim Comey is scheduled to be arraigned at 10 a.m. Lots of media here along with a few folks protesting the case.

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Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 2d

A better view of the handful of protesters who showed up today. There's also at least one former J6 defendant livestreaming across the street.

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Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 2d

In Alexandria this morning, where former FBI director Jim Comey is scheduled to be arraigned at 10 a.m. Lots of media here along with a few folks protesting the case.

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Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 3d

As promised, U.S. Attorney Pirro's office has now refiled misdemeanor charges against attorney Paul Bryant in D.C. Superior Court.

He was sent a citation to appear next month. Prosecutors had previously fought for pretrial detention.

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Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 3d

As Judge Sooknanan said last week, the case is going to turn on the credibility of the officers who say Sidney Reid was forcibly resisting/impeding them because the video is so close up. A wider angle of the incident would be a key piece of evidence. www.wusa9.com/article/news...

'Highly relevant' | Judge will allow FBI agent's texts disparaging alleged assailant at trial

A federal judge said defense attorneys for Sidney Lori Reid should have the opportunity to show jurors texts calling her a "libtard."

www.wusa9.com

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Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 3d

Reid says an officer showed her the video -- which allegedly captured another angle of her arrest -- while she was in a squad car. The video was uploaded to Instagram by someone, but is no longer available on the link provided by prosecutors, her attorneys say.

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Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 3d

A new wrinkle in the Sidney Reid case: Judge Sooknanan has scheduled an evidentiary hearing Thursday after Reid's attorneys filed a motion to dismiss today. They allege the government failed to to preserve potentially exculpatory video of the incident.

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