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By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Podcast Song Filing  II Video Podcast
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FEDERAL COURT, Sept 3 -- Months after the DC Circuit's decisions in US v. Munchel and more recently Tanios, and days after the US docketed filings in John Pierce's January 6 cases, on August 23 DDC Magistrate Judge Zia M. Faruqui had before him Capitol breach defendant Victoria White - for an ascertainment of counsel. He removed Pierce and made Federal Defenders her interim lawyer. Inner City Press live tweeted it here:

Now in Jan 6 case of US v. Victoria C. White, DDC Judge Faruqui is holding a proceeding on dropping John Pierce as her lawyer, says he held a similar hearing yesterday. Says he's very concerned.

AUSA: Our office's last communication with Mr Pierce was in August. He appears he is incapacitated. Our concern is that defendants' rights are protected. Mr. Marshall is not licensed. So we request advisory counsel.

 Judge Faruqui: Mr. Pierce has been on 17 of these cases. You have a right to be represented and I credit the Government for not just taking advantage but asking us to find you another lawyer...

 Judge Faruqui: If and when Mr Pierce gets better, God willing, he could come back in. We could do advisory counsel, or we could appoint Ms. Peterson, she has done terrorism cases.

Victoria White: There's a lot of bias out there, especially from the media. The government can screen shot. We have political prisoners, like Adam Samsel [Ryan?]

Judge Faruqui: That's for your candor. It's important we not speak about what happened that day, January 6. Mr. Pierce is on a number of cases I've heard, including the Samsel case that you mentioned. Do you want Ms. Peterson right now?

 Victoria White: When it comes to justice and truth, you take an oath, so help me God - which God would that be? 

Judge Faruqui: I'm not under oath.

Victoria White: Is that in the Constitution?

Judge Faruqui: It's in the Judicial Code. Victoria White: We are a nation of laws and rules under the one true God, the God of the Bible, Jesus Christ, this is religious and judicial

Judge Faruqui: I think -

Victoria White: Bear with me.

Victoria White: We will not get a fair trial, in this country that makes laws against God himself. Judge Faruqui: You can say laws violate the Constitution. Victoria White: We need to find a lawyer who will not take advantage of us. I won't play Russian roulette

Victoria White: I don't want a lawyer who just going to try to push me into a plea deal. I had a lawyer tell me -- Judge Faruqui: I don't want to hear what a lawyer told you. My wife reminds me, you have to keep it 100% all the time. You could change lawyers again

Judge Faruqui: I don't want you to get a B+ lawyer. I think Ms. Peterson is an A+. She beat me when I was a prosecutor. Or she can give you a list of lawyers the court has appointed. You can call them and talk with this. [In  @SDNYLIVE  they don't let you choose]

Federal Defender: We don't need to be appointed today. I can email Ms. White and give him a list of CJA lawyer, or of lawyers she could hire and pay. Judge Faruqui: Let's have a status hearing next Thursday, so she can call the lawyers

 Federal Defender: OK, appoint us an interim counsel, since Ms. White has expressed a desire not to have Mr. Pierce. That way the US would have to deal with me.

Judge Faruqui: OK. I am terminating Mr Pierce. If he get out this week I'm sure he'll contact you.

 Judge Faruqui: I am not the last word. There's a Circuit court right upstairs, and the Supreme Court down the street. Where are we on the Speedy Trial clock? AUSA: There's a motion that Ms. White's prior counsel said she objected to the exclusion of time

 Judge Faruqui: I bet you never heard from Mr. Pierce or Mr. Marshall about the Speedy Trial clock. White: I heard I was indicted so [hadn't Judge Faruqui said don't say what your lawyer told you? But here, seems to be inviting it]

 Judge Faruqui: At our September 17, 11:30 am hearing, we'll revisit.  Maybe you'll find that Ms. Peterson is your A+. I haven't had this before, a lawyer with a health crisis and no one at their firm to continue. Adjourned

On Kenneth Harrelson on August 5, Inner City Press filed a letter and motion with Judge Mehta, on its DocumentCloud here.

On August 16, this: "Judge Mehta is in receipt of your email requesting access to the videos filed in United States v. Harrelson, No. 21-cr-28-10.  Under Standing Order No. 21-28, in order for the court to grant Inner City Press access to the videos filed in Mr. Harrelson’s case, you will need to file an application for access pursuant to D.D.C. Local Criminal Rule 57.6."

That rule provides: "Any news organization or other interested person, other than a party or a subpoenaed witness, who seeks relief relating to any aspect of proceedings in a criminal case... shall file an application for such relief with the Court. The application shall include a statement of the applicant's interest in the matter as to which relief is sought, a statement of facts, and a specific prayer for relief."

So, citing the Rule, Inner City Press filed another letter, one page, docketed here

Podcast here.  And Podcast II of August 19 here.

Now on August 19, it's been granted (shouldn't have been necessary): "MINUTE ORDER as to KENNETH HARRELSON (10) granting Inner City Press's 343 Application for Access to Video Exhibits. The United States shall make available to Inner City Press the video exhibits entered into evidence during the detention hearing of KENNETH HARRELSON (10), consistent with the procedures set forth in Standing Order 21-28. Inner City Press is granted permission to record, copy, download, retransmit, and otherwise further publish these video exhibits. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 8/19/2021."

So now, immediately, put on Inner City Press' YouTube, video here

Similarly, Inner City Press asked DOJ and then Judge Timothy Kelly for access to the videos that DOJ had shown to the court in the case: judicial documents that, under case law, must be made available to the public. But it was denied access, on the theory that Judge Kelly's order earlier in the month limited access to these judicial documents to a particular sub-set of the public.

 Inner City Press on July 27 wrote to Judge Kelly, including in the form of a motion, now on DocumentCloud, here. By noon the next day, July 28, nothing - no responses, no response. We'll have more on this. For now, podcast here; music video here.

Inner City Press live tweeted Riley June Williams on January 25, here. 

  From January 22, song here: Thread here.

 Inner City Press' John Earle Sullivan song on SoundCloud here. 

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