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SDNY COURTHOUSE, May 4 – Columbia University doctor Robert A. Hadden was hit on September 9, 2020 with a Federal indictment charging that "sexually abused dozens of female patients, including multiple minors, under the guise of conducting purported gynecological and obstetric examinations."

The case was assigned to U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Richard M. Berman, who handled the case of Jeffrey Epstein until he died in the Metropolitan Correctional Center.   Epstein came up during the bail argument, which Hadden won. Inner City Press live tweeted it, below.

 On July 14, Judge Berman docketed a letter the US had filed, with a full paragraph redacted, that it will seek a superseding indictment on another count of enticement, regarding an adult Victim-6. Letter on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here.

  On August 2, Hadden's publicly funded (for now) counsel filed a series of motions, with redactions, citing Evelyn Yang and request dismissal of the case. It mentioned Evelyn Yang's interview then redacts a two line sentence. Then, "Andrew Yang public a statement, this media attention led to outrage regarding the 'lenient' sentence Mr. Hadden had received in the DANY Prosecution." Yes.

On December 15, 2021, Judge Berman held a proceeding and Inner City Press live tweeted it here (podcast here)

On January 20, 2022, another conference (actually, an oral argument) which Inner City Press live tweeted here and below.

Motions to suppress were denied in early May 2022: "ORDER denying [133] Motion as to Robert Hadden (1). Defendant's motion, dated November 22, 2021, seeks the suppression of evidence obtained from the Defendant's home in Englewood, New Jersey. In the alternative, Defendant seeks a hearing pursuant to Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154 (1978). The Court incorporates by reference the arguments counsel have raised in their motion papers and at oral argument which was held on January 20, 2022. Based upon the written and oral record in this case, the Court denies the motion to suppress and finds that an evidentiary hearing is not warranted... II. Conclusion and Order. Defendant's motion to suppress evidence seized from his home (Dkt. 133) is denied. Additionally, there is no basis to hold a Franks hearing as the Court does not find there were intentional and/or material misrepresentations or omissions in the wairnnt affidavits. "A Franks hearing is warranted if the defendant can make a preliminary showing that (a) the warrant affidavit contains a false statement, (b) the false statement was included intentionally or recklessly, and (c) the false statement was integral to the probable cause finding." United States v. Caraher, 973 F.3d 57, 62 (2d Cir. 2020). No such showing has been made. (Signed by Judge Richard M. Berman on 5/4/2022)."

The [first] motions to suppress were denied on January 25: "DECISION & ORDER denying [134] Motion as to Robert Hadden (1). Defendant Robert Hadden's motion, dated November 22, 2021, seeks the suppression of evidence obtained from a laptop (the "Apple iBook") belonging to Hadden's deceased father that was seized on August 12, 2020, from his father's residence in Glen Cove, New York. The Court incorporates by reference the arguments counsel have raised in their motion papers and at oral argument, which was held on January 20, 2022. Based upon the written and oral record in this case, the Court denies the motion to suppress and finds that an evidentiary hearing is not warranted.... Defendant Robert Hadden's motion to suppress evidence seized from his deceased father's home (ECF No. 134) is denied. There is no basis to hold a hearing."

On February 2, a trial date was set: "ORDER as to Robert Hadden. Based upon the record herein, including counsels' joint February 1, 2022 letter and the conference held on February 2, 2022; the trial schedule is as follows: 1- Trial will commence with jury selection on Monday, September 12, 2022; 2- A final pretrial conference will be held on Wednesday, September 7, 2022 at 10:00 am; 3- Motions in limine are due July 18, 2022 (noon); 4- Responses to motions in limine are due August 1, 2022 (noon); 5- Joint proposed jury charges, joint proposed voir dire, joint proposed verdict sheet, joint list of names and places, are due August 15, 2022 (noon); 6- All disclosures between and among counsel, including, Rule 404(b) notice; 18 U.S.C. § 3500 and Giglio; and Rule 26.2 materials; and exhibit and witness lists should be exchanged as agreed to among counsel, but in no event later than August 26, 2022."

  Back on September 9, 2020 close to 10 pm, Hadden emerged from Pre-Trial then the courthouse. Inner City Press and three others sought to ask him questions, about the victims' statements and double jeopardy. He did not answer. A man in an FBI t-shirt led him first up Mulberry Street, then past the NYC criminal court at 100 Centre Street and finally out to Broadway and Reade Street where a taxi was waiting for Hadden. Periscope video here.

 SDNY Acting US Attorney Audrey Strauss held a press conference about the case on September 9.

  Inner City Press asked her if the indictment had been returned by a fully in-person grand jury, or if it had included a virtual component of the type being questioned in the CIA / Joshua Schulte, Melzer, Balde and other cases.

   US Attorney Strauss said the indictment was returned in the normal course, by a sitting grand jury. Periscope video here. Alamy photo here. She declined to say whether her office would be seeking detention pending trial, or agreeing to a bail package as they did in the recent case of indicted UN rapist Karim Elkorany.

There was no mention at the press conference for the charges against Hadden made publicly by Evelyn Yang, the wife of Andrew Yang, and not much mention of Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance.

Hours later, a bail proceeding before SDNY Magistrate Judge Robert Lehrburger (and not the Magistrate on duty on September 8, Barbara Moses). Inner City Press live tweeted it:

Speaking for the US is AUSA Maurene Comey...

 Judge Lehrburger: We are proceeding under the CARES Act. This is open to the press and public. Any recording is  prohibited. Hadden's lawyer: We are only representing him for this proceeding

 Judge Lehrburger: You have the right to remain silent... You have a right to be released unless I find danger to the community or risk of non-appearance for future court proceedings.  [Note: Ghislaine Maxwell was found a risk of flight]

Judge Lehrburger: You are charged with six counts of Enticement and Inducement to Travel To Engage In Illegal Sex Acts. Hadden's lawyer enters not guilty plea. AUSA Maurene Comey: The government seeks detention as risk of flight.

AUSA Comey: Today, the government has communicated with 20 victims. They all say he should be detained. He has the financial means to flee. Because of the minor victim, there is a statutory presumption of detention that cannot be overcome.

 AUSA Comey: He abused dozens of victims, including multiple minors, as prominent institution's [Columbia U] OB-GYN. He would sent nurses out of the room. [Did they ever report it?]

AUSA Comey: He conducted unneeded breast exams. He touched genitals without any medical purpose. He attempted to stimulate them, to gratify himself. For two decades. One victim, he had delivered as a baby

AUSA Comey: The women traveled to see him because he worked at a prominent institution. [What about Columbia?]

 The case is US v. Hadden, 20-cr-468 (Berman).

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