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SDNY COURTHOUSE, Jan 23 – When former Congressman Chris Collins came up for sentencing on January 17, he and his lawyers were ready with arguments about the Boy Scouts. 

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Vernon S. Broderick was ready with a statement that he had not considered Collins' political views in imposing sentence on him, ultimately 26 months in a prison camp in Pensacola, Florida, to begin on March 17. Hear Inner City Press recap on WBEN Radio, here.

  Less than 24 hours before his sentencing of the ex Congressman's son, Cameron Collins," Judge Broderick asked his lawyers and the US Attorney's Office to answer a series of questions for the January 23, 3:30 pm sentencing that Inner City Press has asserted the right to live-tweet in the same way as Chris Collins - here are the questions:

"ORDER as to Christopher Collins, Cameron Collins, Stephen Zarsky: As the parties are aware, sentencing of Defendant Cameron Collins ("Collins" or "Defendant Collins") is scheduled in this matter for Thursday, January 23, 2020, at 3:30 p.m. I have completed my initial review of the Presentence Report ("PSR"), the defense sentencing submission, and the Government's sentencing submission. Based upon that review, it is hereby: ORDERED that the parties shall be prepared to discuss/answer the following topics and questions either at sentencing or prior to sentencing: 1. In paragraph 19 of the PSR, it states that Cameron Collins owned approximately 2.3% of the shares in Innate. a. Whose money was used to purchase these shares? b. How much in the aggregate did these shares cost at the time they were purchased? c. Were any of those shares owned by Caitlin Collins? i. If so, how many shares were owned by Caitlin Collins? ii. Whose money was used to purchase those shares? d. When was the first purchase of Innate shares by Cameron Collins and/or by someone on his behalf? e. Did Christopher Collins purchase some of the shares for Cameron Collins and/or Caitlin Collins using his money? If so, how many shares were purchased by Christopher Collins?

2. Can either party identify any insider trading case where an individual who was 24 years old at the time of the offense was sentenced within the Guidelines range for insider trading? If so, please provide the citation and be prepared to discuss how the case(s) are analogous or not analogous to the instant case.

3. Can either party identify any insider trading case where an individual who was 24 years old at the time of the offense was handled by the Securities and Exchange Commission rather than criminally by a United States Attorney's Office? If so, please provide the citation and be prepared to discuss how the case(s) are analogous or not analogous to the instant case.

4. Paragraphs 54 and 55 of the PSR quote a portion of Christopher Collins's guilty plea, in which he described his conversation with Cameron Collins on June 22, 2017, after Christopher Collins learned MIS416 had failed its drug trial. Other than Christopher Collins's guilty plea allocution, can either party provide additional details concerning what was discussed during the 6-minute call on June 22 between Christopher Collins and Cameron Collins? If so, please provide those details or be prepared to discuss them at sentencing or to indicate why such information will not and/or cannot be provided. For example, a. Were any alternatives to Cameron Collins selling his shares discussed? b. Did Cameron and Christopher Collins discuss the possibility of Christopher Collins using his own funds to ensure that Cameron Collins did not suffer losses in light of the failed drug trial? c. Were the shares owned by one or more of the Zarskys discussed? If so, was there discussion of the possibility that either Christopher Collins or Cameron Collins would use their own funds to ensure that the Zarskys did not suffer losses in light of the failed drug trial? d. Was there any discussion of what, if anything, would be said to Mary Sue Collins? e. Was there any discussion of what, if anything, would be said to Caitlin Collins?

5. A letter submitted to me in connection with the sentencing of Christopher Collins and Cameron Collins, (see Doc. 164), appears to suggest that Mary Sue Collins was not told about the failed drug trial during her call with her husband at 7:23 p.m. on June 22, 2017. Does either party have information concerning what was discussed during the five-minute call between Christopher Collins and Mary Sue Collins at 7:23 p.m. on June 22, 2017? 6. On page 32 of the defense submission it states that Cameron Collins "did not participate in a long-running scheme or act for reputational prowess, but out of fear and concern for his family and loved ones. The trading activity was extremely limited in scope." Was not the limited nature of the trading activity due to the nature of the material non-public information he received, rather than anything over which he had control? Stated differently, was not Cameron Collins's ability to avoid losses based on the non-public information he received from Christopher Collins limited by the fact the non-public information was soon going to become public when Innate issued its press release? 7. On pages 2 and 3, the Government's sentencing memorandum discusses various calls, also listed in Document 163-1, between Christopher Collins and Cameron Collins from the morning of June 23 through June 26. a. Does either party have evidence concerning what was discussed during these calls? b. If so, please provide those details or be prepared to discuss them at sentencing or to indicate why such information will not and/or cannot be provided. 8. How can the argument that Cameron Collins acted emotionally and/oras stated on page 44 of the defense submissionthat he "acted impulsively following an emotional call with his father and over a few days, made a terrible mistake" be reconciled with his lying to law enforcement approximately ten months later? SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Vernon S. Broderick on 1/22/2020) (lnl)." Watch this site, and @InnerCityPress on Twitter

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 Much of the debate on January 17 concerned whether Chris Collins, when he told his son Cameron about the setback for Innate Immunotherapeutics, could or should have told him, "You can't trade on this."    

Another concerned whether Collins recklessly harmed his constituents by actively running for office when he knew or should have known he likely could not serve out the term.  

What made that issue complex is that a defendant has a right to proclaim his innocence and should not be punished for it. But to attack the opposing candidate?  

Collins said he did not want to return to Buffalo. Judge Broderick after imposing sentence urged him to do so.

Collins' son Cameron will soon be sentenced. It seems Chris Collins will not be there. But Inner City Press will. Watch this site - and the @InnerCityPress Twitter feed, podcast and Patreon site. In fact, more on this Chris Collins story on Patreon, here.

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