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By Matthew Russell Lee

SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 24 – Accusing of trafficking heroin to support the Haqqani network in Afghanistan, the US Attorney's Office on April 4, 2019 asked that defendant  Haji Abdul Satar Abdul Manaf be admonished to tell his family members in Afghanistan not to threaten witnesses. U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Paul Crotty was happy to do so, and set a control date 30 days out about discovery.

  But an incongruity arose. It was said that Manaf can neither read nor write, yet the prosecutor referred to hundreds of text messages as being part of the discovery. Afterward, Inner City Press the only media present for the proceeding asked her to explain. She politely declined. Judge Crotty meanwhile asked Manaf's lawyer in what language she speaks with him - Urdu - then asked, You don't speak Pashtun?

Jump cut to July 5, 2024, when Manaf's white shoe counsel filed a motion in limine seeking to exclude his 2012 placement on the OFAC list and certain testimony of Dr. Tracia Bacon on the Taliban and Haqqani network.

Trial began July 22, 2024 and Inner City Press was there. Thread

Defense: We will ask you to find Mr. Manaf not guilty. Judge: First witness. AUSA: We call DEA Special Operarions Special Agent Sam Rahi.

On July 23, Agent Rahi testified about his conversations with Manaf about "commissions" to the Taliban, and transport from Helmand. In the docket is Manaf's July 2023 letter to the then assigned judge about needing another lawyer, and two new knees, that he has 20 children.

The day ended, after the jury left, with The day ended, after the jury left, with arguments about if Manaf withdrew from the conspiracy to intimidate an informant in Afghanistan - and how it could be proveded. It involves the Pashto interpreter(s) taking another look at a transcript... The trial continues.

On

On July 24, RahiscehHliban

On July 24 Rahi was on re-direct, then an expert. Thread on X:

AUSA: Ms Kramer asked you about DEA confidential sources. How do you vet them? Agent Rahi: They sign an agreement. AUSA: Does DEA pay them for risk? Rahi: They risk their lives

 AUSA: When you spoke with the defendant in Estonia, did you say this?
[They read from transcript: Manaf: The Haqqani who died, I had helped him...The Minister of Hajj, he is my cousin. The other was Finance for Mullah Omar

 Agent Rahi: The defendant told me he had to register the Helmand One stamp with the Taliban. AUSA: Did anyone force the defendant to do these things? Rahi: No. AUSA: No further questions Defense: No re-cross Judge: Next witness

American University prof Tricia Bacon: I focus on terrorist organizations Judge Rakoff: Where are you from? Bacon: Ohio. Can't you tell? Judge: Yes. Bacon: I worked at the US State Dept from 2003 to 2013. There I focused a lot on groups' sources of revenue

Prof Bacon: The UN publishes some reports on Taliban [Including participating in Qatar conferences from which women are banned] AUSA: What did you do in Pakistan? Bacon: Spoke to experts about their support of the Taliban

AUSA: Ms Kramer asked you about DEA confidential sources. How do you vet them? Agent Rahi: They sign an agreement. AUSA: Does DEA pay them for risk? Rahi: They risk their lives Inner City Press @innercitypress · 3h AUSA: When you spoke with the defendant in Estonia, did you say this? [They read from transcript: Manaf: The Haqqani who died, I had helped him...The Minister of Hajj, he is my cousin. The other was Finance for Mullah Omar Inner City Press @innercitypress · 3h Agent Rahi: The defendant told me he had to register the Helmand One stamp with the Taliban. AUSA: Did anyone force the defendant to do these things? Rahi: No. AUSA: No further questions Defense: No re-cross Judge: Next witness Inner City Press @innercitypress · 3h American University prof Tricia Bacon: I focus on terrorist organizations Judge Rakoff: Where are you from? Bacon: Ohio. Can't you tell? Judge: Yes. Bacon: I worked at the US State Dept from 2003 to 2013. There I focused a lot on groups' sources of revenue Inner City Press @innercitypress · 3h Prof Bacon: The UN publishes some reports on Taliban [Including participating in Qatar conferences from which women are banned] AUSA: What did you do in Pakistan? Bacon: Spoke to experts about their support of the Taliban The case is US v. Manaf, 18-cr-762 (Rakoff)