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Case 1:20-cr-00330-PAE Document 451 Filed 11/12/21 Page4of5
most of Pages 3 and 4 redacted. In both Dkt 446 and 447, redactions proliferate
and Exhibit A is withheld in full. This is unacceptable.
Again, Inner City Press understands that the listen-only call-in telephone lines
available so far in the case, there may be an attempt to discontinue them. The Court
should take judicial notice of continuing COVID-19 issues, including people's
understandable concerns about congregating even in so-called overflow rooms. Be
aware that the District for the District of Columbia still allows public phone access
to all criminal proceedings, even those held in-person. That should happen here;
we note that this Court itself continues to offer listen-only audio access in other
criminal cases before it. Why not this one?
The loss of First Amendment freedoms, even for a short period of time,
unquestionably constitutes irreparable injury. E/rod v. Burns, 427 U.S. 347, 373
(1976).
And as to trial exhibits, see for example Judge Jed S. Rakoff's order in US v.
Weigand, 20-cr-188 (JSR) https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/20536946-
rakofforderonmrlicp
There, Judge Rakoff ordered the US Attorney's Office to make trial exhibit
available to the public at large. While this was done, belatedly, in US v. Parnas, it
was refused in the current US v. Cole. It cannot be refused in this case.
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees to the public a right of
access to court proceedings. U.S. CONST. AMEND. I; Globe Newspaper Co. v.
Superior Court, 457 U.S. 596, 603 (1982). The public’s right of access is strongest
when it comes to criminal proceedings such as these, which are matters of the
“high[est] concern and importance to the people.” Richmond Newspapers, Inc. v.
Virginia, 448 U.S. 555, 575 (1980) (plurality opinion).
If deemed necessary, PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that Inner City Press and its
undersigned reporter, in personal capacity, will move this Court before Honorable
Alison J. Nathan, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York, at a
date and time directed by the Court, for entry of an order granting permission to
the heard on unsealing the improperly redacted submission in this case, on public
access to trial exhibits and to the provision of access, during COVID-19 and
beyond, by listen-only audio line.
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Document Details
| Filename | DOJ-OGR-00006707.jpg |
| File Size | 932.5 KB |
| OCR Confidence | 94.3% |
| Has Readable Text | Yes |
| Text Length | 2,371 characters |
| Indexed | 2026-02-03 17:13:37.537287 |