Remember the RNC 8 charged with conspiracy to riot and terrorism? The Hearings have begun

[annm4peace]

You remember the raids and arrests of the 8 young adults who organized the food and housing for those coming to protest the RNC in 2008? The hearings have begun this weekend but the trial isn't till Oct.

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There will be a pre-trial hearing for the RNC 8 on May 3, 4, 5, 6 and May 13 and 14. in Courtroom 1080 of the Ramsey County Courthouse.


The hearings will run from 9 am to 4 pm every day with a break for lunch. It will deal with things like what evidence can be admitted at the trial, whether some of the searches and seizures were illegal, questions about informants and demands for disclosure about who was paid how much for what information. All the stuff the FBI doesn't want you to know.

Come if you can. If you can't stay all day, come just for the morning or just for the afternoon. Keep in mind that Judge Warner is very sensitive to noise or any type of disturbance. And she is death on cellphones. Turn off your cellphone before entering the courtroom.

A couple things we've had problems with in the past:
1) Water bottles: you might be allowed to bring your water bottle into the courthouse. (This is at the discretion of the guards at the metal detectors.) You may not drink from it in the courtroom. If you take a sip, the bailiff will speak to you about it.
2) Cell phones: If you open up your phone in the courtroom for anything, even just to check your messages, the bailiff will assume you are trying to take photos -- which is strictly illegal in a courtroom. If you want to keep the phone, turn it off and leave it in your bag.


A simple lunch will be available to the defendants and their supporters on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and maybe Wednesday. It will be shared in the park across Kellogg Boulevard from the courthouse if the weather is decent. If it rains, lunch will be in the basement of the courthouse.

For those of you who don't remember, the Ramsey County Courthouse is located at 15 W. Kellogg Boulevard, St. Paul. That's the corner of Kellogg & Wabasha.

Trial for the RNC 8 begins October 25th. The prosecution plans to start presenting witnesses on November 1st. So most of the first week will be jury selection and perhaps Opening Statements. Please mark your calendars now.

Hope to see you there,

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The RNC 8 really needs our help for the next couple of days and next week (maybe)

I took the day off and went to the pre-trial hearing today. The evidence against the RNC 8 is even more bogus when you hear it at the hearing. I don't know which has me more angry.. the waste of these young people's lives, or the waste of our tax dollars.


They actually ARE using the RNC Welcoming Committee's video as evidence RNC-WC was going to incite terror and riots. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6PLwOt0Bls

Inspector, Tony Samec, who wrote up the search warrants and complaint (arrests) was on the witness stand. He was the 1st witness. He consistently and arrogantly evaded questions that the Defense asked. It was quite disgusting to watch him try not to answer any questions and the Judge didn't really say much about that. It was like watching Rumsfield or Gonzales evade their questions.
oh, by the way.. Inspector Samec worked for Secret Service. He "protected the 1st family and other dignitaries.. then worked for a private cyber company for a couple years, then for Ramsey county Sheriff as Inspector starting in 2006. verrrryyyy interesting..

Others will write up a better report than I can. I did take notes but there is so much to say.

Prosecutor Fitch had just started to interview Inspector Samec and he easily answered Fitch's questions which included some that he didn't "see to recall" the answer when Jordon asked them. So he contradicted himself on the stand but no one seemed to say anything about that.. maybe because it was only a hearing.

There is a possibility the judge might throw out the case due to lack of "probable cause".. or what I would call "credible evidence".

It is really something to witness. The parking at the lots down there are 10.00 for all day. and the meters close by are only for 1 hour. But the Food not Bombs gave us a great lunch.


If you can go please do.

There is no trial on Thursday.. it was canceled.

[annm4peace]

1. Report from Day 1 or the RNC 8 hearings.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: RNC 8 Argue Motion to Dismiss Felony Conspiracy Charges for Lack of Probable Cause




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 4, 2010

Contact: Jude Ortiz (RNC 8 Defense Committee), 612.886.4565, [e-mail]; Attorney: Larry Leventhal, 612.333.5747

RNC 8 Argue Motion to Dismiss Felony Conspiracy Charges for Lack of Probable Cause
Hearings will Continue Today as Ramsey County Inspector Tony Samec Returns to the Stand

St. Paul — Yesterday, the RNC 8 and their defense lawyers appeared in court to begin several days of hearings for motions regarding probable cause and the suppression of evidence in the lead up to their trial for felony conspiracy charges from their political organizing prior to the 2008 Republican National Convention. Judge Teresa Warner granted the probable cause hearing, which began yesterday afternoon. Hearings for the other motions have yet to be scheduled, although the Thursday hearing block has been canceled due to Judge Warner’s schedule. Copies of the motions that will be heard during the hearings are located at www.rnc8.org/info.

Inspector Tony Samec with the Special Investigations Unit of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department testified about his role as author of the affidavit requesting the search warrants used to raid the RNC Welcoming Committee’s Convergence Space in St. Paul and several private residences in Minneapolis prior to the RNC. Samec also signed the original criminal complaint against the RNC 8. In his testimony, Samec offered vague responses and referred to the information he had received from the FBI through its use of paid informants and from Ramsey County Sheriff’s Deputy Marilyn Hedstrom, who had infiltrated the Welcoming Committee. Samec could not provide any personal knowledge about any of the defendants threatening to use violence against persons or to destroy property. Rather, he had simply compiled information fed to him in order to complete the affidavit and complaint.

“Inspector Samec’s reliance on dubious information from paid informants who have proven to be unreliable and volatile people points to the weakness of the case against the RNC 8,” said Melissa Hill of the RNC 8 Defense Committee. “The next two days will undoubtedly show how little evidence the prosecutors have to substantiate their politically motivated charges, if they’re even able to prove probable cause to warrant trial in October.”

“We’re Getting Ready,” a satirical video released by the Welcoming Committee in 2007, was also shown in court. Defense attorneys have argued that the police and prosecutors took scenes from the video out of context in order to fabricate and exaggerate the threat of violence posed by the Welcoming Committee’s organizing efforts. Most of the tactics and items discussed in the afternoon hearing were in the nature of blockading, which Samec agreed fell within the realm of “civil disobedience.”

“Samec’s testimony today also clearly demonstrated that he engaged in a creative writing exercise to write the affidavit for the search warrants, which was used substantially in the criminal complaints,” Melissa Hill continued. “The more we hear from the police in court, the clearer it becomes that the state manufactured reasons to justify their desires to stifle dissent surrounding the RNC.”

Inspector Samec will be back on the stand this morning for cross-examination. The hearings will begin at 9am at the Ramsey County Courthouse. Supporters have vowed to pack the courtroom again to show support for the RNC 8 as they continue to fight the politically motivated charges.

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http://rnc8.org/


The RNC 8/RNC Eight are organizers against the 2008 Twin Cities Republican National Convention who have been falsely charged in response to their political organizing: Luce Guillen-Givins, Max Specktor, Nathanael Secor, Eryn Trimmer, Monica Bicking, Erik Oseland, Robert Czernik and Garrett Fitzgerald.

On Saturday, August 30th 2008, the Ramsey County, Minnesota Sheriff’s Department executed search warrants on three houses, seizing personal and common household items and arresting RNC organizers Monica Bicking, Garrett Fitzgerald, Erik Oseland, Nathanael Secor, and Eryn Trimmer. Later that day Luce Guillen-Givins was arrested leaving a public meeting at a park. Rob Czernik and Max Specktor were arrested on Monday, September 1. These arrests were preemptive, targeting known organizers in an attempt to derail 2008 anti-RNC protests in St. Paul, MN before the convention had even begun. The “RNC 8″ were originally charged with conspiracy to riot in the 2nd degree in furtherance of terrorism, a felony which was the first ever use of Minnesota’s PATRIOT Act.

In December 2008, Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner (who is also running for Governor of Minnesota as a Democrat) added three more felony charges: 2nd degree conspiracy to riot (without the terrorism enhancement), 1st degree conspiracy to commit criminal damage to property in furtherance of terrorism, and 1st degree conspiracy to commit criminal damage to property (without the terrorism enhancement). Then, in April 2009, Gaertner dropped the two “in furtherance of terrorism” charges due to political pressure from RNC 8 supporters. The other two conspiracy charges still remain, and the RNC 8 still potentially face several years of prison time.

This site contains news updates, press releases, biographies, resources, events, and information for contributing to their legal support, and is maintained only by the support committee for the RNC 8.

[MNmom]

2. Is there a trial on Friday?

Maybe I can make it.

[annm4peace]

3. No pre-trial hearing on Thurs or Fri butttttttt...

If you show up on May 13th or 14th you getaaaa seeeee Sheriffff Booooobbb Fleeeetcher.