FEDS
INDICT SANCTUARY CITY JUDGE FOR OBSTRUCTION, By Steven Ahle, 4/27/19.
Federal Agents have had District Court Judge Shelley Richmond
Joseph and Trial Court Officer Wesley MacGregor indicted for conspiracy to
obstruct justice by helping a 2-time deportee from being arrested.
An ICE agent was in the court in order
to arrest two-time deportee who hasn’t been named. The ICE agent was in the
courtroom and the judge sent someone over to tell him that he had to wait in
the lobby and that if he was released he would have to exit that way.
Then, in the courtroom, the judge held a
sidebar and turned off the recording device, which is against state law. When
the recorder was turned back on, the judge said that she was letting him go. The
illegal alien was taken out a side door and taken downstairs, where he was
released far away from the ICE agent.
From Breitbart News: The Officer
announced his presence to Courthouse personnel, including Joseph, upon arrival.
Prior to the afternoon session, the courtroom clerk – at Joseph’s direction –
allegedly instructed the ICE Officer to leave the courtroom and wait outside in
the lobby, stating that in the event that the defendant was released, it would
be through the courtroom and into the lobby.
At 2:48
p.m. the case was called and the proceedings were captured on the courtroom’s
audio recorder, as prescribed under the rules for all State District Courts.
The audio recording captured Joseph, the defense attorney and the ADA speaking
at side bar about the defendant and the ICE detainer. Joseph then allegedly
ordered the courtroom clerk to “go off the record for a moment.” For the next
52 seconds, the courtroom audio recorder was turned off, in violation of the
District Court rules. At 2:51 p.m., the recorder was turned back on, and Joseph
indicated her intent to release the defendant. According to the charging
documents, the defense attorney asked to speak with the defendant downstairs
and Joseph responded, “That’s fine. Of course.”
When
reminded by the clerk that an ICE Officer was in the courthouse, Joseph stated,
“That’s fine. I’m not gonna allow them to come in here. But he’s been released
on this.” Immediately following the proceeding, MacGregor allegedly escorted
the defendant, his attorney and an interpreter downstairs to the lockup and
used his security access card to open the rear sally-port exit and release the
defendant at 3:01 p.m.
Both defendants face up to 8 years
in prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody
GA Tea Party Leader
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