New York Attorneys Accused of Firebombing Police Car Given Generous Plea Deal
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
We previously discussed the cases of attorneys Colinford Mattis and Urooj Rahman, who were accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail into a police vehicle in New York. They were facing domestic terrorism charges and the possibility of 30 years in jail. This week, the Biden Administration agreed to a massive reduction of the charges in a plea agreement that will likely result only in a couple years of jail time. What is particularly bizarre is that the plea agreement reduces an earlier plea agreement for a more serious offense.
The plea deal by the Justice Department is a breathtaking reduction in the charges and expected sentencing of the two lawyers.
Earlier, some of us were surprised that U.S. District Judge Margo Brodie upheld the $250,000 bail determination of U.S. Magistrate Judge Steven Gold. Prosecutors presented evidence that the two attorneys were trying to distribute Molotov cocktails and suggested that Mattis did not appear rational. The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed Judge Brodie and the two attorneys were sent back to jail. (Rahman's bail was paid for by friend and fellow attorney Salmah Rizvi, who served in the Defense Department and State Department during the Obama administration).
Notably, Rahman and Mattis pleaded guilty last year to one count of possessing and making an explosive device, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Now, however, they will be allowed to withdraw the earlier plea and instead plead guilty to conspiring to assemble the Molotov cocktail and damage the New York Police Department patrol car. That is a nosebleed of a drop in the severity and punishment for this violent attack.
It is a sharp contrast to the harsh position taken by the Biden Justice Department on many of those accused of rioting on January 6th. Attorney General Merrick Garland cited the threat to police officers in pledging an unprecedented effort to charge and convict those involved "on any level" in the riot.
Conspiring to assemble the Molotov cocktail and damage the New York Police Department patrol car does not quite capture what these two attorneys did during the violent riot in New York. Rahman was caught on video throwing the firebomb and then fleeing the scene. Colinford Mattis was accused of having a store of firebombs in his vehicle and was videotaped as he attempted to hand them out to other rioters to fuel further violence. Rahman later was unapologetic and declared to reporters that "the only way they hear us is through violence."
That does not seem the type of the suspects who would ordinarily garner deep sympathy from prosecutors. Yet, the Biden Administration walked back the charges, unraveled the earlier plea to a lesser offense, and told that court that the earlier charges would have resulted in "excessive sentencing" for the attorneys. Instead, they are supporting a maximum sentence of five years with a recommendation of between 18 to 24 months imprisonment.
Attorney General Garland just last month honored law enforcement killed in the line of duty. This plea agreement is likely to infuriate many of those families given strength of the case and the severity of the conduct. These two attorneys were participating in an effort that could have burned officers alive as a form of protest. They will now be given sentences closer to tax fraud than terrorism.
As previously discussed, Mattis was a member of the Corporate Group at Pryor Cashman when he was arrested. Mattis graduated from New York University School of Law in 2016 and received his bachelor's degree from Princeton University. He was also previously employed as an associate at Holland & Knight. Rahman was just admitted to the New York bar in June 2019 after graduating from Fordham University School of Law.
Both lawyers will be permanently disbarred and will have to pay restitution to the city of New York.
Jonathan Turley
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The two standards of justice in the lawless era of the left.
They have a "D" behind their names - ain't nuthin gonna happen.
We've come a long way baby, to get back to where we are today!
People not being held accountable for their violent crimes.
Violent crimes on the upswing across the country.
HMMMMM!
Correction. If you are a white male conservative kid gloves are off and only maximum sentencing for any perceived crime. You are always preordained guilty of any charge.
How many Jan 6th rioters are still in jail awaiting their day in court on trumped (pun intended) up charges by the AG and DOJ to appease their Democrat masters?
They should have met the same fate as the dumbass that did the same thing in Raleigh, NC.
No surprise the Biden DOJ goes overboard to protect domestic terrorists
Lawyers, officers of the court, know how to plea through the system. BTW, why are conservatives, the so-called, "facts," people feeling jealous of some lawyers partial success to plea and being disbarred? Tell Jonathan Turley to stop his whining. He, above many, knows what harm being disbarred (inability to practice law) will do to any future wealth and prestige of a lawyer.
Let me get this straight: You conservatives have your bottom lips thrusted out (that's feelings) when liberals are given mitigating circumstances, reduced sentences, do reparative justice, or granted pleas from DAs, judges, and appeals court, but when the same courts do the same for conservative miscreants who are arguably guilty you smile?
It is conservatives who insist that states and other municipalities should ask independently in performing their duties and responsibilities. Thus, in part, it is conservative policies which are heavy into creating a 'hodge-podge' of legal decisions across the country. That is, where law can be interpreted differently by state and federal departments.
I at least hope they were practicing good social distancing and wearing masks when they firebombed the police car.
Let's not lose sight of what is actually killing people in America for the last two years.
So not guns and political violence then?
I also hope they had the courtesy to swab down the mason jars with bleach before they tossed them.
It's bad enough having a bomb land on your backseat but who wants to also have to worry about where it's been?
Hope isn’t a method but maybe that’s the explanation for Federal prosecutors agreeing to recommend a prison sentence of 18 to 24 months.
For throwing a Molotov cocktail the Biden Administration agreed to a massive reduction of the charges, but if they had fired an AR-15 no mercy.
If they were conservative and white, then there would have been no mercy.
If it had been a pro Antifa far left lunatic- the media and Democrats would have swept it under the rug as fast as they could.
They quickly swept Connor Betts under the rug. Can't have far left mass shooters.
Quit pouting! Both lawyers realize what has been lost, their livelihood, careers, and years of training, over this.
What do you mean by this: ". . . if they had fired an AR-15 no mercy." Was it that general, really, what happened in Uvalde, Texas?
Thanks, That is exactly what I meant
Thank you. That's all.
"It is a sharp contrast to the harsh position taken by the Biden Justice Department on many of those accused of rioting on January 6th."
Do say.