Yesterday we discussed the four arrests associated with two attacks on New York police officers using Molotov cocktails. It is now being reported that one of the defendants arrested, Colinford Mattis, 32, is a furloughed Pryor Cashman associate. Mattis is a graduate of New York University and Princeton University. He was reportedly arrested with a second attorney in the attack. Mattis is accused of driving a van and passenger Urooj Rahman, 31, threw a Molotov cocktail. Rahman is reportedly a human rights lawyer but also recently lost her job. Update: The FBI now says that the two defendants sought to pass out Molotov cocktails.
An NYPD surveillance camera reportedly recorded Rahman throwing the device toward a NYPD vehicle in Fort Greene. A video showed her getting out of a tan 2015 Chrysler Town and Country minivan driven by Mattis and moving toward the patrol car. She was observed lighting a fuse on a Bud Light beer bottle and throwing it through a broken window. It exploded inside of the vehicle and the two fled.
The police also have a picture of Rahman with the explosive:
The FBI statement included the following description:
“Officers pursued the minivan and arrested Rahman and Mattis, who was the vehicle’s driver. The NYPD recovered several precursor items used to build Molotov Cocktails, including a lighter, a bottle filled with toilet paper and a liquid suspected to be gasoline in the vicinity of the passenger seat and a gasoline tank in the rear of the vehicle.”
They are now charged with causing damage by fire and explosives to a police vehicle. If convicted, each of them faces up to 20 years behind bars. There is a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years.
The specific provision charged appears to be 18 U.S.C. 844 (i):
“Whoever maliciously damages or destroys, or attempts to damage or destroy, by means of fire or an explosive, any building, vehicle, or other real or personal property used in interstate or foreign commerce or in any activity affecting interstate or foreign commerce shall be imprisoned for not less than 5 years and not more than 20 years, fined under this title, or both; and if personal injury results to any person, including any public safety officer performing duties as a direct or proximate result of conduct prohibited by this subsection, shall be imprisoned for not less than 7 years and not more than 40 years, fined under this title, or both; and if death results to any person, including any public safety officer performing duties as a direct or proximate result of conduct prohibited by this subsection, shall also be subject to imprisonment for any term of years, or to the death penalty or to life imprisonment.”
Unlike Samantha Shader’s case discussed yesterday, the vehicle was unoccupied. However, the device did explode (unlike Shader’s Molotov cocktail). Still, Shader is looking at more serious charges of attempted murder. I would expect that additional charges might be sought now that authorities are saying that they were trying to distribute the Molotov cocktails. The criminal complaint now includes the allegations that “Rahman attempted to distribute Molotov cocktails to the witness and others so that those individuals could likewise use the incendiary devices in furtherance of more destruction and violence.” The use of the federal system is also likely to produce a longer sentence in a case of this kind, particularly if they can show a broader conspiracy or interstate movements or communications.
The new allegation reflects premeditation and planning to unleash multiple fire bombings. The FBI is likely looking at the ownership of the van and anyone who may have rendered material support. The case is framed perfectly as a test case of the Administration treating defendants as domestic terrorists under the definition in subsection 5 of 18 U.S.C. 2331:
The term “domestic terrorism” means activities that—
(A) involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State;
(B) appear to be intended—(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and
(C) occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States.
If the Justice Department is looking for a way to reframe cases as domestic terrorism without dealing with the dubious effort to define Antifa as a “foreign terrorist organization” under the State Department regulations, this may be the right case at the right time from their perspective. For Mattis and Rahman, the consequences of such a reframing would obviously magnify the already serious allegations that they are facing.
Pryor Cashman’s website described Colinford Mattis, 32, as a member of the firm’s Corporate Group. That reported entry was deleted after the media learned of the connection.
However, two references remain on site. One describes the corporate team that worked on a deal to sell a $319 million stake in AccorHotels. Another entry refers to Mattis as being on the team that launched brand management platform WHP Global on the acquisition of legacy women’s fashion brand Anne Klein.
According to Pryor Cashman managing partner Ronald Shechtman, Mattis has been on furlough since April due to the pandemic. He said that Mattis’ employment status will be reviewed. Given the serious federal criminal charges, a review may be in order.
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.
Cops killed my 95yr old dad, but I did not riot
Because you’re a pussy
Euuuuwwww. How disgusting to even be seeing that word on here!!!!
Nnnnassstty!!!
By the way: how big is your pecker, Anonymous @ 7:55 PM?
Asking for a girlfriend
Nice to know that Biden campaign staffers like a revolving door so that arrested rioters can get out of jail and riot some more.
—-
https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/elections/multiple-biden-campaign-staffers-reportedly-donate-organization-pays?utm_source=daily-newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter
Multiple Biden campaign staffers donated to Minnesota group that pays bail for rioters
The news comes amid significant civil unrest throughout the country.
At least 13 Joe Biden campaign workers have donated to an organization called the Minnesota Freedom Fund that pays for people’s bail, according to Reuters.
The group opposes the bail system, and pays the fees that enable people to avoid pre-trial detention, according to its website.
A Biden spokesman told Reuters that the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee stands against cash bail as a “modern day debtors prison,” though the spokesman did not answer inquires about if the campaign coordinated the donations, Reuters reported.
“It’s disturbing that Joe Biden’s team would financially support the mayhem that is hurting innocent people and destroying what good people spent their lives building,” the Trump campaign wrote on Saturday.
Protests have erupted in cities across the country following the May 25 death of George Floyd. Some have engaged in destruction of property, looting and violence.
Turley should point out attempted murder is not a federal crime without a federal nexus like the victim was a federal officer. It would be up NY to bring such a charge.
That was a great article!
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
The following “article” was posted by Allan. It’s not his, though he’d like it to be.
https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/2020/06/dh-david-horowitz/
Looking at their photos I don’t get the impression they realize how much trouble they are in. I would be horrified.
I would have shot them hoth.
After reading the resumes of these two, I have a hard time accepting the oppressed minority narrative.
Wondering how long before the media amd Democrats blame the riots on global warming.
They are already blaming Trump. If a Liberal tries to murder a police officer in one state because of the actions of a police officer in another state, it’s clearly all Trump’s fault.
Must be nice, having total absolution of wrongdoing. It’s always someone else’s fault.
Boy howdy, won’t they be mad about their student loans?!
how on earth are there any people in USA that dont love that country,
Was Mattis admitted to the bar in another state prior to being admitted to the bar in New York in 2019?
If these lawyers are not prosecuted in the next few days, then the only choice people will have is to riot, burn down their own cities and kill innocent bystanders until the rioters feel justified or until the next thing comes along to riot against.
Hi
When lawyers do this, its says the screening process for lawyers is hopelessly corrupted by political correctness. Both should be disbarred before their criminal trials. They don’t deserve to be referred to as lawyers by their defense counsel in opening statements. “Anarchists” has a nicer ring to it.
I wonder if the bar has a program for them like it does lawyers on drugs??? I mean there is still hope for them since they didn’t try to fire-bomb a judge, right???
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
I see, a fire-bomb-throwing-lunatic diversion program for lawyers of color just trying to turn their lives around.
mespo – evidently there is a flaw in the Ethics portion of the Bar exam.
Are you kidding me? Lawyers and ETHICS Silly grasshopper.
Nothing is stopping you from filing a complaint arguing that they should be disbarred (except, perhaps, lack of will to do it).
Prosecute and disbarment is the only punishment!
If these lawyers are not prosecuted in the next few days, then the only choice people will have is to riot, burn down their own cities and kill innocent bystanders until the rioters feel justified or until the next thing comes along to riot against.
i want all the white folks who are sorry losers pining away about what happened here in america long before we were born, to get on down like these pasty faced weakings and start licking boots. you’re pathetic and weak and you will earn your future subjugation. open your pockets for BLM, or get out there and start heaving bricks. make some digital donations to antifa, yeah, silicon valley deplatformed peaceful “racists” but they are still out there gathering shekels for arsonists and riot planners
get on record lefties. get on those supporter donations lists. get out there and bow before your idols and show your faces as you self-abnegate your miserable existences. we want it all on record.
we want to know which white people are the worst element of bootlickers that needs attention in the coming phases of this conflict.
https://twitter.com/stillgray/status/1267506522222817280?s=20
Those are some sick white folks! Yuck!
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
http://www.nycourts.gov/courts/ad1/Committees&Programs/DDC/index.shtml
HERE REPORT THEM ! THEY HAVE TO BE REPORTED TO BE DISBARRED
You know that ny da who protected Clinton and Epstein won’t
Disbar them!!!
Disbar then hang them out to dry in front of firing squad on CNN so all can see what could happen to them if they think their above the law
Well that is certainly too far.
Disbar and jail both in same camera.
Disbar them at the least.
Agree
Communists (liberals, progressives, socialists, democrats, RINOs) are mortal enemies of America and Americans.
China is a mortal enemy of America.
China is supporting the communists in America.
The barbarians are inside the gate.
America did not recognize the pandemic until it was too late.
America is not recognizing the enemy.
America is not recognizing the war.
I know it’s hard to monitor these postings, but could we have a mental illness filter?
DeBlasio has intervened to have the charges reduced to disturbing the peace…local law officer is trying to resist.
DiBlasio has no authority to reduce charges.
More Liberal Privilege? Ridiculous. The coddling must end. We need equal Justice for ALL.
Both not being charged with attempted murder of a police officer under NY state law ( 0 to 25 years )
Both charged by the FBI with attempted destruction of a vehicle “used in interstate and foreign commerce” (Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(i)) ( 0 to 5 tears )
FBBI took custody of these defendants. Why?
Same charge on Samantha Shader who actually threw a lit molotov cocktails into a vehicle filled with police officers.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/press-release/file/1281771/download
This is an FBI sting that went terribly wrong and/or one of them is an FBI informant
This is the real story
Where are you getting your info about the 2 men firebombers having an inside FBI connection? You’re going to have to back it up with more than “This is the real story”.
Hill. You misinterpret this document.
this is just a probable cause affidavit for an arrest warrant. it is not an indictment.
wait for the indictment before you get too carried away. i predict multiple heavier charges.
that’s not to say that ANTIFA doesnt have informants and undercovers in their ranks. they do. but you probably don’t have the right ones. again wait for the indictment before you draw too many conclusions