Nov 23, 2014, 22:14 pm
Stanley Cohen is a Jewish anti-Zionist attorney and activist. He worked for the Legal Aid Society in New York and later opened his own practice specializing in criminal defense. He increasingly began taking on more political cases, from the Warrior Society of the Mohawk Nation, to the Weather Underground and Muslims on trial after 9/11. Most recently, he represented Mercedes Haefer, part of the PayPal 14, and Suleiman Abu Ghaith, Osama bin Laden’s son-in-law.
For ten years he has been subjected to aggressive investigation and harassment by various agencies of the United States federal government, ultimately leading to criminal indictments being filed against him in two jurisdictions, relating to income tax matters. The political nature of this prosecution is evident from the severity of the charges leveled against Cohen for underlying acts many of which are not even alleged to be illegal in and of themselves (for example accepting cash payments from clients, or keeping cash in an office safe), or are as benign and common as allowing clients to barter labor for legal services.
Cohen says his case isn't about income tax evasion. DOJ targeted him over 10 years ago. For defending clients they wanted convicted. Ones they wanted denied due process. "(M)ost prominently Hamas," Cohen said. They tried charging him with material support for terrorism. He was counsel for "a number of so-called terrorist groups." He represented Hamas since 1995. He called doing it a "great honor and privilege." When DOJ terrorist-related "witch hunt" persecution against him failed, "in came the IRS," he said. "For 7 years or so (he) battled…allegations at great cost…" Doing so took "a tremendous amount of effort by my team of lawyers, my family, friends, supporters and clients.". It cost him over $600,000. Much remains still owed. Prosecution "scar(ed) off clients." It interfered with "critical work with various human rights groups and activists overseas."
He was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Friday, and will report to the U.S. Marshals Jan. 6 to begin serving his sentence.
He is very active on twitter, @stanleycohenlaw
For ten years he has been subjected to aggressive investigation and harassment by various agencies of the United States federal government, ultimately leading to criminal indictments being filed against him in two jurisdictions, relating to income tax matters. The political nature of this prosecution is evident from the severity of the charges leveled against Cohen for underlying acts many of which are not even alleged to be illegal in and of themselves (for example accepting cash payments from clients, or keeping cash in an office safe), or are as benign and common as allowing clients to barter labor for legal services.
Cohen says his case isn't about income tax evasion. DOJ targeted him over 10 years ago. For defending clients they wanted convicted. Ones they wanted denied due process. "(M)ost prominently Hamas," Cohen said. They tried charging him with material support for terrorism. He was counsel for "a number of so-called terrorist groups." He represented Hamas since 1995. He called doing it a "great honor and privilege." When DOJ terrorist-related "witch hunt" persecution against him failed, "in came the IRS," he said. "For 7 years or so (he) battled…allegations at great cost…" Doing so took "a tremendous amount of effort by my team of lawyers, my family, friends, supporters and clients.". It cost him over $600,000. Much remains still owed. Prosecution "scar(ed) off clients." It interfered with "critical work with various human rights groups and activists overseas."
He was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Friday, and will report to the U.S. Marshals Jan. 6 to begin serving his sentence.
He is very active on twitter, @stanleycohenlaw
