Previous Story
Manglona grants Atalig request to allow disclosure of some docs to ex-FBI agent
|
Posted on Apr 16 2020
The U.S. District Court for the NMI has granted the request of Rota Mayor Efraim M. Atalig to modify the court’s protective order to allow disclosure of some documents to his investigator, who is a former Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent.
In an order on Tuesday, Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona said the lawyers for Atalig and his co-defendant, Evelyn Atalig, may disclose grand jury and Henthorn materials to their defense investigator, former FBI special agent Jeremy Wolfe.
Henthorn gives defense attorneys the right to any information in an agent’s personnel record relating to dishonesty, perjury, and others that can be used to impeach the agent’s testimony.
Last Feb. 25, the court issued an order imposing protection on grand jury transcripts and Henthorn materials.
Banes said they need the materials so that their team can adequately prepare for the defense in this case.
Banes said that assistant U.S. attorney Eric O’Malley, who is counsel for the U.S. government, has indicated that he does not oppose the requested disclosure.
The charges against Efraim and Evelyn Atalig involve at least eight trips taken by the couple at different times in 2018 to Guam, Palau, the U.S. mainland, South Korea, and Saipan.
The Ataligs are being charged jointly with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and theft from program receiving federal funds, wire fraud, and theft from program receiving federal funds. Both are also charged separately with false statement.
Manglona recently ordered the postponement of the jury trial due to the coronavirus pandemic.
