VIKTOR BOUT'S ATTORNEY FILES AN EXPLOSIVE REPLY BRIEF IN APPEAL

Albert Dayan, Viktor Bout's New York criminal defence attorney, has filed a fiery Reply Brief in Bout's Second Circuit* appeal of his criminal conviction. Though short on citation to legal authorities, the brief states boldly that:

(1) Bout is an innocent man who was convicted by an American jury overwhelmed by emotional, political and national feelings for US servicemen and women.

(2) Senior officials at the White House and the State Department doggedly targeted Bout, in their pursuit and prosecution, not for an conceivable law enforcement reason, but for purely political and personal reasons.;Two are specifically named.

(3) There was no evidence Bout ever intended to target US interests.

(4) There was no evidence of unlawful transportation of arms.

The issues framed in the brief are:

(A) The case should be remanded to the District Court to hold a hearing on the violation of Bout's right to due process, resulting from the outrageous governmental pursuit, from the inception through the extradition process.

(B) Conspiracy to Commit Reckless Murder is a non-existent Federal Crime.

The United States has filed a request for Oral Argument, provided that Bout's counsel also requests the same. This means that the Second Circuit Court of Appeals will hold a hearing on the appeal, which will provide additional insight into the issues. We shall continue to follow the appeal.
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* Bout vs. United States, Case No.: 12-1487  (2nd Cir.).