Page 111 of Hush
Silence, save for the clicking of the court reporter’s typing. Ballard shook, his eyes narrowed to slits as he glared at Tom.
“The government, through Mr. Ballard, will produce to the defense any and all information that may exculpate Mr. Kryukovandany information on Mr. Kryukov that the intelligence community may currently have, or be in the process of collecting. Files on Mr. Kryukov from the FBI, CIA, and NSA.Allsources and methods will be redacted. All information that is classified or can in any way impact national security will be reviewed only within a secured facility at FBI headquarters. Only Mr. Renner can review the information.” He leveled a flat glare at Renner. “You cannot remove any documents, discuss their content, or reveal their information. To anyone.”
“Then what’s the point, Your Honor?”
“If you want to use anything that is classified and produced through discovery in court, you will notify me. File a request under seal, and I will ensure that the information is reclassed for trial.”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“I expect the information to be provided within the week, Mr. Ballard. Trial is fast approaching. The defense needs time to review and confirm or discard their chosen strategy.”
“Yes, Your Honor.” Ballard spoke through clenched teeth.
“Lastly, we need to discuss both parties’ communication with the media about this trial. Mr. Ballard, you have complained about Mr. Renner’s appearances in the media?”
“The defense has come out in force on all the cable news channels, throwing around wild accusations of a conspiracy and insisting that their client is innocent, absent of any actual evidence—”
“The Russian documents are solid evidence.”
Tom sent Renner a hot glare. He pressed his lips together.
“He is actively working to taint the jury pool with crazed speculations and conspiracy allegations. The jury will expect to hear salacious stories, and that is not at all what this trial is about. He is poisoning the well before we’ve even begun. He needs to be immediately barred from all further public comment. If he’s this damaging with just his wild theories, then what kind of insinuations will he throw out there after he’s viewed the documents you have so graciously given over?”
Tom eyed Ballard, staring him down as Ballard spoke his last sentence with dripping condescension. “Are you insinuating that Mr. Renner will flout my order barring public disclosure or comment on the classified materials he is legally entitled to view to craft a competent defense for his client?”
“I think he’ll behave like a two-dollar hooker on a Sunday afternoon. Skin here, flash of tit there, maybe a quick rub in the dark. Enough to make you feel dirty and need a wash. He’ll play for the media, tantalizing them.”
Tom scowled as Renner guffawed. “That is quite enough, Mr. Ballard. And incredibly tasteless. Mr. Renner?”
“I suppose I’m not surprised that Mr. Ballard wants to accuse me, try me, and sentence me to a crime I have not yet committed. Seems to be par for the course with this U.S. Attorney.”
Ballard gnashed his teeth. Tom shifted. While Renner wasn’t wrong, he couldn’t let a blatant attack against the U.S. Attorney go unanswered. “Mr. Renner. If you continue to attack the U.S. Attorney, I will bar you from my courtroom and this trial. Do I make myselfperfectlyclear?”
“Perfectly, Your Honor.” No apology, though. “And all I can say is that the prosecution has done a fabulous job deciding this case in the public media already. Hundreds upon hundreds of hours of media coverage, news analysis, statements by the U.S Attorney himself, the White House, the Department of Justice, the FBI, and others, all of which have come out strongly against my client. Through their words, they have all but convicted him in absence of a judge and jury. All I have been attempting is to even the playing field and ensure that the public has a reasonably fair view of events, and that everyone knows that nothing is established outside of your courtroom. Guilt and innocence are not decided in the court of public opinion.”
“You’re trying to set the bar for reasonable doubt at a level of conspiracy that we can’t possibly address!”
Tom reached for Ballard, resting his hand on Ballard’s padfolio. He heard Ballard’s knuckles crack as his hands clenched into fists over his yellow legal pad. “I do not disagree with you, Mr. Renner, about your perception of unfair media exposure regarding Mr. Kryukov. You are also within your right to question the government’s case. However.” He fixed Renner with a firm stare. “You’re hanging your hat on these Russian documents, Mr. Renner. I think you need to ask yourself: is that to Mr. Kryukov’s best benefit?”
“We feel that it is, Your Honor.”
“You’ll have your day in court to present your theories to the jury, Mr. Renner. However, if either one of you violates my orders, I will have you put in a cell right in the federal detention center, beside Mr. Desheriyev and Mr. Kryukov. Mr. Renner, this includes attacking the U.S. Attorney inanyway atanytime going forward. I expect you both to comport yourselves professionally. Am I clear?”
Twin nods, and silence.
“Then we’re done here. Come directly to me with any questions and file all additional motions under seal.”
Twin, muted response of “Yes, Your Honor” chimed through his chambers.
“Mr. Renner, I will see you in court. Mr. Ballard, please stay behind for a few minutes.” Tom nodded to the court reporter, signaling that she should pack up as well. She scurried out, fleeing the room and its searing tension, a bubble about to burst and ready to catch flame.
Ballard wouldn’t look at him. “I hope you’re pleased with yourself,” he growled as the door shut behind the court reporter and Renner.
“Dylan… This is ridiculous. What is going on?” Government conspiracy, government cover-ups. Assassinations by the CIA on American soil. It was the stuff of Hollywood, not his courtroom. Not reality. But Dylan was about to fly apart, was barely holding himself together. Tom had been an AUSA for nineteen years, most of those years beside Dylan Ballard. Never had Ballard been this wound up, this furiously agitated over a trial. What was he hiding? What kind of pressure was he under, from the White House, the Attorney General, or even the CIA? “You’re prosecuting this case awfully quickly, and you’re not looking at the conspiracy angle. Aren’t you worried about this? Or do you know more than you’re letting on? What do youreallyknow about this case?”
Ballard’s eyes flashed. “Nowyou want to talk?Now? After you’ve just giveneverythingaway? After you’ve condemned the United States with your bullshit about wanting some kind of open and fair system for all? Even for terrorists, who would rather see us fall as a nation than glorify our justice system?”
Tom blinked. “An open and fair system for all is whatdefinesAmerica, Dylan. It defines our morality as a country. No matter what.”
