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Hire Appeals lawyer for Marty
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We're seeking funds to allow Marty Gottesfeld, a journalist, defender of human rights, and beloved husband to have the attorney of his choice in his criminal appeal.
After his deeply flawed trial and conviction, Marty was immediately transferred to the Bureau of Prisons' "Communications Management Unit," a controversial unit that holds less than 2/10 of one percent of all Federal prisoners and imposes severe restrictions on prisoners' mail, phone calls, and visits. On December 9, 2019, he was placed in solitary confinement based on a spurious disciplinary write-up that's retaliation for his lawsuit against the Bureau of Prisons. The harsh conditions in the prison's solitary-confinement "Special Housing Unit" have severely impacted Marty's ability to work on his case, and he has been carrying out a hunger strike in protest since being placed in the SHU. The SHU has cruel conditions of sensory deprivation and toxic, undrinkable water. Prison medical officials have given him clean water only intermittently.
On January 3, Marty was able to get a message to us saying that he wants to retain Brandon Sample, Esq., as his attorney for his criminal appeal. His court-appointed attorney will not bring up the issues Marty feels are necessary to do justice to his case. Marty has the chance to clear his name on the public record, and his counsel-of-choice Mr. Sample is an excellent appeals lawyer, and also has *extensive* experience handling civil-rights cases regarding the mistreatment of prisoners. He has told us that, if retained, he is committed to keeping the lines of communication with Marty open.
Family and friends have already raised nearly $ 30,000 toward the retainer Mr. Sample's office requires to take on Marty's case, and we're about $ 20,000 away from having the amount needed to pay Mr. Sample's retainer.
Marty is loved by his wife, Dana, siblings, nieces and nephews, and ~90 year old mother. They all want to see Marty reunited with his family and see his aging mother before she dies. He's already been the denied that meaningful time with his father.
Because of the Bureau of Prisons' interference with Marty's communications over the last few months, right now there's a lot of uncertainty, but if you know Marty at all, one thing is certain. Marty is an underdog who will not give up the fight. He works relentlessly to fight his case. He's one of the hardest working guys I have ever met and he has worked tirelessly on his legal defense and on the civil rights claims of himself and other prisoners throughout this ordeal.
I know people want to help. I believe we can relieve at least some of the burden by helping financially. Let's come together to get Marty the strong legal support he needs so he can move out of barbaric conditions and focus on rebuilding his life.
Thank you for whatever you can give. It's always humbling to ask for help, but with your blessing, Marty can have the fighting chance he was robbed of at trial.
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/the-hacker-who-cared-too-much-196425/
https://freemartyg.com/
Organizer
Dana Gottesfeld
Organizer
Somerville, MA