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Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Would-Be Trump Assassin to See Mom, Lawyer

LAS VEGAS (CN) — After a brief hearing Tuesday, a federal judge said the British man accused of trying to shoot Donald Trump can meet with his mother and an attorney to try to be sent home to England.

U.S. District Judge Cam Fehrenbach granted Michael Steven Sandford's request, though he will have no direct contact with his mother. They will be separated by a security screen at the U.S. Marshal lock-up in Las Vegas. The date has not been set.

Sandford's co-counsel, Brenda Weksler, suggested three sites: at High Desert State Prison in Pahrump, where Sandford is being held pending an Oct. 3 trial date; the U.S. Marshal lock-up in Pahrump or Las Vegas; or in a courtroom setting with U.S. marshals present.

A federal marshal attending the hearing told the judge his service would not allow personal contact.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Grimmer told Fehrenbach: "The government is not looking to keep the defendant from seeing his mom."

Weksler said Sandford is "very young and in a delicate mental state," and it would be good for him to talk to his mom.

Fehrenbach agreed, saying Lynda Sandford might be able to help with the "unique" circumstances of her son's case.

Fehrenbach said he did some quick online research on UK repatriation attorney Saimo Chahal, and was impressed by her credentials. She is a partner of Bindmans LLP in the UK, whose website describes her as "Partner and joint head of the international law and public law and human rights departments of Bindmans LLP. Saimo sits part time as a Mental Health Tribunal judge. Saimo specializes in international cases, application to the ECtHR and domestic human rights and civil liberties cases in a wide range of areas, including inquiries & inquests, Terrorism Act cases, administrative and public law, mental health law, healthcare."

Michael Sandford, of Dorking, Surrey, tried to take a gun from a police officer's holster on June 18 during a Trump rally at the Mystere Theatre in the Treasure Island Casino. He allegedly told arresting officers he wanted to kill Trump, and would try again if he were released.

Sandford's parents say he has been in the United States for about 18 months. Federal authorities say he has been here illegally for the past year. His mother has said he has Asperger's syndrome.

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