United States v. Awadallah

OPINION AND ORDER

SCHEINDLIN, District Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

Following a mistrial in May, 2006, defendant Osama Awadallah has moved for a change of venue pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 21(a). Awadallah urges this Court to focus specifically on the final days of jury deliberations culminating in the mistrial. During the “emotionally heated jury deliberations,” some jurors “were tearfully discussing their September 11 recollections in the jury room.” 1 This turn of events has convinced Awadallah that “New Yorkers are too close to the events of September 11, 2001” for him to…