Thomas W. Greelish on David Friedland faking his own death; Greenlish Interview

It certainly is. As the chief law enforcement officer for the district it's my it's my sworn responsibility to do everything that I can legally to encourage him to surrender him self to the authorities. Are you asking David Friedman to call you now. Yes. More than call me if Mr. Freeman is watching. I would only say to him that I think he is an intelligent enough human being to recognize the fact that he is in his interest to surrender of self. We have heard from a number of different sources not infrequently from the media that David Freeland has contacted people. That he has sent messages in one instance I believe through his attorney Mr. Shaughnessy Mr. Friedland has not conses contacted us nor has any agent contacted us on his behalf. Does he want to come in is that what you're reading out of this. I think I think probably one of the most difficult jobs anybody would have is trying to figure out what's in David

Friedman's mind. I can't fathom why he's doing it if in fact he is doing it. He professes that that he's in danger that there are people who want to harm him. I would say to David Freeland that if that is the case and I don't know that that's so. But if in fact that is the case that the United States government is prepared to offer him protection. He said if in fact he is making these contacts do you think there's the possibility that someone using his name. Is managing to convince those people dummies Biggs I don't know because I have no confirmation that that individual purporting to be David Friedland is in fact that freedom. I understand at the recording that he provided to his attorney has been checked by people who should know and they tell me that it is in fact David Friedman.

There is speculation that what David Friedland is looking for is yet another deal and all of this has been about trying to feel out whether it's possible to have a deal for him again. What we're prepared to do sue listened to Mr. Freeh. That suggests a monologue as opposed to a dialogue that occurred at this point to indicate what the United States would or would not do. It's only after you Mr. Friedman has to say. The way in which Mr Friedman can speak to us is by coming in and submitting himself to the jurisdiction of the court as he is obligated to do because of his sentence. And if he has something which he feels that we ought to know about it certainly can make it known to us. I can't stop Mr Friedman from talking to me. I think will be their election and my duty to him to refuse to listen to him.

Whether or not we say anything in response to him depends in large measure on what he has to say to us. But to be fair to say that no matter how much trouble he was in before he faked his death he has made things even worse for himself. I think that's pretty accurate. There are charges that can be brought for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution. That's true of any individual who is required to appear before the court and does not come before the court. If the government can show that the individual left the jurisdiction voluntarily there is a viable prosecution there. In addition probably an understatement to say they were skeptical upon learning of his supposed drowning. That investigation from the beginning compas and continues to encompass.

Any third persons that is any other individuals who may have been involved in aiding him. In the scaping. That is the act of removing himself from the jurisdiction of the court. The second aspect of it is as I've said any individuals who who have helped him remain in hiding. The scope of the investigation hasn't changed from day one. It has been open and has been ongoing and it has been intensive expecting that phone to ring and for it to be David Friedman. No but I wouldn't be surprised if it is. I would not be shocked by almost anything with Mr. Freeland that I mean by that. Well. He has demonstrated I think publicly. A behavior pattern that is different from what you might

expect from the average individual. I think members of the media have described it is the fact that he takes pride in being an iconoclast. I've seen nothing. In my limited exposure to Mr Friedman to to disagree with that. Been described also in the media as genius anything that you've seen of him that would corroborate that. I haven't had that close a contact with any of these are you would you call his behavior bizarre. I can't I can't say that of my own knowledge that I've seen bizarre behavior I think. His flight from the jurisdiction of the court. Certainly has been ill advised. He professes. If you believe the statement that was made to his attorney.

To be in fear he doesn't indicate whom. But I think Mr Freedland is is a bright enough individual and knows that this government has the resources to protect him and I don't know how he expects to be protected if he remains a fugitive and you remain a fugitive. Is there any way with the Justice Department Interpol the FBI looking for him that he can possibly man a fugitive. Possibly. Sure. I think the practical realities are no. I think it's inevitable that he will be found. Have people disappeared voluntarily and remain fugitives. Sure it does happen. The government's been criticized for allowing him to have such a loose rein that he was able to live the high life and then screw anything to that at the time that Mr. Freeland disappeared.

He was on bail that bail was set by a court in this district. The terms and condition of the bail were approved by the court and were part and parcel of the status that he had legally arising out of his initial case. That status was not terribly dissimilar from the status that any other individual might have had had they been in a comparable situation. That is he had been on appeal of his conviction. He then had a rule 35 motion that is a sentence to reduce motion pending. It is not unusual where you've got a situation where you've got an individual who is who is waiting the ruling of a court on whether or not they're going to dismiss. The penalty

already imposed or reduce it to be on bail. Mr. Friedman's bail conditions were that there was no travel restrictions imposed. So that his status in that regard was not terribly unique. The status of David Freeman as far as your office is concerned. Officially it's the same as it was the day that we learned of his disappearance. That is he's a fugitive.