On July 22nd Jason Cardiff filed an ex parte motion requesting permission to travel to Ireland.

According to Cardiff, his wife Eunjung recently “suffered a medical issue” in Slovakia.

On July 20, 2024, Mr. Cardiff reported that his wife suffered a medical issue while she was in Slovakia.

Mr. Cardiff reported that Mrs. Cardiff intends to seek additional medical treatment in Ireland, where she resides.

Because of this medical issue, Mr. Cardiff seeks permission to travel to Ireland to assist his wife and care for their 10-year-old child. Mr. Cardiff proposes that he travel to Ireland for ten days.

What Eunjung Cardiff was doing in Slovakia wasn’t disclosed.

On July 23rd, a day later, the DOJ filed its opposition to Cardiff’s motion.

The DOJ’s opposition is framed within the context of acknowledgement Cardiff is a flight risk, his “history of deception and dishonesty” and inability to “follow court orders”.

Specifically, the DOJ latches onto Cardiff’s lack of supporting evidence.

The photographs of a medical bill, printout of an EKG reading and one-page health assessment that are alleged to support this claim have not been provided to the Court or the government for review.

Disturbingly, the DOJ also details what appears to be an attempt by Cardiff at witness tampering.

Two days ago, a government witness reported that within the last month or two she received a text message from someone identifying themselves as Jason Cardiff asking to communicate.

The witness deleted the text and blocked the number as she did not wish to have any further contact with defendant.

This report of attempted contact, while somewhat limited, suggests that Jason Cardiff, or someone posing as him, has contacted at least one government witness in this case, and if true, is a violation of his conditions of release.

Another problem cited by the DOJ is that none of the assets securing his appearance belong to Cardiff or his family.

There is no reason to think defendant would put the sureties’ financial interests above his own interest in avoiding trial and potential incarceration.

By his own admission following his arrest, Cardiff travelled from Ireland to the US believing a statute of limitations had expired on his alleged conduct.

This, the DOJ asserts, constitutes an admission of guilt and insight into his intent;

Defendant’s comment upon arrest that the statute of limitations had passed is an admission of both guilt and a prior effort to avoid legal jeopardy by absenting himself from the United States, which he may seek to do again given the opportunity.

The nature of the charges, the defendant’s criminal exposure, and his awareness of that exposure, continue to make him a flight risk for international travel.

With his charges combined, Cardiff, 49, is facing up to 57 years in prison.

Moreover, the defendant is in a different posture now than when he was arraigned. The government has produced voluminous discovery to the defendant. He is now aware of the scope and strength of the government’s evidence.

He recently lost a motion to dismiss, his attorneys have moved to withdraw due to a breach of their contractual agreement, and the September 3, 2024 trial date is fast approaching.

In summary;

Once the defendant leaves the United States, he will be free to travel to Ireland and any other foreign jurisdiction, should he choose.

Indeed, he could leave Ireland and travel to another country that does not have an extradition treaty with the United States.

Defendant has a record of disobeying court orders and lying to the court. He cannot be trusted to tell the truth to the Court or comply with conditions set by the Court on his word alone.

As a compromise, the DOJ asserts Eunjung and the Cardiff’s child

are free to travel to the United States so that defendant can participate in his wife’s medical care and assume parental child-care responsibilities.

As at time of publication, a decision on Cardiff’s motion to travel to Ireland remains pending.

 

Update 27th July 2024 – Jason Cardiff has been given permission to travel to Ireland. Cardiff’s attorney also filed a second motion to withdraw, which was granted on July 25th.