Defense attorney says DA Rosen used Stanford protester case to solicit campaign donations

BY STEPHANIE LAM
Daily Post Correspondent

A Santa Clara County judge said yesterday she is considering removing District Attorney Jeff Rosen from retrying five pro-Palestinian activists on vandalism charges because he allegedly used the case for campaign fundraising.

Speaking to a San Jose courtroom, Judge Kelley Paul said she will decide on April 30 whether Rosen’s office will be recused from putting German Gonzalez, Maya Burke, Taylor McCann, Hunter Taylor-Black and Amy Zhai on trial again. The five all took part in breaking into the Stanford president’s office on June 5, 2024 to demand the university divest from companies aiding Israel’s military in Gaza.

Deadlocked jury

The trial to prosecute the five with felony vandalism and conspiracy charges began on Jan. 9 and ended on Feb. 13, with jurors divided 8-4 for guilt on the conspiracy and 9-3 for guilt on the vandalism.

Following the verdict, Rosen said he would push for a retrial. The protesters are accused of causing $300,000 in damage.

But in a Feb. 25 motion, Singh argued that Rosen used the prosecution to solicit campaign donations on his website, including posting the donation button on the same webpage he accused the five of “anti-Semitism.”

Singh also writes that Rosen published a YouTube video where he said he was going to “Fight for Israel” and described the five as “un-American.”

More time allowed

Judge Paul was expected to make the recusal decision yesterday, but instead ruled to allow the defense more time to obtain records and documents related to their case. Singh said the defense wants to get fundraising-related information, including Rosen’s donor list and finances from a December fundraiser.

The case will continue on Thursday, April 30 at 1:30 p.m.