Marron et al v. Maduro Moros et al

UN ITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
SOU TH ERN D ISTRICT O F FLORID A
M iàm iDivision
CaseNum ber:21-23190-C1V-M ORENO
CARLOS EDU A RD O M AR RON ,M A RIA
M A RR ON ,C.R.,a m inor,and S.A .,a m inor,
Plaintiffs,
N lcoLA s M A DU RO M OR O ,	S FU ER ZA S
AR M A DA S REV OLUCION A RIO S DE
Co LO M BI ,	A CA RTEL OF TH E SUN S
VLADI	MI	RPADRI	NOLOPEZ,MAI	KS
Jo sE M o lkcN o PERE ,	z N ESTOR LU IS
REV ER OL TORRE ,	S TA REK W ILLIA M
SA AB,and TA RECK EL AISSAM I,
D efendants.
O R DER D ENY IN G M O TIO N TO STR IK E D ECL AM T IO N O F A M B ASSAD O R
BILLIN G SLEA
Plaintiffs/ludgm entCreditorsfiled m otionsforexpedi.ted consideration ofRaulG oln-in
Belisario and Gustavo Perdom oRosales'sstatusasagentsand instrumentalitiesofthe
DefendantsundertheTerrorism Risk lnsuranceAct.In supportoftheirm otions,Plaintiffs
profferthe declarations oftw o experts,D ouglas C.Farah and A m bassadorM arshallS.
Billingslea.RaulGorrinBelisario,GustavoPerdomoRosales,andthelicensee,D.E.W ilson(the
InterestedParties)movetostrikethedeclarationofAmbassadorM arshallS.Billingsleaunder18
U.S.C.j207,whichprecludesformeremployeesoftheUnited Statesfrom testifyingunder
cel'tain circum stances.Because the Courtfindsthe statute does notapply in thiscontext,the
Coul'tdenies the m otion to strike the deciaration ofAm bassadorBillingslea.
Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 593 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/15/2026 Page 1 of 12

THIS CAUSE cam e before the Court upon the M otion to Strike the Declaration of
AmbassadorM arshallBillingsle: (D.	E.503)andD.	E.W ilsqn'sjoinderoftheM otion to Strike
(D.E.504).
THE COU RT has considered the m otion, the response, oral argum ent, the pelinent
pol4ionsofthe record,and being otherwise fully ad. vised in the prem ises,itis
ADJUDGED thatthemotiontostrike(D.E.503,504)isDENIED.
Bacltground
Plaintiffs/ludgm entCreditorsfiled motionsforexpedited consideration ofRaulGonin
Belisario and Gustavo Perdom o Rosales'sstatus as agents and instrum entalitiesofthe
Defendantsunderthe Terrorism Risk lnstlrance A ct.ln supportoftheirluotions,Plaintiffs
profferthedeclarationsoftwo experts,DouglasC.Farah andAm bassadorM arshallS.
Billingslea.D.	E.W ilsonjoinsRaulGon'	irlBelisario andGustavoPerdomoRosales'smotionto
striketheexpertdeclarationofAmbassadorM arshallS.Billingsleaunder18U.S.C.j207.The
Coul4 m ustdecide this threshold issue.
z1. Background on A mbassadorM arshallS.Billingslea
A m bassadorM arshallS.Billingslea served as an A ssistantSecretary forTerrorist
Financing and FinancialCrim esatthe U.S.DepartmentofTreasul-y,Deputy Undelyecretary of
theN avy,and Presidentofthe FinancialA ction Task Force.H e subluitted a declaration in this
case,which explains how RaulGorrin Belisario and G ustavo A dolfo Perdom o R osales suppol'ted
the regim e ofD efendantN icolas M aduro and how ,in hisview ,they are agents and
instrum entalities ofthe D efendants/ludgm entDebtors.Am bassadorBillingslea began hiscareer
in 1995 serving asthe SeniorProfessionalStaffM emberforNationalSecurity Affairson the
Senate Foreign Relations Com m ittee.Thatrole included work w ith the State Departm ent's
Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 593 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/15/2026 Page 2 of 12

Counter-Terrorism Coordinator,andtheBureau ofIntelligenceandResearch and Diplom atic
Security.
In 200l,Am bassadorBillingslea w as appointed as the D eputy A ssistantSecretary of
DefenseforNegotiationsPolicy,acting astheU.S.Secretaly ofDefense'sChiefNegotiatorfor
intel-nationalagreem ents.I-IewastheprincipalDepartmentofDefensel'epresentativeon
num erousU .S.arm s controldelegations,and the U .S.H ead ofD elegation forTransparency and
Verification negotiationsw ith theRussian Federation.Followingthatrole,Am bassador
Billingslea becam e the PrincipalDeputy A ssistant Secretary ofDefense for SpecialOperations/
Low-lntensity Contlictafterthe9/11 attacks.H ealso served asCo-chairm an oftheB, oard of
Directors forU .S.SpecialOperations Com m and,w here he established the firstcounter-terrorist
finance cellto disruptterroristfinanciers.On hisinitiative,the D epal4m entofD efense and U ,S.
Southern Com m and transfonued their approach to train vetted Colom bian m ilitary units to target
theleadershipoftheFuerzasArmadasRevolucionariasdeColombia(FARC).
From 2003 to 2007,A m bassadorBillingslea served atN A TO asA ssistantSecretary
G eneralofD efense Investm entw here he estabiished the CsD efense A gainstTerrorism Program of
W ork''ofa1lalliancem embersto collaborate on new technologiesto com batterrorism .Hewas
responsibleforthe Alliance'sarm aments,cooperation policies,itsm ilitary comm on funding,and
the N A TO standards-setting form ilitary equipm ent.
Follow ing histim e in N A TO ,he returned to W ashington D .C.to serve in theN avy
D epal-tm entas D eputy U ndersecretal'y ofthe N avy overseeing clandestine program s and the
long-range budget.H is careerthen turned to the private sectorw herè he becam e a M anaging
D irectoratD eloitte running itsFederalB usinesslntelligence Servicesproviding due diligence
forclientsincluding U.S.intelligenceagenciesand theDepartm entofDefense.
Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 593 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/15/2026 Page 3 of 12

ln April2017,AmbassadorBillingsleabecam eAssistantSecretary forTerrorist
Financing and FinancialCrim es atthe U nited States D epalm entpfTreastlry.Thatposition is the
seniorofficialwho coordinatesthecounter-terroristfinancing and anti-money laundering efforts
oftheDepartm entoftheTreasury.There,hebuiltintel-nationalcoalitionsand 1ed U .S.effol4sto
counterillicitûnancialactivitiesworldwide.Hereorganized theOfficeofTerroristFinancing
and FinancialCrimestoemploy cutting edge data analyticsagainsttlu'eatnetworks,w, hich
strengthened theU .S.'Santi-money laundering capabilities.Heserved asthePresidentofthe
FinancialAction Task Force,theglqbalanti-m oney laundering body.On hisinitiative,nations
adopted thefirsteversetofanti-money laundering standardsforcryptocurrenciesand virtual
assets.In April2020,PresidentTrum p appointed M r.Billingslea asthe SpecialPresidential
Envoy forArm sControl,wherehe1ed talkswith theRussian Federatiop andthePeople's
Republic ofChina.N ow ,Am bassadorBillingslea w orksin the private sectorproyiding risk and
advisoly services.
M ore specitic to thiscase,AmbassadorBillingslea,especiallythrough hisrolesatthe
U .S.D epartm entofTreasury from 2017 to 2020,becam e know ledgeable aboutV enezuela,the
M aduro Regim e,and theCal4eloftheSuns.He isfamiliarwith how theregime and the cal4els
comm itcrimes,including narcoticstrafficking,narcoterrorism ,money laundering,
cul-rency/exchangeratescams,kidnapping ofU.S.citizens,and otheractsofkleptocracy and
corruption.He isalso fam iliarwith theactivitiesofGorrin and Perdom o,which hestates
include:(1)bribingmembersoftheM aduroregime,(2)launderingmoneyforM aduroand
others,(3)rulmingcorruptcurrencyconversion/exchangerateschemesforM aduroandother
Defendants,(4)disseminatingpropagandasupportingtheillegitimateM aduroregilne,and(5)
suppressing mediacoveragecriticalofM aduro and theCartelofthe Sunsthrough theuseof
Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 593 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/15/2026 Page 4 of 12

illicitfundsto acquire Globovision television.Am bassadorBillingsleain hisroleattheTreasury
D epal4m entsetthe D epartm ent'sapproach to sanction the M adurq regim e and the Cartelofthe
Suns.H e w aspersonally involved w ith the Jantlary 8,2019 sanctions againstGon-in and
Perdom o.
ln his declaration,Am bassadorBillingslea claim sthathis opinions are notbased on
inform ation he obtained during hisgovernm entw ork.Rather,hestatesthey arebased on his
personalknow ledge and research.H e develpped a network ofconfidentialinform ants,including
those w ho had accessto M aduro and otherCal-telleadership,who provided him w ith first-hand
inform ation concerningtheconductofM aduro,theCal4el,and the individualDefendants,as
w ellas Gorrin and Perdom o.H e stateshe reached his opinionsusing the sam e analytical
fram ew ork asw hen he w asresponsible forassessing w hether cel-tain personsprovided m aterial
suppol'tto financing terroristsw hile serving in the D epartm entofD efense,the D epartm entofthe
Treasul'y,and the Senate.
11. L egalA nalysis
A tissue is whetherto strike the declaration ofA lnbassadorM arshallS.B illingslea under
18U.S.C.j207,afederalcontlicts-of-intereststatutethatrestrictsfonnerExecutiveBranch
officers.The C otll4 m ustdecide thistllreshold issue before determ ining w hetherthe Plaintiffs'
makebhziçprimafaciecasethatRaulGorrinBelisarioandGustavoPerdomoRosalesareagents
and instl-um entalitiesofthe D efendants/ludgm entD ebtors underthe Terrorism R isk lnsurance
A.18 U S.C.f207
lWhetherPlaintiffs/ludgmentCreditorsestablishaprimafacieshowingofagencyandinstrumentalityastoGorrin
andPerdomoisnotthesubjectofthisOrder.
Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 593 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/15/2026 Page 5 of 12

The federalcrim inalcodem andatesthatformerf'ederalem ployeescamlotm akeCsany
com m unication to orappearance. before any .,.coul't...on behalfofany otherperson ..ain
çonnectionwithapal-ticularlnatter- (A)inwhichtheUnitedStates...isapartyorhasadirect
andsubstantialinterest ...gandj(B)inwhichthegemployeejparticipatedpersonallyand
substantially....''18U.S.C.j207(a).ThestatutespecifiesthataGûformerofficeroremployeein
theexecutivebranchoftheUnitedStates...whoissubjecttothel'	estrictionscontainedin
subsection(a)(1)withrespecttoaparticularmattermaynot,exceptpurstlanttocourtorder,
serveasanexpel	'twitnessforanyotherperson(excepttheUnitedStates)inthatmatter.''18
U.S.C.j207()(6)(A).Thisprovisionisl	'	eemphasizedintheCodeofFederalRegulations,which
statesthatûl	wherethebarofsection207(a)(1)applies,aformergfederal)employeemqy notserve
asanexpertwitnessexcept:(i)IfheiscalledasawitnessbytheUnitedStates'	,or(ii)Bycourt
order.''5C.F.R.j2641.301(t)(2).
lûsection207(a)wasoriginallywrittentoreflectthenotionthattapublicservantowes
undivided loyalty to the governm ent.'''Goodeagle v. United States,N o.09-490-13,2010 W L
3081520,*2(W .D.Okla.Aug.6,2010)(quotingH.R.Rep.No.87-748,at3(1961)).The
statute prevents an em ployee from ûsresigning hisposition and tsw itching sides'in a m atter
whichwasbeforehim inhisofficialcapacity.''1d.(quotingH.R.Rep.No.87-748at4).
Goodeaglerecognizedthatj207'slangtlageisbroaderthantheintentofpreventingindividuals
to take whatthey learn in an officialgovenlm entcapacity and use itforpersonalgain in the
private sector.1d.ltis G orrin and Perdom o's position thatthisprohibition applies and requires
theCoul-ttostrikethedeclaration.Specifically,theyrely on 18U.S.C.j207(i)(6),whichstates:
tûN othing in this section shallpreventan individualfrom giving testim ony underoath,orfrom
makingstatementsrequiredtobemadeunderpenalty ofpel	jul'	y.Notwithstandingthepreceding
Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 593 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/15/2026 Page 6 of 12

sentence- (A)aformerofficeroremployeeoftheexecutivebranchoftheUnitedStates...
whoissubjecttotherestrictionscontained insubsection (a)(l)withrespecttoaparticularmatter
maynot,exceptpursuanttocou14order,serveasanexpertwitnessforany otherperson(except
theUnitedStates)inthatmatter.''ltisthisrestrictiononexperttestimonythatformsthebasisof
theirm otion to strike.
Thelnterested Partiesalsorely on an independentregulation setting forththe(spolicies
andproceduresoftheDepartment(ofTreasurylregardingthetestimony ofemployeesand
formeremployees''toarguetheCourtshouldstrikethedeclaration.31C.F.R.jl.11(a)(1).The
regulationstatesthatççsubjectto5C.F.R..	I-2635.805,anemployeeorformeremployeeshallnot
provide,w ith orw ithoutcom pensation,opinion or expel-ttestim ony concerning official
infol-mation,subjects,oractivities,exceptonbehalfoftheUnitrdStatesorapa14yrepreseqted
bytheDepartmentofJustice,withoutwrittenapprovalofagencycounsel.''31C.F.R.j
1.11(f)(1)(emphasisadded).Thereferencedregulation5C.	F.R.j2635.805clarifiesthat
dçgelmployeesmay notserve,otherthan onbehalfoftheUnited States,asanexpertwitness,with
orwithoutcom pensation,in any proceedingbefore acou14 oragency ofthe United Statesin
which the United States is a pc/rry or has a directand substantialinterest,unlessthe eluployee's
participationisauthorizedby theagencyg.	j''5C.F.	R.j2635.805(a)(emphasisadded).
B. Applicabilit	y ofl8 US.C.J207d:Standi	ng toEnforcetheStatute
PlaintiffsarguethatthelnterestedPal-tieslackstandingtoenforcej207'sprohibition.ln
theirview ,the U nited States Departm entofJustice hasexclusive authority to enforce the
criminalandcivilprovisionsofSection207.5C.F.R.j2641.103 (statingCûlcjri'	minalandcivil
enforceluentoftheprovisionsof18U.S.C.j207isthel-esponsibilityoftheDepartmentof
Justice.'').Despitethisregulation,theInterestedPartiesarguethatPlaintiffscontlatej2O7(a)
Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 593 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/15/2026 Page 7 of 12

with j207()(6)(A),whict	athey assertisaseparateanddistinctevidentiaryprohibitionthat
renders inadm issible certain expel'ttestim ony in any proceedingsw here itapplies.They also
. ' ' ' 7 '
arguethatdespitethebroadstatementthatGlgclriminalandcivilenforcementoftheprovisionsof
18U.S.C.j207istheresponsibilityoftheDepartmentofJusticeg,j''5C.F.R.j2641.103only
referencesthecriminalpenaltiesof18U.S.C.j216(a),thecivilpenaltiesofj216(b),andthe
injunctivereliefofj216(c).Becausetheregulationmakesnomentionofj207(j)(6)(A),they
claim they have standing to challengeAmbassadorBillingslea'sdeclaration because anyparty to
aproceeding can invoke an applicableevidentiary rulethatCongressenacted.
A review ofthe entire statute instructs the Coul'ton the resolution ofthis issue.See In re..
W alterAkprg.,plnc.,911F.	3d 1121,1143(1lth Cir.2018)((C	Butwemustbemindfulthatto
ascel-taintheplainmeaningofastatute,1(wjedon'	otlookatonewordorterm in isolation,but
insteadwelooktotheentirestatutorycontext.''')(quoting UnitedStatesp.DBB,Inc.,180F.3d
1277,1281(11thCir.1999)).
lnexamining18U.S.C.j207,theCourttirstnotesthattitle 18isthefederalcriminal
code,which is titled (lcrim es and Crim inalProcedure.''The relevantsection isfound in chapter
11 titled (lBribel'y,Graf'tand Conflictsoflnterest.''Section 207 itselfis nam ed EûR estrictionson
form erofticers,employees,and elected officialsoftheexecutiveand legislativebranches.''
Subsection(a)createscriminalliability when aformergovernmentemployeeknowingly makesa
com m unication with an intentto influence any courtin casesw here the United States ij a pal4y
orhasa substantialinterest,in w hich the person participated personally and substantially as an
officer,andwhich involvedspeciticpartiesatthetimeoftheparticipation.Subsection (a)(3)
clarifiesthatltgtjherestrictionscontainedinparagraphs(1)and (2)shallapply--...lûonlywith
respecttoamatterinwhichtheUnited States(ortheDistrictofColumbiaqisapal-tyorhasa
Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 593 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/15/2026 Page 8 of 12

directandsubstantialinterest.''Subsection(b)cmatesarestriction on aidingonadvisi	ngbyany
formerofficer,andisalsopunishablecriminally asprovidedin 18U.S.C.j216,part.ofthesame
titleasj207.Subsections(c)throtlgh(g)explain differentcategoriesofemployeestowhom the
sçction appliesand certain timerestrictions;thesesectionsal1referencethatviolationlare
crimi	nall	y punishableasprovidedin section216,Thensubsçction(h)allowstheDirectorofthe
Office ofGovqrnm entEthicsto designate agenciesw ithin the executive branch fordistinct
functionstoclarify j207(c).Subsection (i)listsdefinitipnspertinentto j207,suchasdefining
officersandemployees.Then,thepertinentsectionatissuehereissubsection (),whichistitled
(lExceptions.''Thefirstthreeexceptionsclarifythatj207'sprohibition doesnotapplyto official
govermrentdutiesin connection with carlying outdutieson behalfoftheUnited States,the
DistrictofColumbia,stateand localgovernlnents,orinternationalorganizationsin which the
. ' . .
U.S.partici	patesiftheSecretary ofStatecertifiesassuch.Subsection ()(4)createsanexception
foran individualm aking an unpaid statem entbased on tcspecialknow ledge''and subsection
()(5)piggybacksonthattoaddthattherestrictionsdonotapply Ck	withrespecttomaking
communicationssolelyforthepurposeoffurnishingscientificortechnologicalinformationg.q''
ltisinthisexceptionsframeworkthatj207(j)(6)appears.Subsection ()(6)isthe
provision thatthe lnterested Parties claim creates a standalone evidentiary rule.First,subsection
(i)(6)istitledûsexceptionfortestimony.''Itstatesthatnothingin j207Ctpreventsanindividual
from giving testim ony under oath,orfrom m aking statem ents required to be m adé underpenalty
ofperjury.''Thenitstatesthat(Cgnjotwithstandingtheprecedingsentence ''ûûaformerofticeror
em ployee ofthe executive branch ofthe United States ...who is 5'//:./(	<c/to thel-estrictions
containedinsubsection(a)(l)withrespecttoapal-ticularmattermaynot,exceptpursuantto
courtorder,serveasanexpertwitnessforanyotherperson(excepttheUnited States)inthat
Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 593 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/15/2026 Page 9 of 12

matter.	''18U.S.C.j207(j)(6).TheInterestedPartiesreqtlesttheCoul	-treadthissubsection(j)(6)
asan evidentiary rule,and ignorethe fram ework within which itisfound.N otably,and in their
favor,stlbsection(j)(6)doesnotindicatethatafailuretocomplyresultsincriminalculpability.
Nordoesitincludeanenforcementmechanism aspresentundersubsection (a).Butthesectionis
listed asan exception to the generalprohibitionsto allow testim ony underoath and notesthe
exception doesnotextend to expertw itness testim ony.
Principlesofstatutol-y construction do notsuppol'tthe lnterested Parties'reading and rather
require the Coul4 to find thatthey are without standing to enforce it.To stal't,the statute is
contained in the crim inalcode.It is a longstanding S'principle that crim inalstatutes can only be
enforced by theproperauthoritiesofthe United Statesgovernm entand a privateparty hasno right
toenforcethesesanctions''in civilactions.BassAnglerSportsnlanSocl)/v.ULS.SteelCorp.,324
privateparty lacksstanding toprosecutea criminalaction).And theregulationsclarify thatthe
DepartmentofJusticeischarged with enforcement.5C.F.R.j2641.103 (stating thettgcjriminal
andcivilenforcementoftheprovisionsof18U.S.C.j207isthel-esponsibilityoftheDepartment
ofJustice.').
The Coul'tm ustalso read the statute in a m annerthatgives a11sections itsm eaning.To do
so,theCourtmustview subsection()(6)asanexceptiontothegeneralprohibition,notasastand-
aloneevidentiaryrule.Thisisespeciallythecasebecausesubsection (j)(6)indicatesthatitapplies
to formeroffcers oremployees who are ût	subjectto the restrictions contained in subsection
(a)(1)g.q''Subsection(j)(6)referencesthegeneralprohibition,andthustheCourtwillnotreaditin
isolation.
Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 593 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/15/2026 Page 10 of 12

M oreover,j 207(a)(1)clarifiesthatthisstatutedoesnotappl	y in thiscase.ltprovides
unequivecally thatit only applies to m atters (Cin w hich the U nited States ...is a party or has a
. . , . .
directand substantialinterest.	''18U.S.	C.j207(a)(1)(A),Subsection (a)(3)(A)furtherclarifies
thatthel'estrictionscontained in paragraphs 1 and 2 apply only when the United States isapal-ty
or has a direct and substantial interest.The United States is not a party
distinguishesthiscase from Goodeaglewherethe United Stateswasaparty.
Thisbegsthe nextquestion as to whethçrthe United States has a directand substantial
interestin thiscase.The lnterested Pal4iesassertthatallowing thegalmishm entofthe Goln-in and
Perdom o assetswould deplete the assetsfrom the controlofthe DepartmentofTreasw-y,which
givesitpowertonegotiatewith OorrinandPerdomo,whom .itdesignated asSpecially Designated
Narcptics Traffickers.TRIA,however, sets forth the United States' interest in ensuring that
ten'orism victims'can collectblocked assets.lnenactingTRIA,Congressallowedterrorism victim s
to bypassthe usualrequirementthata litigantfirstobtain a license from the Office ofForeign
A ssetControl,U .S.D epal-tm ent ofTreasul'y.TRIA therefore cuts againstthe lnterested Parties'
position that the U nited States has a direct and substantial interest in keeping blocked assets
available asa negotiation tool.Likew ise,these assetsare blocked and are notow ned by the U nited
States.So allowing the TRIA Plaintiffsto recoverasto these assetsdoesnotcausea directfinancial
loss to the United States,w hich could,if itw ere the case,also establish a directand substantial
interest.
finds that j 207()(6)'s exception does notcreate a standalone
evidentiary rule requiring the Courtto strike AmbassadorBillingslea's affidavit.5 C.F.R.j
2641.301(9(2),which is the regulation relating
The Court, therefore,
to 18 U.S.C.j 207,confirms this statutoly
intepretation.The regulation clearly statesthatçiwhere thebar of section 207(a)(l) applies,a
Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 593 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/15/2026 Page 11 of 12

former employee may notserve as an expert witness''with certain exceptions.5 C.F.R.j
2641.	301(9(2).TheregulationdoesnotsupporttheInterestedPal	4ies'readingofsubsection (i)(6)
as providing a standalone evidential'y rule regarding testim ony by form er em ployees of the
ExecutiveBranch.Havingfoundj207doesnotapplyandthattheInterestedPal-tieslackstanding
to enforce the crim inalstatute,the Courtneed not address whether Am bassador Billingslea's
. '
affidavitrelieson hispersonalexperience while serving the U.S.DepartmentofTreasuly.
. ' . . .
The Courtnext exam ines whether the restrictions relating to the U.S.Departm ent of
Treasury found in the Code ofFederalR egulations apply to require striking ofthe declaration.The
lnterested Partiesarguethat31C.	F.R.j 1.11(9(1)isan independentprovisionthatrequiresthis
Coul'tstrikethedeclaration.Butthatregulationprohibiting experttestim ony by form erDepallment
ofTreasuryemployeesisexplicitlysubjecttoanotherregulation5C.	F.R.j2635.805.5C.	F.	R.j
2635.805(a)statesthatdlgejmployeesmay notserve,otherthanon behalfoftheUnitedStates,as
an expel'twitness,with orwithoutcolupensation,in any proceeding before a courtoragency of
the United States in which the United States is a party or /Jt7-ta direct and substantialinterest,
unlesstheemployee'sparticipationisauthorizedbytheagencyg.q''(emphasisadded).Becausethe
U nited States is nota party to this case and lacks a directand substantialinterestin thiscase,the
Cou1	4findsthat31C.	F.	R.j 1.11(9 doesnotapplyhereandtheCourtdeniesthemotionto strike
the declaration ofAm bassadorM arshallB illingslea.
D ON E AN D O RDERED in Cham bersatM iam i,Florida,this ofSeptem ber2026.
,v.,r ,. jss,c.pp	wslswe.s o:;:;. a....
.. zzz' ,
o.0 ...	z' >
FED ER O A. .
-'
M N O
UN ITED SYATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Copies f'urnished to:
CounselofRecord
Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 593 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/15/2026 Page 12 of 12