Jackson team holds hotel summit before hearing
Michael Jackson’s inner circle met at a posh Beverly Hills hotel to look at the entertainer’s business affairs, four days before his first court appearance on child sex charges.
Cameras will not be allowed in the courtroom during Friday’s court appearance, a judge has ruled, rejecting requests from numerous news organisations.
Yesterday’s meeting at the Beverly Hills Hotel was attended by lawyers, managers and accountants for the pop superstar, along with leaders from the Nation of Islam, a black American Muslim group.
Jackson’s lawyer, Mark Geragos, came out of the closed-door session and allowed an Associated Press reporter and photographer into the suite to ask a few questions, seeking to end the atmosphere of secrecy that had surrounded the gathering.
“This is going on throughout the day,” he said, indicating that other members of the Jackson team would be participating later.
When asked why Jackson, 45, was not present, Geragos said, ”Who says he isn’t?” However, Jackson could not be seen in the room.
Members of Jackson’s closest advisers were gathered around a large table in the suite. At the head of the table was Leonard Muhammad, a high-ranking official of the Nation of Islam who has been described as an adviser to Jackson. Other Nation of Islam members were in an area outside the suite.
Also at the meeting were Jackson’s accountant, Allan Whitman; his music manager Charles Koppelman; his civil lawyer, Zia Modabber; and other members of the Geragos law firm.
When asked if the Nation of Islam was handling any aspect of Jackson’s financial affairs, Koppelman told reporters outside the suite: “No sir.”
When asked who was in charge of the meeting, Geragos said: ”This is a very egalitarian group.”
An NBC reporter allowed into the suite later in the day told The Associated Press that Jackson participated in a conference call with his advisers.
Kevin McLin, a spokesman for Jackson who spent two hours in the meeting during the afternoon, said the pop star was clearly in charge.
“It was just a sign of unity,” he said of the gathering. ”It was just everybody coming together. Michael is in control of everything.”
He declined to comment on the role of the Nation of Islam.
Security at the hotel was high and other guests were unaware of the meeting until they reached the end of the driveway where fans and camera crews were assembled.
One of the celebrity guests at the hotel, Donald Trump, stopped to chat with reporters and was asked what he thought of the Jackson case.
“I think they’re trying to make money off Michael and it’s a shame,” Trump said.
Earlier in the day, Jackson’s brother Jermaine and a handful of fans held a news conference to describe plans to support Jackson during his Friday appearance in a Santa Maria courtroom.
“My brother is innocent, he is 1,000% innocent,” Jermaine Jackson said. “My mother, father, sisters and brothers are overwhelmed at the outpouring of the fans in the USA and all around the world.”
Diana D’Alo, a fan from Italy, said fans were planning a ”huge gathering” in Santa Maria over several days that also will include people from Spain, France, England, Canada, Mexico and Japan, as well as from around the United States.
Jackson is charged with seven counts of performing lewd or lascivious acts on a child under 14 and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent, reportedly wine. He is free on more than €2.9m bail pending his court appearance. Jackson has maintained his innocence.
A hearing is also being held on Friday for news organisations who are asking a judge to unseal documents related to the November 18 search of Jackson’s Neverland Ranch.
