So did two spokesmen for the 138 prosecutors, saying the issue was an exclusively Egyptian matter that should not interest foreign media.
The federal prosecutors said the issue was moot because the judge, George B. Daniels, had already decided that the government had the right to block any movement of the statue until the case is resolved.
But last week, it was Mr. Sherman who was annoyed when prosecutors raised the issue of how Mr. Skakel treated a neighbor's dog.
But a psychiatrist called in by prosecutors when the issue last arose, in 1997, warned the court that Mr. Hinckley had the ability to hide serious problems, appearing fine even to those treating him.
Balogh, who is known for his eloquent oral arguments, is also one of the few lawyers who has had success against these same prosecutors over the issue of performance-enhancing drugs.
Prosecutors raised the issue of Mr. Godineaux's mental capacity, which makes him ineligible for the death penalty under state law, at the beginning of their cross-examination, but spent most of their time trying to discredit Mr. Godineaux's story about what happened inside the 111th Precinct station house in the 24 hours the two men were questioned there.
Prosecutors said the issue of ownership was still being clarified.
But a prosecutor directly confronted the issue yesterday, telling jurors that whether they sentenced Mr. Mohamed to life or death would not matter to other terrorists.
No one has been charged, and Mr. Matsamakis said the prosecutor, apparently regarding the issue as best addressed through civil law, suggested that he file a private suit over the claims from the growers around Vamos.
An enormous amount of the 2016 election cycle focused on Clinton's email server, leading Trump to promise during the second debate that he'd appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the issue if elected president.
