Retaliation Unleashed For Speaking Truth: Patrick McFarland, the Government Man Who Tried to Silence Michael Cohen, Now Targets Me Again

Dear Mindful Leader,

The fight for truth has never been more brutal.

Winning my First Amendment rights wasn’t the end—it set off an all-out retaliation campaign, driven by Patrick McFarland, the same government official whose actions a federal judge determined were retaliation against Michael Cohen for exposing Donald Trump.

I pressed hard to win my right to speak to the press, but McFarland is retaliating viciously. He has put me in a new program, which has enacted draconian new rules designed to disrupt my life and subject me to physical pain and anguish. His actions are not about silencing my voice anymore, as after an 8-month fight I won that battle—they are an attempt to break me down piece by piece.

On September 27, right before Shabbos, McFarland called me, screaming hostile threats with such intensity that it left me rattled. His retaliation and his hostile phone calls (which I am unable to tape under New Hampshire law) are again taking a heavy toll on my physical health.

Note: In New Hampshire, recording a phone call is a felony, but I was advised by legal counsel to use a workaround—placing the call on speakerphone with a highly credible witness present documenting the conversation.

I won my First Amendment rights, but the price of success has been brutally steep.

Note: If you’ve been following Mindful Ethics, you’re already familiar with the fight I’ve been waging for truth and justice. If you missed the last two editions, I strongly encourage you to read them—they lay the essential groundwork for everything unfolding now. Without that context, this newsletter may not fully resonate.

Note: This newsletter contains several important links to supporting documents and references. However, I recommend reading through the entire piece first for full context, then returning to the links for deeper insight afterward. This approach will ensure you capture the complete narrative before diving into the details.

Silencing My Voice - My Fight Against Evil Suppression

Let's start from the beginning.

Let’s get straight to it: The government wrongfully convicted me of a crime, and I have always maintained my innocence—unequivocally, unapologetically. If you’ve been following me or reading Mindful Ethics, you already know the story.

But for those who need context and you haven't been reading my newsletters, click here to dive into the details of the injustice I’ve been fighting against.

BTW . . . If I were guilty, I’d have to be the world’s dumbest criminal.

Why?

Because I didn’t put my assets overseas.

The government seized everything—my bank accounts, stock portfolios—every asset I owned.

No criminal with intent would be that reckless. Master criminals know how to put their assets out of reach. When they get caught, they take a plea, return a portion of the money, and quietly retire on the rest.

In my case, had I diverted large quantities of pharmaceuticals to street dealers and stashed funds in Switzerland, I would have been offered the same plea deal I rejected—a slap on the wrist, return a fraction of the money, and move on.

But that wasn’t my reality, and that’s why I fought. They didn’t even accuse me of diverting drugs to the street. The entire case was built around the prescriptions my doctors wrote, not some elaborate scheme. Yet, despite this, I was still treated as though I had orchestrated something far more sinister.

The injustice I’ve been fighting was amplified tenfold because, up until Thursday, September 26, 2024, I was locked in a fierce battle for my First Amendment right to speak directly with the press. I was barred from doing so, silenced by forces trying to control my voice. I’ll get into the details of this fight shortly—but first, let me tell you why I was so desperate to gain unfettered access to the media.

And by the way, one critical aspect of my media rights has yet to be addressed—the right to appear visually in interviews.

That battle is far from over, and I’ll share more about that later.

But for now, let's focus on why this was such a crucial fight for me...

Let me be crystal clear about the two reasons I fought so hard for the right to speak to the media:

1. To defend my name from false and damaging narratives.
2. To bring attention to my request for Presidential Clemency, particularly in light of Candidate Biden’s broken campaign promises to reform the pardon process and make it fair—a promise that remains unfulfilled.

Reason # 1: False and Damaging Narratives

The media landscape, particularly the Houston Chronicle and Cindy Horswell’s 2010 article, has consistently been unfair toward me, shaping public perception in ways that have been detrimental to my reputation.

Despite the complexities of my case, the narrative pushed by the media has lacked balance, leaving my side of the story untold. This biased portrayal has had a significant and long-lasting impact, as Hearst Corporation’s substantial online authority ensures this article continues to dominate search results, compounding the damage and misrepresentation.

That article still haunts me today.

Google gives Hearst Corporation so much authority that Horswell’s article stays high in search results, no matter how hard I try to push it down.

But, the Houston Chronicle article—It wasn’t written with the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Code of Ethics in mind. The article is patently false, except for the fact that I was convicted (and I maintain wrongfully so) and we generated $24 million (actually $28 million)—most of the rest of the article's facts are simply wrong.

No one ever sought my side of the story, and this misrepresentation continues to tarnish my reputation.

This article comes from a subsidiary of the Hearst Corporation which has recently implemented a controversial social media policy that restricts employees from expressing their political views on private accounts, which has drawn backlash from the Hearst Magazines Media Union. The union filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), arguing that the policy infringes on employees' freedom of speech, particularly affecting marginalized voices, including those in the LGBTQIA+ community.

It’s a clear attempt by Hearst to control personal expression, much like they controlled my narrative by abandoning SPJ Ethics.

It’s worth noting that the Texas Center for Justice and Equity has strongly criticized the Houston Chronicle for its misleading and incomplete crime coverage. Their reporting often lacks critical context and fails to follow up on important case dismissals. The Texas Center’s analysis shows how such selective reporting not only reinforces law enforcement narratives but also misinforms the public, contributing to a system of media manipulation. This distortion of facts supports the very structures of power that prevent real reform, much like how my story was distorted to suit the needs of a corporate-driven narrative.

That is why I was desperate to tell my story—to reclaim my narrative from the relentless misrepresentation and biased coverage that continues to damage my reputation and the truth.

Reason #2: A Presidential Promise Yet To Be Fulfilled

The second, and equally crucial, reason I fought so hard to speak with the press is to call attention to a broken promise—a promise made by President Biden during his campaign.

Biden boldly pledged to reform the pardon process, ensuring fairness and justice for those seeking clemency. He promised a system that would address wrongful convictions and excessive sentences, offering hope to countless individuals. Yet here we are, years later, and my request for Presidential Clemency—one that should have been prioritized under his reform—has been ignored. This is not just an oversight, it's a betrayal of a fundamental commitment to justice.

I’ve discussed this more thoroughly in the edition of Mindful Ethics referenced and linked above in this NL, but I wanted to give you a brief summary to understand the urgency behind my need to speak out.

It was vital for me to use my voice—to expose the broken system and demand the justice promised but never delivered.

Enough Is Enough

Let me be honest—this step has made me incredibly nervous, more so than I ever anticipated.

Facing the media and opening up about my past has been daunting, and I’ve been grappling with genuine fear.

As an ordained minister, I often counsel others to trust in God when facing fear, but here I was, struggling to follow my own advice.

I knew I had to take this step, but fear was holding me back.

In these moments, I turned to prayer, asking God for the strength to move forward. That’s when I realized this step wasn’t just necessary—it was long overdue. As the Bible reminds us in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”

I also found guidance in the Rule of St. Benedict, which encourages us to "listen with the ear of your heart." I had to stop letting fear cloud my judgment and trust that God's plan would guide me.

While fear made this decision difficult, the reality is clear—enough is enough. I have to speak up and reclaim my narrative, not just for myself but to lead by example in trusting faith over fear. To fully embrace life, fear cannot be the reason to stay silent. Now is the time to take action and trust in both faith and reason.

I knew I had to face the media, but that decision didn’t come easily. In addition to listening to God's voice, a business leader, a shark in their own right, gave me the wake-up call I needed.

He said to me, “It’s not just about what Google shows—if you’re not using your voice, you’re no shark. A real shark speaks up, commands the narrative, and takes control.”

That statement cut deep, and it resonated.

Sharks don’t sit back quietly—they fight and speak up, even when it’s difficult. At that moment, I realized staying silent wasn’t an option At that moment, I realized staying silent wasn’t an option. It was time to take control, no matter the fear I felt.

Enough is enough.

A Timeline of Relevant Events

LinkedIn Family, this next section of my newsletter outlines the timeline of key events that led me here. I’ll also be covering the pre-Shabbos call from Patrick McFarland—a call that, without a doubt, was intended to sabotage my Sabbath with his calculated Schadenfreude.

Here’s the timeline leading up to this pivotal moment.

Critical Events That Sparked Retaliation: A Step-by-Step Breakdown

March 11, 2024: I submit my Clemency Application to the Pardon Attorney, along with a bold plan presented to Colette Peters to reduce violence within the BOP.

With my background in helping at-risk youth through my work with Bob DeSena and the Council For Unity, I also live-streamed a video addressed to Ms. Peters.

This video, which you can click to watch here, outlines a detailed plan for reducing violence within the BOP. It's not just my idea; some of the biggest names in corrections have shown their support for this plan, making it a significant proposal for real reform.

I sought media attention to spotlight the critical importance of President Biden taking the pardon process seriously, with a Mindfully Ethical approach. Given the complexity and difficulty of obtaining clemency, my mission extends beyond my own case—I aim to advocate for social justice and true rehabilitation. My goal is not just personal clemency but to push for a broader, more humane reform of the system, ensuring fairness and second chances for others in need.

I’ve witnessed firsthand the miracles of Divine Intervention, even in the most hardened of souls—sociopathic killers transformed into a band of brothers. These men, who once reveled in chaos, found redemption, unity, and purpose through the power of faith and rehabilitation. It’s nothing short of awe-inspiring, to see the most lost become leaders of peace. It’s proof that no matter how dark the past, light can break through.

This is the power of true transformation, something I’ve dedicated my life to fostering.

I aimed to get media attention to support my cause, my work my commitment to God, and Mindful Ethics.

April 2024: After months of back-and-forth emails with Patrick McFarland, where I cited clear BOP rules allowing even maximum-security inmates to contact the press, McFarland’s responses were evasive and implied potential punishment. I filed a suit against him and related parties, demanding my First Amendment rights be upheld.

September 2024: The court dismissed my case on a technicality, stating that my habeas petition was not the proper vehicle for this claim. I considered refiling as a Civil Rights Action but decided to go another route—I hired a press agent. By early September, she had sent hundreds of copies of my private and public Mindful Ethics newsletters to top media outlets and titans.

Early September 2024: I was enrolled in the Elderly Program, but suddenly, without explanation, I found myself subjected to a new set of rules. It’s as if they’re fabricating regulations and documents just for me. I am offered nothing more than a vague one-sentence excuse, claiming "concerns about my potential escape to Israel"—which is absurd, given I’ve always sought to travel legally, with approval from both Israeli and U.S. authorities.

Worse, Patrick McFarland sent me a series of increasingly hostile communications. By September 20, 2024, it became unmistakable: he was attempting to force me into signing gag-order-like papers—similar to what Michael Cohen faced—designed to strip me of my First Amendment rights. And beyond the legal assault, McFarland’s veiled threats were chilling. He implied that if I didn’t comply, I’d be placed somewhere where my physical safety would be at risk.

They’re not just moving the goalposts—they’re building an entirely new field, one where they hold all the power and control, designed to break me down and silence me for good. But I refuse to sign away my voice.

Note: The links in blue above are two separate references for your consideration.

September 25, 2024: Under the threat of immediate arrest, I was forced to sign paperwork eerily similar to what Michael Cohen faced—effectively a media blackout. It was so draconian that I couldn’t even deliver my daily 7 AM sermon. As an ordained minister, I’ve delivered sermons live on LinkedIn every morning—six days a week—since June 2023, without missing a single day, until now. Missing that first sermon was crushing, but my press agent is working tirelessly to find a solution and restore my voice

September 27, 2024: I aggressively pursued my right to speak to the press, citing BOP’s own rules. With the immense pressure from my press agent's outreach to major media, BOP finally acknowledged my rights. However, in retaliation, remember I was placed in a draconian new program that requires me, among other sanctions to undergo weekly drug tests, despite my age (64) and health issues. The long three-hour drives for these tests will cost me approximately $7,000 in cab fare, as I can no longer drive long distances due to neck and arthritis pain.

September 29, 2024: The BOP has escalated their retaliation by imposing new absurd rules—such as demanding I check in three times during a one-hour walk to ensure I wouldn't escape. These rules contradict everything about the Elderly Home Confinement Program I've been on for over four years.

This ongoing retaliation is clearly timed with my push for media attention. Had the BOP treated me fairly from the beginning of March, none of this would be happening now.

The cost of my success in securing my First Amendment rights has been steep—draconian rules, escalating retaliation, and threats—but I will not back down. I will soon be addressing McFarland’s infamous phone calls, including the most recent series where he called, screamed, hung up, a

The Pre-Shabbos Phone Call

At 5:02 PM, just before Shabbos, McFarland called me with an angry tone.

Keep in mind, I’d already worked a grueling 13-hour day, starting at 4 AM. It was raining, and I was walking in circles in my backyard when this call hit. According to my call log, it lasted six minutes—six minutes of him screaming and firing questions at me like a machine gun, barely giving me a second to process.

Even Kevin O'Leary, Mr. Wonderful, admits he sometimes loses focus during key moments, so you can imagine how this felt. After 13 hours, being berated in such a hostile tone made it impossible to think straight.

His first rapid-fire question: “Who told you the Bureau of Prisons offers gender-affirming surgery?”—because I had sent an email mentioning that if the government would cover such surgeries, it seemed reasonable to respectfully ask for reconstructive plastic surgery. After all, the fact remains that federal policies allow for gender-affirming surgeries in specific cases.

Now, I recalled hearing this when I signed those infamous media-blackout papers after meeting with McFarland’s team here in New Hampshire. But honestly, it wasn’t something I had committed to memory. Still, under his barrage of aggressive questioning, I couldn’t think straight, and instead of allowing me a moment to process, McFarland kept pressing.

Then McFarland shifted gears, telling me that since I was passing on mental health therapy, I could be locked up, implying I was a danger. His message was clear: I was being painted as unstable. But let's be honest—who wouldn’t feel some level of depression in my situation?

I told him, truthfully, that I had no intention of harming myself—no jumping out of windows here—his claims were nothing but a smokescreen. It was obvious he was trying to provoke me, to get me to say something hostile or inappropriate, but I refused to take the bait.

Then McFarland claimed that all my media issues had been settled, but that was far from the truth. One specific issue—labeled email #5, sent on September 26, 2024, at 2:22 PM—had not been addressed. But here’s where it got twisted: I mistakenly referred to it as email #7 due to my grueling 16-hour writing schedule. McFarland zeroed in on that mistake, hammering me hard, suggesting there was no email #7, implying I wasn’t all there mentally. The pressure was relentless, designed to shake me further.

At 5:15 PM, McFarland called again, but I missed the call. I couldn’t fathom what more he had to say except that he’d exploit the fact I couldn’t record the call and continue berating me.

There was no legitimate reason for him to call back.

When I returned his call at 5:28 PM, I left a 26-second voicemail. I didn't want to speak to him but returned the call out of fear he would use my refusal to speak against me. \

His calls are physically draining and affect my health.

All communications can and should be conducted via email or through a designated agent. There is absolutely no justification for McFarland to contact me directly in this relentless, antagonistic manner.

Tomorrow at 7 AM, I will address this reasonable request live to the BOP Director during my live Sermon. I am formally requesting that all future communication be handled by someone other than McFarland.

I will also follow up with an official written request, emphasizing that Director Peters, adheres to the Rule of St. Benedict, which advocates for respectful, thoughtful communication—something McFarland clearly disregards.

Retaliation Unleashed: Even Mindfully Ethical BOP Employees Are Targeted—Union Leaders Speak Out

The BOP has fostered a culture where even its most honest employees face harsh retaliation for simply doing the right thing. It’s a system where anyone trying to expose misconduct is immediately silenced, whether they are staff or inmates.

The BOP’s long-standing tactic is to control the narrative at all costs, and whistleblowers often become the prime target.

Union leader John Kostelnik, the Western Region Vice President for AFGE, has seen firsthand how deeply rooted this toxic environment is within the BOP.

Kostelnik has fought for workers who’ve been bullied and targeted just for speaking out about rampant abuse, corruption, and mismanagement.

And let’s not forget how similar this sounds to what I’ve been through. Just like Michael Cohen and myself, these employees are being written up for "insolence" and disciplined for daring to challenge the system. The parallels are striking—just as Cohen was punished for using his voice to expose corruption, these BOP employees are facing backlash for doing the exact same thing.

Take Ed Canales, the union president at Dublin. After exposing corruption and safety violations, Canales found his confidential emails and home address shared by the Bureau’s Deputy Regional Director, in an attempt to intimidate him. Over at Mendota, union president Aaron McGlothin faced frivolous disciplinary action for complaining about unsafe conditions when COVID-19-positive inmates were transferred.

The official line?

McGlothin was AWOL—a claim that was blatantly false.

Kostelnik describes a culture where staff discipline is used as a weapon, and whistleblowers are blacklisted. Even the most trivial complaints are used to jam up workers’ careers, much like what was done to Michael Cohen, and frankly, to me.

The BOP's response?

A single, one-sentence statement: “The Bureau of Prisons takes seriously allegations of staff misconduct.”

Well, that sounds eerily familiar, doesn’t it? It’s the same empty response I’ve received—a standard line to deflect attention while the real issues continue to fester.

Whistleblowers at the BOP face a full-frontal attack, to borrow Kostelnik’s words.

Federal law is supposed to protect them, but within the Bureau, those protections are practically non-existent. Just like in my own experience, the strategy is to isolate, discredit, and ultimately destroy anyone who challenges the power structure.

Rep. Jackie Speier has stepped into the fray, demanding accountability after visiting Dublin and witnessing firsthand the toxic environment whistleblowers described. As expected, a senior C-Suite BOP executive tried to block her from talking with key inmates, and even had the audacity to dismiss the sexual abuse allegations as an “embarrassment.”

Speier, rightly, called it what it is: a reprehensible, toxic work environment.

Meanwhile, the same C-Suite BOP executive claimed Speier had "mistreated" staff and accused her of mischaracterizing the situation.

This is the exact playbook we’ve seen time and again—deny, deflect, and retaliate. It’s no surprise, then, that Kostelnik reported officials threatening to close down Dublin if workers continued to speak out, using financial concerns as a convenient excuse to silence them.

The question remains: How long will the BOP’s leadership continue to retaliate instead of reforming?

And how many more whistleblowers, employees, and inmates will have to suffer before real change happens?

One Sentence Deflection: A Bureau’s Evasion Tactic

The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is infamous for responding with vague, one-sentence statements designed to dodge accountability. This was evident in their handling of Michael Cohen’s case. After his release from home confinement, Cohen was illegally asked to sign a media gag order and was labeled “antagonistic” and “combative” by the BOP when he and his legal counsel were negotiating his release terms.

The result?

Cohen was swiftly sent back to prison.

A federal judge later ruled that this re-imprisonment was retaliation for his plans to publish a book critical of Donald Trump.

This type of evasion isn’t new—it's the same bureaucratic dance they’ve pulled with me for months during my First Amendment battle. When challenged about their imposition of draconian new rules on me, the BOP gave me a similar one-sentence response: “The change from the Elderly Home Confinement Program to these stricter rules is due to concerns about potential travel to Israel.”

The absurdity of this reasoning is staggering. I have seven months left of home confinement, and throughout my time in a camp where I could have easily walked away, I never did. Would I flee now? Absolutely not. I’ve explicitly stated my intention to make Aliyah legally, either through a furlough or under an international treaty, and have communicated this clearly in a letter.

The BOP’s response mirrors their tactics in Cohen’s case. They rely on flimsy pretexts, bending rules to suit their agenda, and avoiding accountability at all costs. Their system is rigged against those who try to stand up, whether it's a former attorney for the president or an individual like me simply trying to secure the basic right to speak.

Honest, Ethical, and Mindfully Godly BOP Workers

Divine Serenity in the Midst of Chaos

In my time as a guest of the government, few moments have left as deep an impression on me as what I call Divine Serenity—a rare sense of peace that broke through the chaos. It was embodied by Officer Silva at Devens Camp. He wasn’t just another officer; he was a man whose humility brought God’s presence into the harshest environment.

While other officers in food service cruelly left some adults hungry, Silva ensured everyone was well fed. But it was seeing him, broom in hand, cleaning the floor with the inmates, that gave me a profound moment of clarity. There was a deep "we" attitude in his actions—no separation, just shared humanity.

For the first time in a long time, my mind found peace in the midst of chaos. Silva’s humble act of working alongside us didn’t just feel kind—it felt Divine. I could feel the presence of God through him, as if he were a living embodiment of humility and grace. That brief moment of Divine Serenity affected my mind, allowing me to experience a calm I hadn’t known in years, maybe a decade.

His actions were a reminder that, even in the darkest places, Divinity can manifest through the simplest of acts.

Anti-Rehabilitation: A System Working Against Its Own Purpose

The actions of some of the BOP's managment contradict the very foundation of rehabilitation.

Rather than fostering growth or positive change, the retaliation, intimidation, and draconian rules imposed on whistleblowers, inmates, and ethical employees create an environment designed to break the spirit.

Rehabilitation requires fairness, support, and the ability to speak out without fear, yet BOP’s culture of suppression works against these principles, stifling progress and eroding trust.

To quote Martin Luther King Jr., “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

The real issue lies with the honest employees—those like Officer Silva.

These individuals have no problem, no conflict, until they witness something corrupt, something evil, and dare to speak out.

At that point, even the most ethical officers become the enemy in the BOP’s eyes, turned into villains by the very system they serve. This isn’t rehabilitation—it’s systematic oppression designed to crush anyone who resists its grip.

Divine Intervention & The Call for Justice

As I stand here, praying deeply for Divine Intervention, I realize I cannot do this alone. I need the voices of those with influence—Linda Pizzuti Henry, Michael Reed, Michael Franzese. Your words can reach millions, while mine only touch 26,000. Nicolle Wallace, I need your help.

It is that simple, Patrick McFarland, the same government official who targeted Michael Cohen, is now coming for me.

His abuse of authority, lies, and retaliation are unbearable. I thought this nightmare had ended, but he’s back—screaming, hostile, and determined to destroy me.

Members of the press, I’m calling on you. I want to speak with you directly.

Judge for yourself: am I unstable as McFarland implies, or the victim of brutal retaliation?

Text me at 603-293-6074, and let’s expose this together.

I want to ensure that you are real before we engage in a conversation. If you text me, it allows me to do my due diligence. Alternatively, feel free to direct message (DM) me here on LinkedIn or send an email to david@sunrize.green.

Let's connect!

Michael R. Sisak, Michael Balsamo, Pat Nolan, Keri Blakinger—your ethics are unwavering. I need you to shine a light on this corruption, to help me fight this abuse.

We must stand strong against those who misuse their power.

This is a battle for truth, for unity, for justice. Let’s show the world the strength of integrity, and let’s ensure that no more lives are shattered by unethical tactics.

God bless,

David

P.S. If I suddenly go silent, you'll know why. I wouldn’t put it past this man to try and set me up. Stay tuned, and let's hope that doesn't happen. Hopefully, God will protect me.

© Published by: David Vogel, in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire

#gabenfreude #divineintervention #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth