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DA moves to drop stolen ‘Hotel California’ lyrics case after admitting Don Henley produced 6,000 pages of evidence late

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Manhattan prosecutors moved Wednesday to drop charges against three men accused of a scheme involving stolen handwritten lyrics to The Eagles’ hit “Hotel California” — after admitting the band’s frontman Don Henley turned over 6,000 pages of evidence late.

The stunning turn of events came midway through the trial after Henley and his lawyers tried to weaponize their attorney-client privilege to “to obfuscate and hide information that they believed would be damaging,” Justice Curtis Farber said at a hearing Wednesday morning.

Edward Kosinski, Craig Inciardi and Glenn Horowitz were charged for trying to sell stolen lyrics and notes from the Eagles’ ‘Hotel California.’ Steven Hirsch
Eagles band member Don Henley entering court before testifying. Steven Hirsch
Craig Inciardi, Edward Kosinski, and Glenn Horowitz outside the courtroom in Manhattan Supreme Court. The three allegedly attempted to sell stolen “Hotel California” lyrics back to Eagles frontman Don Henley. Gabriella Bass

Charges have now been dismissed against-books dealer Glenn Horowitz, ex-Rock & Roll Hall of Fame curator Craig Inciardi and memorabilia seller Edward Kosinki.

Both Henley and Irving Azoff, the Eagles’ long-time manager, had repeatedly invoked — against the DA office’s “express and repeated requests” — their attorney-client privilege while taking the stand as witnesses at the trial, prosecutors said.

But the pair’s decision to invoke and later “waive” that privilege “resulted in the belated production of approximately 6,000 pages of material” that the defendant’s lawyers should have been given a chance to cross-examine them about, wrote Assistant District Attorney Aaron Ginandes in a letter to the court.

Justice Farber praised District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office for “eating a slice of humble pie” and moving to dismiss the charges.

This is a breaking news event, please check back for updates.

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