A New York City Councilmember facing charges for allegedly bringing a gun to a protest in Brooklyn was arraigned on Thursday.protest with a gun visible in her hipShe was counter-protesting the pro-Palestine rally organized by the Brooklyn College chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine Day of Action. Vernikov is Jewish and has been vocal in support of Israel.
Her lawyer questioned the use of pictures of his client carrying a weapon as evidence, suggesting they may have been altered. "In today's world of artificial intelligence, you can put anything on social media," Arthur Aidala said. "Rules of evidence are, it's a human being who has to make these descriptions, not based on what you see on a computer screen."
Vernikov's attorney says prosecutors will have to produce a witness and a ballistics test to prove the weapon actually works.Vernikov had a concealed carry license, but appeared to break the state law passed earlier this year making it illegal to possess a gun at a protest. She surrendered both her weapon and her permit to carry a firearm after the arrest.ALSO READ |Anthony Carlo has more on the face-off between the suspect and the NYPD.