Attorney Tom Goldstein, co-founder of SCOTUSblog and a seasoned Supreme Court advocate, has suffered another major legal blow ahead of his upcoming trial. A federal judge rejected his bid to exclude statements he made about nearly $1 million in cash he carried into the United States in 2018, allowing prosecutors to present the disputed evidence in court.

Judge’s Ruling on Suppression and Statute of Limitations

The latest setback stems from a motion Goldstein filed to suppress statements made during a 2018 customs screening at Washington Dulles International Airport. Goldstein argued that his Fifth Amendment rights were violated when he was questioned about a duffel bag filled with $968,000, asserting that the interrogation occurred without Miranda warnings.

According to Poker News, on October 7, U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby denied the request, stating that “the evidence shows that the Defendant was not in custody during his October 25, 2018, customs screening process.” The ruling ensures prosecutors may present Goldstein’s account of the cash—initially declared as poker winnings to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers—at trial.

Judge Griggsby also dismissed Goldstein’s separate motion to drop multiple counts from the indictment on the basis of time limits. She clarified that such arguments “must be raised by the Defendant at trial,” reaffirming that the statute of limitations operates as an affirmative defense, not grounds for pretrial dismissal.

Details of the $968K Poker Dispute

According to court filings, prosecutors allege that Goldstein transported $968,000 in cash from Hong Kong to Washington, D.C., claiming at the airport that it represented winnings from global high-stakes poker matches. Later, however, Goldstein told the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that the same amount was not gambling profit but a personal loan.

This disputed sum is part of a broader investigation accusing Goldstein of failing to report millions in gambling proceeds while allegedly using his firm, Goldstein & Russell, to fund personal debts and losses. Federal investigators estimate that his poker activity may have generated as much as $50 million over several years.

The 22-count indictment also alleges false statements to lenders and the misuse of firm accounts to cover personal obligations. According to the government, Goldstein’s travels abroad for high-stakes games and loan negotiations contributed to delays in prosecution, with several tolling orders issued because he spent “hundreds of days travelling” outside the United States. Judge Griggsby noted that the question of whether those absences paused the statute of limitations would ultimately be decided by a jury.

A superseding indictment returned by a Maryland grand jury two months prior added fresh details but did not introduce additional charges. Among the new claims, prosecutors assert that Goldstein attempted to influence a firm manager not to cooperate with the IRS by offering her a $10,000 bonus and to repay her student loans using cryptocurrency. Goldstein has moved to dismiss this particular allegation.

During an arraignment held the same day as Judge Griggsby’s ruling, Goldstein entered a plea of not guilty to all counts, maintaining the same stance he took following the original indictment.

Goldstein’s trial is scheduled for January 13, 2026, at the U.S. District Court for the Maryland Southern Division. Prosecutors plan to rely on his own 2018 statements about the duffel bag of cash as part of their case, marking a crucial element in the ongoing legal saga that intertwines high-stakes poker, alleged tax evasion, and complex financial maneuvering.