Lady Liberty Climber's Bail Terms Change Ahead of Sentencing

Lady Liberty Climber’s Bail Terms Change Ahead of Sentencing

The Statue of Liberty protester who climbed Lady Liberty last year will faced a judge Friday for a bail revocation hearing. 

Therese Okoumou was found guilty of misdemeanor charges in December after her protest climb of the Statue of Liberty July 4. 

During Friday’s hearing the judge changed the terms of bail for Okoumou ordering her to home detention to be enforced by electronic monitoring.

She will be allowed permission to go to certain, approved places, which will be determined by pre-trial services, but must remain in the five boroughs, according to the terms imposed. She also must surrender her passports.

During the hearing the judge also said he’s still concerned that Okoumou would continue climbing, adding that the conditions are not effective as detention but that he’s hopeful she will comply.

“I will continue my work — my activism — on the inside,” Okoumou said, adding she will not stop protesting the seperation of migrant children from their families.

Additionally, the judge pointed out he is concerned with the possibility that Okoumou is generating an income with donations and needs to continue climbing to stay in public eye.

Okoumou, standing with her attorneys after her bail hearing, said only history can judge her.

Prosecutors previously sent U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel Gorenstein a letter asking for a hearing to decide whether Okoumou’s bail should be revoked following her arrest in Texas on Feb. 20. Okoumou was arrested for criminal trespass in Travis County after she climbed a building and hung a banner that said “Abolish ICE” on it to protest federal immigration policy.

In their own letter, however, Okoumou’s attorneys argued revoking her bail wasn’t necessary.

Earlier this week, Gorenstein, who will be sentencing Okoumou, took a trip to the landmark accompanied by Okoumou “to better appreciate the risks or hazards created by defendant’s conduct.”

Chopper 4 video shows Judge Gorenstein and Okoumou standing on the base of the statue with a group on Wednesday morning. The judge didn’t, however, appear to climb a ladder during the viewing.