Welcome to the midweek edition of Legal AF, the top rated legal news analysis podcast

in the world with listeners in almost all 50 states.

I think we're missing two and 30 countries with your host for this midweek episode, Michael

Popak.

And our Friedman Agniphalos here too.

All right.

Or our listeners like to call us Popak and KFA and on today's 40 minute pod, we will

explore a fascinating quarter of the law, which we've never touched on in almost 50 episodes

of Legal AF, which will interest culture and art lovers all over the world.

We're going to talk about the recovery and the return of stolen antiquities, art and

artifacts and the role of prosecutors, including leadership right here with Manhattan's District

Attorney's Office and the antiquities trafficking unit, which became a very muscular organization

under Sive Ants.

And just last month, for example, the office recovered and returned to Iraqi artifacts seized

from billionaire financier Michael Steinhart, he of the Steinhart Gallery at the Metropolitan

Museum of Art.

Apparently, he was also when he wasn't doing that.

He was looting Iraqi and other artifacts and antiquities for the last 30 years.

And the office, led by those prosecutors, seized over 180 items worth approximately $70

million.

And that office now has basically a mini museum of over 3,000 items, valued at over a street

value of over $200 million, awaiting their return.

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