http://www.timesdaily.com/stor...ambling-trial,188328
Did the guilty get away with it or did another political witch hunt blow up in the faces of those with an agenda?
Either way, between 35 million and 40 million of our tax dollars walked out the door Wednesday with the remaining six defendants in a federal gambling corruption trial. All six, as well as fellow defendants who were acquitted in 2011 during the first trial, were found not guilty Wednesday. By the way, some estimate as much as $50 million was spent on investigating and prosecuting the defendants, which included a casino owner, former and current state legislators, lobbyists and others.
In trying to answer the question posed above, it seems logical this case is another example of a political witch hunt gone bad.
You’d be naive to think legislators don’t receive favors from lobbyists who seek a particular vote on an issue. It happens, but you cannot say it happened in this case.
Twenty-four jurors were asked to sit through weeks of testimony, evaluate volumes of evidence and listen to taped conversations of key players in the case. None of those jurors — not one — agreed the evidence proved the accusations on any of the hundreds of criminal counts presented. Enough said.
You know, $35 million could pay for a nice prison in a state so financially strapped that many convicts will likely be released early because it cannot afford to house them. Imagine that, building a new prison for real criminals instead of wasting money on a political agenda.
Don’t underestimate the financial losses and attacks on personal re****tions that defendants suffered in this case. The government doesn’t have to worry about those individuals. Prosecutors can go on to the next case without any financial obligation. It’s unfair at best.
It’s not uncommon to hear words like “political espionage” tossed around and to hear attorneys say the prosecution built its case on the backs of “racists, crooks and political manipulators.” It’s shameful when you can’t dispute the claims.
As misguided and biased as the gambling corruption case has proved to be, it doesn’t come close to the ongoing injustice involving former Gov. Don Siegelman. If you recall, Siegelman was convicted on bribery charges in 2006 after being accused of appointing former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy to a state health board in exchange for Scrushy donating to the ex-governor’s education lottery. Siegelman, by the way, wasn’t accused of receiving money.
The case has raised interest nationwide in what many mark off as a political agenda overtaking the justice system. That is a dangerous thought, but one Alabama has again raised with Wednesday’s across-the-board acquittal.
I tend to agree. What a waste.
area of the country? Or is it that in a less friendlier more shallow minded environment you couldn't look down your noses at others because they'd be looking down their noses at you?
