Showing posts with label indictment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label indictment. Show all posts

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Bridgegate: Christie Cronies Kelly, Baroni and Wildstein Indicted

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Previous Related Posts:
Christie Talks, Bridget Strikes Back, Samson Quits, Wildstein Still an Outcast
Christie's Bridgegate Report - Time for some Slut-Shaming in New Jersey
Christie Faces Bad Karma for Dissing Wildstein
Chris Christie and the #BridgeGate #BridgeGhazi #BridgeNado
Chris Christie Explains But Holes Remain
David Wildstein Implicates Chris Christie in Bridgegate Scandal
Christie's Well-Named Minion Bridget Kelly


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Federal prosecutors have indicted three of Chris Christie's cronies in the Bridgegate scandal: David Wildstein and Bill Baroni who were appointed by Christie to the Port Authority, and Bridget Ann Kelly, one of Christie's underlings in the Governor's office.

Wildstein is cooperating with Federal Prosecutors and is not expected to serve a long sentence in exchange for information. Baroni and Kelly are still holding out that they didn't conspire with Wildstein or Christie himself to close the George Washington Bridge on the first day of school in September in order to punish mayor of Fort Lee, NJ (a Democrat) for refusing to back Governor Christie in his election.

Originally, the trio and others in the Governor's inner circle swore that there was a "traffic study" to blame for the lane closures, but that was a bogus claim. On the first day of the closure, Kelly herself wrote to Wildstein in a now-infamous email which stated "Time for a few traffic problems in Fort Lee." Traffic was so snarled that some first responders and emergency vehicles were delayed in getting to places where people needed help. It is speculated that Federal Prosecutors are are involved because the Port Authority is shared by New York City, and blocking such a major thoroughfare in or out of New York is considered a danger to Homeland Security.

View David Wildstein's Plea Agreement Here
 View Baroni-Kelly Indictment Here via NYTimes

From NewJersey.com
In emails previously made public, Kelly appeared to give the go-ahead for the lane closures on Aug. 13, 2013, when she wrote: “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee,” and Wildstein replied, “Got it.” Later emails showed what appeared to be an indifference to the plight of borough children stuck in the massive traffic jam on their way to school.
. . . “Is it wrong that I’m smiling,” Kelly wrote, later adding that “I feel badly about the kids. … I guess.” Wildstein responded dismissively that “they are the children of Buono voters.” After Sokolich sent a text message to Baroni complaining that children were late getting to school, Kelly emailed Wildstein: “Bottom line is he didn’t say safety.”
. . . Prosecutors said the plan wasn’t put into effect until Sept. 9, the first day of school, to “intensify Mayor Sokolich’s punishment,” and that the idea to push it back came from Baroni, who had “recommended against implementing the plan in August when travel was traditionally lighter and the punitive impact would be lessened.”

This week Bridget Kelly made a public statement pleading innocence:



From NewJersey.com
"I am not guilty of the crimes for which I have been accused," Kelly said during a press conference with her attorney, Michael Critchley, after prosecutors unsealed a federal indictment. . . . "David Wildstein is a liar," Kelly said.

Baroni did not speak, but his attorney made a statement also labeling Wildstein a "Liar" who led his client astray with false "traffic study" documents:

NJ.com
. . . one of Baroni's attorneys, Michael Baldassare, asserted that Wildstein provided him with scores of documents that "would lead anyone to believe" that a legitimate traffic study was being conducted.
"No one disputes that David Wildstein is a criminal and a liar," Baldessare said during a news conference Friday afternoon outside the courthouse. "If David Wildstein was willing to repeatedly lie to settle a petty political grudge, no one should be surprised at his eagerness to concoct any story he thinks will help him stay out of federal prison."
























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Saturday, May 2, 2015

Six Baltimore Police Officers Indicted by Prosecutor Marilyn Mosby

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Previous Related Post:
Baltimore Burning Over Death of Freddie Gray

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It was an epic day for justice in Baltimore, Maryland, when State Prosecutor Marilyn Mosby stepped up to a microphone and stunned the world by announcing the indictment of six officers charged with the death of Freddie Gray.



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From the Baltimore Sun
State's Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby charged the driver of the van with second-degree murder and the other officers with offenses that included involuntary manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, second-degree assault, false imprisonment and misconduct in office. The officers were taken into custody Friday and released on bail.
"These charges are an important step in getting justice for Freddie," said Richard Shipley, stepfather of the 25-year-old Gray, who died April 19, one week after he was injured in police custody.
. . . After weeks of tension and occasional violence, it felt as if many exhaled in relief Friday. Gray had become the focus of massive demonstrations, here and in other cities, as the latest in a string of African-American men who died during confrontations with police.
The case stood in stark contrast to others across the nation in which police officers were cleared of wrongdoing in the deaths of black men. Grand juries declined to indict the officer who put a chokehold on Eric Garner in Staten Island, N.Y., or the officer who fatally shot Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo.

From Jennifer Bendery on Huffington Post

Who Is This Objectively Badass Attorney Running The Freddie Gray Investigation?
. . . Mosby's news marks a huge turning point for people around the country demanding justice for yet another black man killed by police, for a city torn apart by the drug war and economic disparity, and for Mosby herself.
She was just four months into her job when she was tasked last month with investigating Gray's death. She had never held elected office before November. And at 35, Mosby is the youngest chief prosecutor of any district.
Those details gave city residents reason to doubt her abilities, something even her biggest supporters have conceded. Before her current job, Mosby had been counsel for Liberty Mutual Insurance for three years and an assistant state's attorney for five years.
On Friday, though, Mosby emerged as the voice that so many in Baltimore needed to hear. She gave a detailed description of what happened to Gray the day he was arrested and said officers ignored his requests for medical attention. She let the findings speak for themselves.

Huffington Post Headline 5-2-2015

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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Governor Rick Perry Indicted and Booked in Texas

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Rick Perry's Mug Shot

Previous Related Posts:
Oops, Rick Perry Looks Like Grumpy Cat
Rick Perry thinks Obama is Sending Small Children to the Border
Gov. Rick Perry Attacks Wendy Davis

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Rick Perry, who desperately wants to be President of the United States, has been indicted in Texas for abusing his power as Governor. Maybe he shouldn't plan anymore trips to Iowa to campaign until he gets this cleared up. Just Sayin'.

Getting rid of something called the "Integrity Unit" probably wasn't a great idea. But please, proceed, Governor. Texas Democrats are popping corn. No, make that ALL Democrats.

From CNN
A grand jury in Travis County indicted Perry last Friday on two felony counts stemming from his threat to veto funding for a statewide public integrity unit run by Travis Country District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, a Democrat, unless she stepped down, according to the special prosecutor in the case, Michael McCrum.
The case centers on Perry's June 2013 veto of the $7.5 million budget for the unit run by Lehmberg, after she refused his demand to resign following her drunken driving arrest and conviction.
Perry faces accusations of coercion of a public servant and abuse of his official capacity in connection with the threat and veto.



KXAN News
AUSTIN (KXAN) – Governor Rick Perry arrived at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center in Austin right at 5 p.m. Tuesday to be booked on felony charges stemming from an indictment issued Friday.
Perry arrived to supporters chanting “Perry, Perry Perry!” before stopping to briefly speak with the media before walking inside.
“I’m here today because I believe in the rule of law,” the Texas Governor said. He continued to speak saying the actions he took were “lawful and legal.”
“If I had to do so, I would veto funding for the public integrity unit again,” he said.
























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Thursday, January 23, 2014

Ex-Virginia Gov Bob McDonnell and Wife Indicted

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No wonder Bob McDonnell didn't care about the women of Virginia who protested his draconian and scary Vaginal Ultrasound law - he and his wacky wifey Maureen were too busy helping themselves to the spoils at the Governor's Mansion. And now they've been indicted for taking gifts in exchange for favors, otherwise known as "Quid Pro Quo." They are officially the poster family for shallow and money-grubbing politicians. And GOP wanted to run this guy for President? Boy, they really know how to pick 'em - isn't that right, Chris Christie?

From CNN Political Ticker
The 14-count indictment, culminating a lengthy investigation of their relationship with a Virginia business executive, alleges fraud by a public official, false statements, and obstruction.
Gifts valued at a minimum of $140,000 in total included designer clothes, a Rolex watch, golf clubs, iPhones and a painting, according to a list of items included in the indictment.
Within hours of the indictment, McDonnell's legal team launched a forceful attack on the government's case.
. . . "It has been a long time since the Roman Emperor Caligula imprisoned people for violating laws written in tiny lettering on a pillar too high to see," the lawyers wrote in making a comparison to the federal government's case against McDonnell.

From Stylecaster
The total financial worth of the things they accepted, according to the official indictment, is “no less than $140,805″ and is comprised of Louis Vuitton shoes, a Peter Som dress, two Oscar de la Renta gowns, Rebecca Minkoff shoes, and a few pieces of Armani for good measure, among other goodies.
So why, exactly, does this warrant the attention of the federal government? According to the indictment, the gifts came from Jonnie Williams, the head of a troubled nutritional supplement company who allegedly plied the McDonnells with expensive presents in exchange for the promotion of his business.


























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