The Justice Department finally succeeded in securing convictions against Miami men accused of plotting to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago. Five defendants were convicted and one was acquitted. The prior two trials ended in hung juries and this trial was a close call with the replacement of a clearly pro-defense juror in the middle of deliberations. The case was always long on rhetoric and short on evidence — resulting in the expenditure of between $5 to $10 million to convict the group in a highly controversial prosecution.
The case lacked any concrete evidence of an actual effort to plan or carryout a terrorist attack. A government informant orchestrated a videotaped ceremony of the men swearing loyalty to Al Qaeda. The Justice Department clearly thought that the choreographed The defendants were largely poor individuals of Haitian descent: Narseal Batiste, 35; Patrick Abraham, 29; Stanley Grant Phanor, 33; Rotschild Augustine, 25; Burson Augustin, 24; and Naudimar Herrera, 25. They gladly took the money offered by the government but said it was a scam to rip off the informant. They never took any steps to buy weapons or material.
The case was heralded by the Justice Department in Congress to justify the Patriot Act and its increased powers after September 11th.
The first trial ended with the acquittal of defendant in December 2007 and a deadlocked jury. The 2008 jury also deadlocked. In this case, Herrera was acquitted. Augustine, Phanor, and Augustin were convicted on two counts of providing “material support” while Abraham was convicted on three counts. Batiste, the leader, was convicted on four counts. Only Batiste was convicted on all counts with the jury rejecting many of the counts against the other convicted individuals.
For the full story, click here.
So, if you don’t first succeed try try again?
The Obama Justice Department no longer even has a fig leaf with which to cover its sins. With the exception of the Stevens retreat (wow, they loves them some justice for those ol’ cronies) other politically motivated prosecutions go on. I just hope the Judge in the Siegelman case has greater respect for the Justice system than the Justice Department has.
http://rawstory.com/08/news/2009/05/13/prosecutors-ask-for-longer-sentence-for-siegelman/
“The prosecutors have sent a letter to federal probation officers recommending that Siegelman be sentenced to 20 years in federal prison when he receives a new sentencing hearing in federal court in Montgomery. Siegelman was originally sentenced to more than seven years in prison for his 2006 conviction for bribery, obstruction of justice and other charges.”
This is the sorriest bunch of underachievers I’ve seen in a long time. Even sorrier is the prosecution, which took three tries to get a conviction that will be overturned by the first judge who sees this mess up close. A thorough disgrace to our system, top to bottom.
I feel so much safer now.
What are we going to do about The Bush Sicks?
http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2009/05/surge-of-snap-sergeants.html
This is another fine waste of government resources. You can be thankful that the defense was probably paid for by you and me.
The next issue which is sad. If I don’t like losing, do I know someone that can help me change the law. Just ask Doctor Jack. This is not the only exception.