| Long-time TAP readers will remember that I have a particular interest in seeing the corrupt former Senate Majority Leader, Joe Bruno, brought to justice. The FBI is continuing to issue and deliver subpoenas in the case, including to former employees and Bruno relatives who doubtless profited from Bruno's shady dealings. For some reason, Bruno's lawyers seem to think that serving subpoenas to witnesses is, well, mean or something. They are outraged-- and have filed a complaint with the Justice Department alleging harassment. Clearly, these privileged Republican defense lawyers have never experienced a "DWB" stop or been hand-cuffed for trying to get into their own house, like Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Serving a witness a subpoena at work, or serving one to a defendant's daughter at all, are hardly misconduct.
The full letter of complaint is at the Politicker NY. They make a big deal of it that one of Bruno's top employees was served a subpoena the day after making a whine to the press that Bruno was really innocent-- but Bruno's guys have been doing lots and lots of that... In fact, their nonsense website, "Justice for Bruno" (by which they mean getting away with it...) comes up first on a Google search of Joe Bruno, ahead of the Wikipedia entry, even (and there are Google ads for it running alongside, too). Somebody is trying to try this case in the court of public opinion, methinks. Justice shouldn't be like running for election.
It's all part of a strategy to delay the trial until Bruno joins Kenny-boy Lay in the "rich old guys who beat the justice system through delay and died comfy without atoning for their misdeeds" club. |
What is most amazing in this case is that the defense is not really trying to prove that the defendant didn't do it... they are more trying to claim that the bad stuff he did isn't really a crime....
The defense team argues the eight-count felony indictment is unconstitutionally vague, violates federalism provisions, fails to allege a specific underlying state crime, and that there were fatal problems with how the case was presented to a grand jury. They also want Bruno's trial be delayed until the U.S. Supreme Court examines the constitutionality of the honest services statute in two unrelated public corruption cases.
Prosecutors counter that the court should not postpone Bruno's trial based on speculation by the defense that the Supreme Court may issue a groundbreaking decision in the future regarding the honest services statute.
The prosecutors say in their filings that the honest services statute has withstood a sea of legal challenges and that the case against Bruno is solid.
A very smart and savvy friend of mine explained to a group of us recently that she sees the current discord and dissension in the State Senate as analogous to Yugoslavia after Tito-- when a long-time autocrat falls, all heck breaks loose. Bruno controlled a big chunk of NYS government, and, as the 8-count indictment claims, stole honest services from the People of NY. We continue to suffer... and he continues to influence government through his CMA Consulting firm.
He belongs in jail. Subpoena the witnesses, ignore the frivolous calls to delay the trial, and let truth and justice help us overcome this indignity and recover a functional Senate. |
