State Chair of Giuliani Campaign Indicted on Cocaine Charge

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 01:37:00 AM EST
Tags: Rudy Giuliani (all tags)

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Whoops. The Treasurer of South Carolina, a 44 year old millionaire and the Chair of Rudy Giuliani's South Carolina presidential campaign, has been indicted on cocaine distribution charges.

Thomas Ravenel, a former real estate developer who became a rising political star after his election last year, is accused of buying less than 500 grams of the drug to share with other people in late 2005, said United States Attorney Reggie Lloyd. Mr. Ravenel, a 44-year-old millionaire, is charged with distribution of cocaine, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Mr. Ravenel, a Republican, is also the state chairman for Rudolph W. Giuliani’s presidential campaign.

Mr. Ravenel is innocent unless and until proven guilty. Still, a federal indictment on drug charges is hardly what the Rudy campaign needs right now.

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State Chair of Giuliani Campaign Indicted on Cocaine Charge | 4 comments (4 topical)

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If true..... (none / 0) (#1)
by kdog on Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 08:54:42 AM EST

it makes sense....you'd have to be coked out of your gourd to support Rudy.

a couple of things (none / 0) (#2)
by Deconstructionist on Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 09:15:53 AM EST

He has been indicted for conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute an unspecified quantity of cocaine.

The "less than 500 g" is not actually part of the charge but merely a reference to the amount of cocaine powder necessary to trigger a statutory minimum of 5 years. Were this "crack" cocaine it would take but 5 g to trigger the statutory minimum.

Maybe this will make a few people wake up (none / 0) (#3)
by lilybart on Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 09:53:06 AM EST

to the ridiculous drug laws in this country. When one of their own is facing 20 years for personal entertainment, it might seem more wrong than if he were a nobody minority defendent.

Good news for so many special interests (none / 0) (#4)
by Yes2Truth on Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 10:04:38 AM EST

The arrest of Mr. Ravenel must come as very good news indeed to all the special interests that benefit and profit from the war on (certain) drugs.

Defense lawyers, private investigators, bailbondspersons, everyone in the law enforcement industry - local, state, and federal..gee the list of special interests just goes on and on.

I think it's time to stop arresting people for what they smoke, snort, eat, or inject. However, in the interest of full-employment for the criminal defense bar, I'm open as to what could be criminalized as a replacement for lost income due to ending the so-called War on Drugs.