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Ex-Nola Mayor Ray Nagin Convicted

Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has been convicted on 20 of 21 counts of bribery, money laundering, fraud and filing false tax returns.

A juror said afterward they thought the defense should have put on more evidence to refute the charges.

A recap of events is here.

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    SITE VIOLATOR (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by Peter G on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 04:50:44 PM EST
    of a whole new stripe, it seems

    At least it's "legal" - related (none / 0) (#19)
    by jbindc on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 06:32:56 AM EST
    We'll maybe (none / 0) (#1)
    by Donald on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 08:13:04 PM EST
    If they'd a had more evidence they'd a introduced it.

    Funny how that works.

    The defense, as I understand it, was simply (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by Peter G on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 12:32:16 PM EST
    that Yes, these city contractors decided to invest money in my son's business, and perhaps they expected by doing that, to have influence with me. But I never made any such deal or agreement; therefore, there was no quid pro quo as required for federal bribery charge.  That makes it his word against 5 contractors who said, yes Mayor Negrin did agree to favor us if we "invested" with his son. There is unlikely to be other evidence one way or the other in such a case.  Credibility call for the jury.

    Parent
    A couple of things (none / 0) (#13)
    by NYShooter on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 06:28:02 PM EST
     require some `splain'n here, I would think.

    First of all, blacks outnumber whites in N.O. almost 3 to 1. What kind of genius lawyer seats a jury for his black defendant consisting of 1, ONE, A.A?

    And, secondly, I know prosecutors overcharge to infinity, hoping that if he/she gets even 50% guilty verdicts, that's a whole lot of "guilties."  But, not our genius. He manages to lose 20 out of 21 counts. Jeez, even the prosecutor couldn't keep from giggling. You know you didn't have "Clarence Darrow" representing you when the jury leaves the courthouse muttering, "give us something, Counselor, anything."


    Parent

    You are in no position, I would venture to guess, (5.00 / 2) (#14)
    by Peter G on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 07:44:42 PM EST
    to criticize Negrin's defense counsel, any more than I am. I assisted in the trial of a political figure a few years ago, where we took something like 103 guilty verdicts out of 105 counts.  The lead defense attorney was terrific. The jury is not asked to vote for the better lawyer.
       As for the jury question, what is the prevalence of African-Americans in the eligible jury pool for the federal Eastern District of Louisiana?  That's the pertinent comparison, not the racial composition of the city of New Orleans.

    Parent
    I'm not sure what you're saying but (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by AmericanPsycho on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 12:06:22 AM EST
    are you inferring that the jury was racist and that's why they convicted him on 20 charges?   But if the jury was black there would have been a better result for Nagin?

    Parent
    Anyone from... (none / 0) (#2)
    by DebFrmHell on Wed Feb 12, 2014 at 09:41:20 PM EST
    around those parts knows how corrupt NOLA is.  The only way to get things done are bribery, money laundering, fraud.

    Considered the norm over there.

    I was (none / 0) (#7)
    by lentinel on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 10:33:04 AM EST
    reading recently a book, an autobiography by Willie Sutton - the bank robber.

    He told of the common practice of buying paroles.

    Parent

    Sutton apparently co-wrote two autobiographies (none / 0) (#15)
    by Peter G on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 08:19:33 PM EST
    I, Willie Sutton (1954) and Where the Money Was (1976), which are said to contradict each other. Neither is considered reliable. All versions of the story are fascinating. I enjoyed the novelized biography of him called Sutton, by J.R. Moehringer. The descriptions of how he escaped (three times) from maximum security prisons are thrilling.  The New York Times reviewer didn't care for it, though.

    Parent
    The one (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by lentinel on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 05:05:23 AM EST
    I read, "Where the Money Was", seemed to me to be very reliable.

    There was no attempt in it to justify anything.
    The was no agenda.

    And the writing was very personal.
    You could feel every circumstance he was describing.

    Not having read, "I, Willie Sutton", I can't know what contradictions anyone could be talking about. But since, as I said, in the book I read, he is not trying to glorify himself, or to blame anyone but himself for anything, I can't imagine what contradictions of any substance would be even possible.

    The part where he mentions the routine purchasing of paroles did not seem accusatory to me. It was just mentioned, almost in passing.

    I agree with you about the descriptions of his escapes.
    They are thrilling and nerve-wracking. I felt as if I were there.

    The Times review to which you link was the one concerning the novelized biography - not the one written by Willie Sutton himself. I prefer autobiographies. You can really tell, imo, when someone is being straightforward. There is a certain flow to the writing.

    I was particularly moved, if that is the word, by his statement that it wasn't about money - although that was obviously part of it - he just loved robbing banks and felt most alive when doing so. (my paraphrasing)

    I think that kind of declaration puts him into the realm of the artist. I can say that about him because, according to what I believe to be true, he never hurt anyone - except, I guess, himself.

    If I may digress, I feel that an honest bank robber is better than the Madoff kind - or the Wall Street kind - or the banks themselves which have been fleecing us lo these many decades.

    Parent

    Another page-turner (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by jondee on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 06:38:57 AM EST
    along similar lines, albeit from an earlier era, is You Can't Win by Jack Black.

    Parent
    I am (none / 0) (#25)
    by lentinel on Sat Feb 15, 2014 at 04:27:43 AM EST
    going to get it.

    Thanks for the suggestion.

    Parent

    Counterfeit Spam (none / 0) (#4)
    by CoralGables on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 01:00:47 AM EST


    What (none / 0) (#5)
    by Mikado Cat on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 02:25:57 AM EST
    is scary is just how far government can go without breaking any laws. These people that are getting caught and convicted were both sloppy and greedy. We need a way to go after the clever and cautious.

    The fish rots from the head down (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by jondee on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 10:38:39 AM EST
    and the bottom up simultaneously..

    On a docu about the city law enforcement response to Katrina, a cop was quoted saying it was common practice for Nawlins cops to carry with them a "ham sandwich" ie, a gun to plant on any unarmed person they shot..  

    Parent

    It's too bad (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by jondee on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 10:46:45 AM EST
    because there are some wonderful people from New Orleans, and the city and it's history are endlessly interesting

    And "Don't Worry 'Bout Nothin'" is still my all-time favorite bumpersticker.

    Parent

    SITE VIOLATOR (none / 0) (#6)
    by Peter G on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 08:41:13 AM EST


    Interesting CNN article in the link (none / 0) (#16)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Thu Feb 13, 2014 at 10:57:48 PM EST

    Apparently Nagin is not affiliated with any political party.

    lol (none / 0) (#21)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 05:46:44 PM EST
    Ain't it amazing???

    Parent
    "Amazing" - heh (none / 0) (#23)
    by Yman on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 06:41:05 PM EST
    Yeah ... that liberal media trying to hide Nagin's party affiliation.

    ... and your guy, GW Bush ...

    Heh.

    Parent

    Why would they? (none / 0) (#22)
    by Yman on Fri Feb 14, 2014 at 06:36:48 PM EST
    "Apparently", he's not in office, and hasn't been for almost 4 years.

    There are also numerous articles about GW Bush that don't list his party affiliation.  

    Parent

    You figure (none / 0) (#24)
    by Mikado Cat on Sat Feb 15, 2014 at 04:13:48 AM EST
    there are people who don't know Bush's party?

    Party affiliation means something regarding NOLA, no mayor could be that corrupt without other party leadership knowing about it and keeping quiet. Just like the behavior of the mayor of San Diego, misdeeds were well known within his party.

    Parent

    You figure his party ... (none / 0) (#26)
    by Yman on Sat Feb 15, 2014 at 07:36:00 AM EST
    ... is somehow relevant to the story, particularly given the fact that he's not in office and hasn't been for 4 years?  Apart from your silly fantasy aboutt his (and apparently the mayor of San Diego) deeds being "well known within the party" - presented - as always - with not a single bit of evidence to support it.

    I could easily find numerous stories about any ex-pol which don't mention their party affiliation.

    Parent

    BTW - You figure there ... (none / 0) (#27)
    by Yman on Sat Feb 15, 2014 at 07:54:56 AM EST
    ... are people old enough to remember how Republicans went after Nagen after Katrina who don't know Nagen's party?

    Parent
    Of course it is (none / 0) (#28)
    by Mikado Cat on Mon Feb 17, 2014 at 01:17:13 AM EST
    We are talking about his actions while in office, so party affiliation while in office is what matters.

    Mayor of NOLA in a national story isn't going to have his background known to all, so it needs inclusion. Long time single party control ALWAYS leads to corruption.

    Parent

    Ridiculous (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by Yman on Mon Feb 17, 2014 at 08:19:51 AM EST
    Nagen was a national figure for over a year.  He was attacked by Republicans for much longer than that in an attempt to deflect blame from Bush.  The reason you want it included is not to inform the very few people who don't know his party affiliation, but to support your silly (and, as always, unsupported) fantasy about it being relevant.

    Soooooo transparent ...

    Parent

    Since no Republican has been Mayor (5.00 / 2) (#30)
    by CoralGables on Mon Feb 17, 2014 at 08:53:37 AM EST
    of New Orleans since 1870, it's safe to say arguing over party affiliation is pretty meaningless.

    Parent