Showing posts with label bonusgate trial. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bonusgate trial. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
BREAKKING NEWS: BONUSGATE VERDICTS IN
The long awaited trial of Michael Veon et al in what has been dubbed Bonusgate is over with the jury announcing its verdict at 8P.M.
In the order of the announcement:
Mike Veon has been found guilty in 14 of the 59 charges against him. Defendent Brett Cott was found guilty of 3 of 42 charges against him. Stephen Keefer was found not guilty of any charges. Anna Marie Peretta-Rosepink was found guilty in 5 of the 22 charges against her.
Earlier in the day, Dauphin County Judge Richard Lewis denied a defense motion for a mistrial.
The judge was empathetic towards the jury for their length of service and hardship. The jury is discharged and heads home.
Read the story by Tracie Mauriello of the Post Gazette by clicking here.
In the order of the announcement:
Mike Veon has been found guilty in 14 of the 59 charges against him. Defendent Brett Cott was found guilty of 3 of 42 charges against him. Stephen Keefer was found not guilty of any charges. Anna Marie Peretta-Rosepink was found guilty in 5 of the 22 charges against her.
Earlier in the day, Dauphin County Judge Richard Lewis denied a defense motion for a mistrial.
The judge was empathetic towards the jury for their length of service and hardship. The jury is discharged and heads home.
Read the story by Tracie Mauriello of the Post Gazette by clicking here.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Bonusgate Deliberations Affecting Jurors
SInce the media in Northeastern Pennsylvania are practically ignoring Michael Veon et al's Bonusgate trial SOP wants to highlight the latest from Tracie Mauriello of the Post Gazette. In this story she talks about the toll deliberations are taking in this case on jurors to this point.
We're turning on each other," one told Dauphin County Judge Richard A. Lewis from the jury box as she and others dabbed their eyes.
"I can imagine it is hard for a jury to announce a unanimous decision," Judge Lewis said. "Juries are able to do that at most times, and we ask that you keep trying."
Jurors are considering 139 criminal charges against four defendants, including former state Rep. Mike Veon, who represented Beaver County and at one time was the second-ranking Democrat in the state House.
Judge Lewis told jurors that deliberation is not about taking a firm stand but about "talking to your neighbors. Sometimes it takes an effort on everyone's part to do that."
The exchange came as jurors ended their 29th hours of deliberations over four days, following six weeks of testimony.
"We're aware of the strain on you, all 12 of you. I'm sure it's a terrible strain," Judge Lewis said.
The jurors did indicate they came to a conclusion against one defendent in the case. However, their deliberations continue.
We're turning on each other," one told Dauphin County Judge Richard A. Lewis from the jury box as she and others dabbed their eyes.
"I can imagine it is hard for a jury to announce a unanimous decision," Judge Lewis said. "Juries are able to do that at most times, and we ask that you keep trying."
Jurors are considering 139 criminal charges against four defendants, including former state Rep. Mike Veon, who represented Beaver County and at one time was the second-ranking Democrat in the state House.
Judge Lewis told jurors that deliberation is not about taking a firm stand but about "talking to your neighbors. Sometimes it takes an effort on everyone's part to do that."
The exchange came as jurors ended their 29th hours of deliberations over four days, following six weeks of testimony.
"We're aware of the strain on you, all 12 of you. I'm sure it's a terrible strain," Judge Lewis said.
The jurors did indicate they came to a conclusion against one defendent in the case. However, their deliberations continue.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Defense Rests And Now Onto Closing Arguments- Bonusgate Trial
Yesterday the defense rested in the Michael Veon et al Bonusgate trial at the Dauphin County Courthouse in Harrisburg. In this report filed by Tracie Mauriello from the Post-Gazette, she sums up those proceedings plus some comments by defense attorneys relating to the trial.
"Was there [campaign-related] e-mail sent on state time? Yes, just like everybody else uses the state e-mail system for fantasy football or whatever," Mr. Walk said. "This staff worked so hard and so long that all of these minor infractions are what we would call de minimis."
Follow Tracie's twitter tweets at the link to the right for today. Defense attorneys are blaming everyone from former Rep. Steven Stetler and Rep. Bill Deweese to Frankel, Manzo, and others as the real perpetrators of misuse of taxpayer moneys.
Editorially speaking it was gang mentality that brought these charges. It will be up to the jury whether the "pack" is accountable.
Senior Deputy Attorney General E. Marc Costanzo said he is confident that the prosecution made its case and that the jury will find each defendant guilty.
"Was there [campaign-related] e-mail sent on state time? Yes, just like everybody else uses the state e-mail system for fantasy football or whatever," Mr. Walk said. "This staff worked so hard and so long that all of these minor infractions are what we would call de minimis."
Follow Tracie's twitter tweets at the link to the right for today. Defense attorneys are blaming everyone from former Rep. Steven Stetler and Rep. Bill Deweese to Frankel, Manzo, and others as the real perpetrators of misuse of taxpayer moneys.
Editorially speaking it was gang mentality that brought these charges. It will be up to the jury whether the "pack" is accountable.
Senior Deputy Attorney General E. Marc Costanzo said he is confident that the prosecution made its case and that the jury will find each defendant guilty.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Legislators Are Asked- "What Else Is Being Hidden?"
In an editorial by Tribune-Review's state Capitol reporter Brad Bumsted he asks the question "What Else Is Being Hidden?".
Testimony in the trial of ex-Representative Michael Veon et al by Scott Brubaker highlighted how the Rules of the House allowed illegal bonuses paid for campaign work to remain hidden from the public.
Brubaker, former director of staffing and administration for the House Democratic Caucus, talked about how a lack of specificity in the House rules on disclosing bonuses to the public was seized on as justification to keep the program "hidden."
The fact they paid out $1.4 million in bonuses -- off the books from 2004 through 2006 -- is scandalous.
Salaries, of course, are public record. If someone in the media asked for Brubaker's salary, you'd be told that he was paid $120,564 in 2006, period, not that he received a $15,250 bonus. His actual compensation was $135,814.
Brubaker's wife, Jennifer, who has also entered guilty pleas in the case, was paid $94,770 as director of the House Democrats' Legislative Research Office. But she was paid an off-the-books bonus of $17,750, making her actual unreported compensation total $112,520.
The secrecy was "exactly why we did it. You could get a bonus, and you didn't have to disclose it," said Brubaker. House Rule 14 didn't require that bonuses be publicly disclosed, he said.
"We would not report something we didn't have to report," Brubaker testified.
Right. Of course, you never tell the taxpayers how their money actually is being spent.
That statement by Brubaker accurately summarizes why Pennsylvania state government is regressive, insular and, to a certain extent, corrupt.
Here's the really disturbing issue: What other legislative expenses, not covered by Rule 14 or the Right to Know Law, are being hidden from the public now?
Amen and Amen. House Rule 14 begs for overhaul. It is the same House Rule that allows legislators to collect per diems on a per day basis not actual expenses.
Testimony in the trial of ex-Representative Michael Veon et al by Scott Brubaker highlighted how the Rules of the House allowed illegal bonuses paid for campaign work to remain hidden from the public.
Brubaker, former director of staffing and administration for the House Democratic Caucus, talked about how a lack of specificity in the House rules on disclosing bonuses to the public was seized on as justification to keep the program "hidden."
The fact they paid out $1.4 million in bonuses -- off the books from 2004 through 2006 -- is scandalous.
Salaries, of course, are public record. If someone in the media asked for Brubaker's salary, you'd be told that he was paid $120,564 in 2006, period, not that he received a $15,250 bonus. His actual compensation was $135,814.
Brubaker's wife, Jennifer, who has also entered guilty pleas in the case, was paid $94,770 as director of the House Democrats' Legislative Research Office. But she was paid an off-the-books bonus of $17,750, making her actual unreported compensation total $112,520.
The secrecy was "exactly why we did it. You could get a bonus, and you didn't have to disclose it," said Brubaker. House Rule 14 didn't require that bonuses be publicly disclosed, he said.
"We would not report something we didn't have to report," Brubaker testified.
Right. Of course, you never tell the taxpayers how their money actually is being spent.
That statement by Brubaker accurately summarizes why Pennsylvania state government is regressive, insular and, to a certain extent, corrupt.
Here's the really disturbing issue: What other legislative expenses, not covered by Rule 14 or the Right to Know Law, are being hidden from the public now?
Amen and Amen. House Rule 14 begs for overhaul. It is the same House Rule that allows legislators to collect per diems on a per day basis not actual expenses.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Brad Bumsted Writes About Mike Veon's Trial Defense
Brad Bumsted, the Tribune-Review's State Capital reporter, wrote a critque piece over the weekend on the defense employed for Michael Veon et al in their misuse of public funds trial, aka Bonusgagte. Mike Veon brought in an attorney friend who uses theatrics to bewilder the juries facing him.
Dan Raynak is throwing up that is part rope-a-dope, part David Copperfield, part blame-everyone-else and, most of all, let confusion reign.
Prosecutors believe they can win if they keep jurors' eye on the ball -- the specific counts of corruption against the former powerful legislative leader. On a daily basis, Raynak is trying to take their eyes off that ball.
Distraction is the name of the game for Raynak, a powerful and commanding presence in the courtroom. Dauphin County jurors will either love him or hate him
One image is hard even for Raynak to erase:
Displayed on an oversized screen for the jury was a color photo of Veon and his staff, each with a big cigar in hand, attending a fundraiser in his district while taxpayers picked up the tab for staff travel.
Bumsted highlights in his piece a parade of witnesses that will surely tilt the preponderance of evidence in the state's favor. He makes the case that Raynak will have a hard time convincing a jury there is a conspiracy to convict Michael Veon et al. SOP agrees that it will be hard to sway the jurors everyone is lying except Michael Veon.
Veon shouldn't take that assessment personal. It is what it is. There are parts to Michael Veon that really want a person to root for him, but there is little "Kazoo" saying "He's guilty". Only time will tell whether the Johnny Cocoran in Dan Raynak will prevail.
Dan Raynak is throwing up that is part rope-a-dope, part David Copperfield, part blame-everyone-else and, most of all, let confusion reign.
Prosecutors believe they can win if they keep jurors' eye on the ball -- the specific counts of corruption against the former powerful legislative leader. On a daily basis, Raynak is trying to take their eyes off that ball.
Distraction is the name of the game for Raynak, a powerful and commanding presence in the courtroom. Dauphin County jurors will either love him or hate him
One image is hard even for Raynak to erase:
Displayed on an oversized screen for the jury was a color photo of Veon and his staff, each with a big cigar in hand, attending a fundraiser in his district while taxpayers picked up the tab for staff travel.
Bumsted highlights in his piece a parade of witnesses that will surely tilt the preponderance of evidence in the state's favor. He makes the case that Raynak will have a hard time convincing a jury there is a conspiracy to convict Michael Veon et al. SOP agrees that it will be hard to sway the jurors everyone is lying except Michael Veon.
Veon shouldn't take that assessment personal. It is what it is. There are parts to Michael Veon that really want a person to root for him, but there is little "Kazoo" saying "He's guilty". Only time will tell whether the Johnny Cocoran in Dan Raynak will prevail.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Quote Of The Day
Jeff Foreman from the Michael Veon Bonusgate trial:
Quote of the day: Foreman: "I have knowledge of all the things that I know about."
Another tweet from Tracie Mauriello at the trial:
Attorneys are standing up to raise objections so often that one courtroom observer quips it's like Whack-a-Mole
Quote of the day: Foreman: "I have knowledge of all the things that I know about."
Another tweet from Tracie Mauriello at the trial:
Attorneys are standing up to raise objections so often that one courtroom observer quips it's like Whack-a-Mole
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