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Re: Judge denies new trial for black Democrat Mark Ridley-Thomas, upholds guilty verdict
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Michael Whistler
Jul 2, 2023, 4:25:03 PM7/2/23
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Gaetz <jth...@gmail.com> wrote in
news:sooktc$hqp$1...@news.dns-netz.com:
>
A federal judge in Los Angeles has upheld the conviction of longtime
politician Mark Ridley-Thomas, declining Friday to acquit him of all
public corruption charges or grant him a new trial.
In a 17-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer rejected the
arguments by Ridley-Thomas' lawyers that the jury's verdict against him on
charges of conspiracy, bribery, and honest services mail and wire fraud
was based on insufficient evidence, improper statements by the prosecutors
or other claimed legal defects.
Fischer noted there was "substantial evidence" of Ridley-Thomas' "corrupt
intent" and wrote, "The jury could easily find that Defendant knew he was
acting corruptly and dishonestly in structuring the $100,000 donation [to
USC] in return for his assistance with" a contract sought by the
university.
The decision is a major legal setback for Ridley-Thomas, 68, and clears
the way for him to be sentenced later this summer. He faces the prospect
of years in prison — a stunning fall from grace for the once-powerful
lawmaker.
Representatives for Ridley-Thomas did not immediately respond to requests
for comment on the ruling. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in
L.A. declined to comment.
Jurors in March convicted the former L.A. City Council member of honest
services fraud counts for his sending a $100,000 donation from a campaign
fund to USC's school of social work, knowing the university would then
route the money to a nonprofit run by his son, Sebastian.
Prosecutors had alleged that the "funneling" of the money was done partly
in exchange for his supporting a contract extension sought by USC for a
remote mental health treatment program — part of a broader conspiracy
whereby Ridley-Thomas extracted benefits from USC in exchange for
supporting county business that the university coveted.
Jurors acquitted Ridley-Thomas of fraud charges related to several
benefits USC gave his son, including a scholarship, admission to a
master's degree program and a professorship.
The former dean of USC's social work program, Marilyn Flynn, pleaded
guilty to a count of bribery and is also scheduled to be sentenced this
summer.
Read more: Mark Ridley-Thomas found guilty in corruption case
At a hearing this week, defense lawyers had told Fischer that the case
against Ridley-Thomas amounted to "a miscarriage of justice" and urged the
judge to acquit him or order a new trial.
The defense claimed there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate the
lawmaker technically voted on one of the contracts — arguing that the L.A.
County Board of Supervisors' meeting minutes did not fully show him voting
— and scant evidence that Ridley-Thomas breached his fiduciary duty.
Fischer rejected both arguments, writing that "there is no question"
Ridley-Thomas voted on the contract in question. Regarding Ridley-Thomas'
fiduciary duty, the judge reasoned that "the taking of bribes or kickbacks
is, as a matter of law, a breach of the fiduciary duty owed by a public
official."
For the conspiracy charge, the defense claimed there was no evidence
showing the "required meeting of the minds" between Ridley-Thomas and the
USC dean, but the judge was unmoved.
"The evidence," according to the judge, "shows that there was an agreement
between [Ridley-Thomas] and Flynn to provide County business to USC in
exchange for Flynn's assistance in concealing the nature and source of the
payment between Defendant's campaign fund and United Way's."
Since Ridley-Thomas' conviction, his supporters — clergy, former staff
members, lobbyists, friends and a public relations team — have expressed
grief, even umbrage, over the guilty verdict. More than 100 people packed
Fischer's courtroom this week to watch prosecutors and defense attorneys
address the judge.
In advance of the hearing, the group CD10 Voices for Empowerment urged
supporters to come to court.
"Public demonstration of support for MR-T remains critically important to
illustrate community skepticism about the verdict, the depth of interest
in the case, and the strength of solidarity with the defendant," the group
wrote on its website.
Sign up for Essential California, your daily guide to news, views and life
in the Golden State.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
https://news.yahoo.com/judge-denies-trial-mark-ridley-193000882.html
NJMike
1 day ago
This would be a great John Grisham story. We would get all the nitty
gritty information how Mark Ridley-Thomas operated while in office. It’s
time for judges who cases like this and the person is found guilty, they
should get the maximum sentence allowed. It high time American citizens
see actual justice being metered out.
news:sooktc$hqp$1...@news.dns-netz.com:
>
A federal judge in Los Angeles has upheld the conviction of longtime
politician Mark Ridley-Thomas, declining Friday to acquit him of all
public corruption charges or grant him a new trial.
In a 17-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer rejected the
arguments by Ridley-Thomas' lawyers that the jury's verdict against him on
charges of conspiracy, bribery, and honest services mail and wire fraud
was based on insufficient evidence, improper statements by the prosecutors
or other claimed legal defects.
Fischer noted there was "substantial evidence" of Ridley-Thomas' "corrupt
intent" and wrote, "The jury could easily find that Defendant knew he was
acting corruptly and dishonestly in structuring the $100,000 donation [to
USC] in return for his assistance with" a contract sought by the
university.
The decision is a major legal setback for Ridley-Thomas, 68, and clears
the way for him to be sentenced later this summer. He faces the prospect
of years in prison — a stunning fall from grace for the once-powerful
lawmaker.
Representatives for Ridley-Thomas did not immediately respond to requests
for comment on the ruling. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in
L.A. declined to comment.
Jurors in March convicted the former L.A. City Council member of honest
services fraud counts for his sending a $100,000 donation from a campaign
fund to USC's school of social work, knowing the university would then
route the money to a nonprofit run by his son, Sebastian.
Prosecutors had alleged that the "funneling" of the money was done partly
in exchange for his supporting a contract extension sought by USC for a
remote mental health treatment program — part of a broader conspiracy
whereby Ridley-Thomas extracted benefits from USC in exchange for
supporting county business that the university coveted.
Jurors acquitted Ridley-Thomas of fraud charges related to several
benefits USC gave his son, including a scholarship, admission to a
master's degree program and a professorship.
The former dean of USC's social work program, Marilyn Flynn, pleaded
guilty to a count of bribery and is also scheduled to be sentenced this
summer.
Read more: Mark Ridley-Thomas found guilty in corruption case
At a hearing this week, defense lawyers had told Fischer that the case
against Ridley-Thomas amounted to "a miscarriage of justice" and urged the
judge to acquit him or order a new trial.
The defense claimed there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate the
lawmaker technically voted on one of the contracts — arguing that the L.A.
County Board of Supervisors' meeting minutes did not fully show him voting
— and scant evidence that Ridley-Thomas breached his fiduciary duty.
Fischer rejected both arguments, writing that "there is no question"
Ridley-Thomas voted on the contract in question. Regarding Ridley-Thomas'
fiduciary duty, the judge reasoned that "the taking of bribes or kickbacks
is, as a matter of law, a breach of the fiduciary duty owed by a public
official."
For the conspiracy charge, the defense claimed there was no evidence
showing the "required meeting of the minds" between Ridley-Thomas and the
USC dean, but the judge was unmoved.
"The evidence," according to the judge, "shows that there was an agreement
between [Ridley-Thomas] and Flynn to provide County business to USC in
exchange for Flynn's assistance in concealing the nature and source of the
payment between Defendant's campaign fund and United Way's."
Since Ridley-Thomas' conviction, his supporters — clergy, former staff
members, lobbyists, friends and a public relations team — have expressed
grief, even umbrage, over the guilty verdict. More than 100 people packed
Fischer's courtroom this week to watch prosecutors and defense attorneys
address the judge.
In advance of the hearing, the group CD10 Voices for Empowerment urged
supporters to come to court.
"Public demonstration of support for MR-T remains critically important to
illustrate community skepticism about the verdict, the depth of interest
in the case, and the strength of solidarity with the defendant," the group
wrote on its website.
Sign up for Essential California, your daily guide to news, views and life
in the Golden State.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
https://news.yahoo.com/judge-denies-trial-mark-ridley-193000882.html
NJMike
1 day ago
This would be a great John Grisham story. We would get all the nitty
gritty information how Mark Ridley-Thomas operated while in office. It’s
time for judges who cases like this and the person is found guilty, they
should get the maximum sentence allowed. It high time American citizens
see actual justice being metered out.
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