Minnesota Judges Strike Key Coleman Witness, After Failure To Share Evidence

[Why Syzygy]

Source: TPM

Minnesota Judges Strike Key Coleman Witness, After Failure To Share Evidence
By Eric Kleefeld - February 25, 2009, 4:57PM

The Minnesota election court just laid down some serious punishment against Norm Coleman's legal team, granting Team Franken's motion to strike the testimony of a key witness involved in Coleman's claim that absentee ballots had been double-counted.

This came about because the witness, election worker Pamela Howell, had typed up some personal notes weeks ago and gave them to the Coleman campaign, who then failed to properly share them with Franken. Without Howell's testimony, the Coleman camp's efforts to show double-counting have been unambiguously damaged.

"The court will issue a written order with further explanation," said Judge Elizabeth Hayden. That further explanation should be interesting to read.

Just a little while before they made their decision, the judges conducted a short Q & A with Coleman lawyer Tony Trimble, asking him why he'd failed to share evidence and why this shouldn't disqualify the witness.

Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/02/minnesota-ju...

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Additional links:

U.S. Senate election trial takes a few twists, picks up speed
http://www.twincities.com/politics/ci_11787009

Weeks of election trial remain
http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/articles/index.cfm?id=218...

News in and of itself - MSNBC covers the story.

Franken tries to pare Coleman list in Minn. Case
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29387893 /

[No Elephants]

1. Concealing evidence by funny Xeroxing and failing to share evidence. I see a

shameful, shameful pattern forming.

I hope Coleman and his lawyers end up in jail before this is over, or at least with stiff fines.

[DUlover2909]

2. HAHA Norm. Too bad all that pukelican money is going to waste.

I predict that in 2010 the pukes will be a little shorthanded and regretting the effort they put forth in Minnesota. Even if Al Franken is kept away from the Senate for a while, so is their candidate. It's a stalemate for now, but Franken will get his seat eventually, and the pukes will be the poorer for it. HA-HA!

[wroberts189]

9. Call it the law of unintended economic stimulus. he he :) nt

[Cha]

13. Love it!

[acmavm]

3. This guy has some really incompetent and lousy legal representation.

They must be republicans.

[groundloop]

4. Either incompetent or just

plain old desperate. They know they're fighting a losing battle and are willing to do anything under the sun to have it drag on for as long as possible.

[atreides1]

5. More Desperate then Incompetent

Only desperation would cause them to try and get this "witness" past the court.

[wroberts189]

8. That would be slimy ben ginsburg

Legal career

He came to Patton Boggs in 1993 after serving for eight years as counsel to the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and the National Republican Congressional Committee.<3>

In the 2000 and 2004 election cycles, Ginsberg served as national counsel to the Bush-Cheney presidential campaign.<1> In 2000, he played a central role in the Florida recount.<1> He also represents the campaigns and leadership PACs of numerous members of the Senate and House, as well as the Republican National Committee, National Republican Senatorial Committee and National Republican Congressional Committee.<1> He serves as counsel to the Republican Governors Association and has wide experience on the state legislative level from directing Republican redistricting efforts nationwide following the 1990 Census and being actively engaged in the 2001-2002 round of redistricting.<1>

In 2004, Ginsberg gave legal advice to the controversial 527 Group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. Though his simultaneous activities with the "Swifties" and the 2004 Bush Campaign could be considered questionable, his activities were not illegal. Nonetheless, Ginsberg resigned as legal counsel from the Bush Campaign after his position was made public.

Ginsberg appears frequently on television commenting on law and politics.<3>

He is a former Resident Fellow at the Institute of Politics, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.<3>



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Ginsberg

[acmavm]

12. Thank you.

[Cleita]

6. I hope this ends soon.

K&R

[CatholicEdHead]

7. I can see them trying to appeal on this

Right now it is grasping for straws for the appeal to drag that out as long as possible.

[Why Syzygy]

10. Judge reverses this ruling this morning

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[GinaMaria]

11. When will this be over?

there has to be an end to this doesn't there?