Sad News On Paul Minor Situation From Larisa Alexandrovna

[Hissyspit]

http://www.atlargely.com/2009/02/update-on-paul-minor-situation.html

February 19, 2009

Update on Paul Minor situation...

If you do not know who Paul Minor is, see here. Or read through my PRM series, links are at end. In short, he is another Don Siegelman. Both men allege that they were politically prosecuted and the evidence thus far supports their version of events. Karl Rove may be playing games with the House Judiciary Committee and wasting time for all involved, but the people who were most affected by abuses of the DOJ do not have the time for these games.

I have been in contact with Mr. Minor's family and friends over the course of the last 48 hours. Here is what is going on. As most of you who have followed this know, Mr. Minor's wife Sylvia is dying of cancer and is in hospice. He has been denied appeal bond because he is "a danger to society." Remember, he was convicted of bribing 2 judges, so unless he is going to bribe the public to death, this argument is idiotic.

But, the judge who ruled on the bond issue is a long time friend and former client of Karl Rove's, and it was due to his pressure to get her seated (despite a bipartisan opposition) that Judge Priscilla Owen got on the bench.

The only hope for Mr. Minor after this ruling was to get a furlough from the BOP. He was notified in the last few days that it was time for him to come say his goodbyes to Mrs. Minor, his wife of 40 years. The end is near. The BOP, the warden, all involved signed off to give him a 3 day furlough to see his wife and be with her.

In the last 48 hours, the DOJ stepped in and said no. But after some negotiations, he was given 3 hours tomorrow to see his wife in the company of 3-4 armed escorts who will be in the hospice room with him during this private and difficult moment.

And yet all are silent. The mainstream press is entirely silent on Paul Minor's case. The bloggers on the left and right are entirely silent about this as well. Why? Why does no one care about the number of people who have been politically targeted by the DOJ and prosecuted for political reasons, in some cases on cooked evidence? Perhaps because it has not happened to you. But should it ever, I wonder who will speak for you and ask for justice on your behalf.

My prayers are with the Minor family.

Below are a few links for you to read through, including my PRM series and a documentary about these prosecutions:

The Permanent Republican Majority Series

Part 1: Political Prisoner
Part 2: Siegelman's Daughter Speaks Out
Part 3: Running Elections from the White House
Part 4: Mississippi Prosecutions
Part 5: Interview with Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Oliver E. Diaz, Jr.
Part 6: Break-Ins Plague Targets of Political Prosecutions
Part 7: Justice for Sale
Judge who denied Paul Minor's release protoge of Karl Rove
DOJ Investigating 2 US Attorneys in alleged political prosecutions
60 Minutes signal dropped in Alabama only during Siegelman portion
Interview with Dana Jill Simpson on Karl Rove's alleged smears
Karl Rove's next move: A Million Dollar House in Florida
Abramoff said he had agreement with White House aid regarding communications
Treasury Department investigating US Attorney for sharing private income tax returns of a case target

LINKS CAN BE FOUND AT ORIGINAL LINK AT TOP

[Larkspur]

1. I hope Eric Holder gets working on Siegleman's, Minor's and cases like theirs asap

I've only heard about Paul Minor via Siegelmen's case. It's a real tragedy.

[joeunderdog]

2. This stuff makes me realize just how far these people will go.

They're just plain EVIL.

[dmr]

14. Agree. It seems the Bush* loyalists are deeply embedded in the DOJ -

If the BOP gave him time, why would the DOJ intervene and say no, unless they have a hard-on over the man?

[lala_rawraw]

26. there is a theory being kicked around...

although there is no proof for it... but the theory is that they don't want Minor anywhere near the press. i tried to go interview him in prison, but to do so, i had to fill out a permission app so he could put me on his visitor list. i sent it. it went into the ether. they claimed to never gotten it. the one time i spoke to him, he was crying so much, he could not speak really. he just cried. it was a phone conversation and i just sat there and listened. i don't know him. i have never met him. but this man called me to cry. it breaks my heart because there is nothing i can do. i just listened.

the theory is that if he is out for more than a moment, he will speak to the press and then it won't be just Siegelman and an "isolated" or "bad apples" case in Alabama. people will see the truth of these abuses of power. that is the theory, but as I said, there is no proof for this. i don't know what to think. i know that Lampton retired all of a sudden after I reported that he shared Justice Diaz' tax records with a family member and a couple of other people not authorized to see those records (Diaz was tried twice with Minor, and both times acquitted). i know people close to Lampton were not pleased... but again, that is just another theory.

[elleng]

32. If there were a way to do it,

'we' should compile a list of those affected by rover etc, and in custody or otherwise 'handcapped'; inform Holder that he should put someone in charge of overseeing 'justice' for those; let him know we know he'll have to have REAL GUTS to address these matters properly, and inform the President at the same time.

We know that those people have power, and intend to keep it. We should do whatever we can to wrest it from them.

[lala_rawraw]

35. see the docu

at the OP link, at my blog... it lists close to 1000 people.

[HillWilliam]

43. I doubt you remember, Lala, but maybe you do

that we spoke on the phone a long time ago when I and group were putting an online paper together. Rick, the guy in Tennessee who was trying to get the funding wasn't able to get the group together, but I do remember our conversation clearly. What stood out is that you are a passionate and compassionate person who knows a fact when she sees one. You wound up at the best place in the world and while I regret not being able to work with you directly, you've gone on to do some mighty things.

The fact that you listened and reported even this to us means a lot. The human details are just as important as the cold fact of injustice -- Rove and crew are ruining real lives and causing real pain just for their own sick jollies and to protect their sorry political hides.

Remember this when days get hard and details are hard to report: you don't just have fans; you have friends.

[lala_rawraw]

66. that is most kind of you... thank you:)

[merh]

64. their intent was not justice

they intended to destroy these people, ruin their lives and reputations - ruin their practice and any chance they have at making a living, ruin their credibility - they just wanted destruction, it became personal for them as you can see by their interference with the furlough.

[EFerrari]

3. Shameful. Is there anything we can do? Call DoJ? Anything?

[flyarm]

4. Once any entity usurps our judicial branch and politicizes it

and they are held unaccountable, or given deals, we have lost our democracy.
I don't care who it is, and I don't care what the excuses are for it.

Rove must be made to testify and he must be held accountable and anyone who ordered him to break any laws or participated in such, and anyone who was his accomplice, must be held accountable.

No ifs, or ands about it. No excuses.

This nation was predicated on the rule of law, no one is above it.Political prisoner's, should not be accepted by anyone who calls themselves an American.

Today it is this Mr. Minor, and Siegelman and how many untold we do not even know about????????

There are no excuses for letting Rove get a deal...none!

Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.

Case in point ..Kissinger was sent to the Middle East by this current administration..these evil bastards only resurface when they are not held accountable for crimes against this country ..and they get new life by those we least expect it from..leopards don't change their spots.

What a shame for Mr Minor and his ill wife..what a shame this is, how she will see her husband in her last days.

What a shame what has been done to Siegelman..but what is more disgusting is those who call themselves dems who will make excuses for a democratic leader who would give Rove a deal and let him walk scott free for his possible crimes...against our democracy and our constitution.

I do believe in innocent until "proven guilty" but there is a process in place that is time tested to prosecute someone or to give them their day in a court of law.. to prove their innocense or guilt..no President or congress should unsurp that process! There are no excuses big enough or genuine enough to exonerate anyone who would destroy the rule of law this nation is supposed to stand for.

[Cha]

5. Kick!

Thanks, Hissy.

[CitizenPatriot]

6. thanks for the update

the politicization of the DoJ cost many lives. It is so much worse than most people grasp.

My heart goes out to Paul and his family.

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

7. Larisa asks a compelling question

her last sentence, Perhaps because it has not happened to you. But should it ever, I wonder who will speak for you and ask for justice on your behalf.

I didn't comment on your thread about Larisa Hissyspit, by the time I saw it there were about 100 comments but she possesses a degree of Bravery that should put many to shame.

Thank you for posting.

[xcoastal]

13. No person is safe until our courtrooms return to abiding by our laws.

Well, it HAS happened to me. At first I didn't believe it. You just keep thinking this can't be happening in the United States of America.

Trust me, it can happen to any one of you. If you've never done one thing wrong in your life you may think you are safe. You would be very wrong. You can provide all the proof you want and it will mean nothing and you will have no recourse.

If Eric Holder or President Obama or Congress don't bring Karl Rove to justice and return our laws we must take drastic action now. The sad truth is if I had not experienced what I have experience I doubt anyone could convince me how deep the corruption is. All I can say is to think why is Karl Rove afraid to testify? One reason, because he has much to hide. The real question is why is everyone so afraid of Karl Rove?

Until it is clear that no man is above the law it will be clear to every single person with knowledge of the laws Karl Roves has broken that it is not safe to come forward. That is the clear message President Obama is sending as of now. He is looking forward.

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

17. well if someone

stood up for you and you have gotten your justice, you are lucky indeed.

[bertman]

8. Recommend. Thank you for making me/us aware of Paul Minor's situation.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House is weaseling her multi-millionaire corporatist ass off regarding investigations and prosecutions of Bush cronies.

[abq e streeter]

9. heartbreaking

i don't know who turns my stomach more; the republican criminals who've done all these vile things, or the pathetic excuses for democrats who've allowed, if not aided and abetted, their crimes every step of the way.

[annabanana]

10. His treatment at the hands of the DOJ has been disgraceful.

Please hound the phones.. Post to change.gov Call..

There is no reason for this man to be treated so shabbily.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

40. that seems like something worthwhile to do

it feels beyond my reach, since I'm not in gov't or media. Any ideas regular people can contribute here would be good......

Some kind of organized response.

This is sickening. :cry:

[barbtries]

11. they're not only corrupt,

greedy, murderous motherfuckers. they're heartless. my heart goes out to the Minors.

[aquamarina]

12. I am looking forward to the day when the chickens finally come home to roost on Karl Rove

[KT2000]

15. The current DOJ said NO!!

There is something wrong there. This sounds like nothing has changed.

[L. Coyote]

16. Why is everyone silent. They know too well the consequences, like slashed tires, bombs, murders....

It's whack-a-liberal. The higher you stick your head up, the bigger the whack job!

[lala_rawraw]

19. speaking of that...

and i wish i could, god help me, i wish i could talk about the horror of the last year and a half. but i can't. but let us just say that authorities who arrested someone with regard to me and he was indicted, have now agreed to a deal where he serves no jail time, just today. i have been steadily imbibing vodka all day. and the worst part? i cannot talk about it... cannot TALK about it, write about it, or even face the bastard in court and spit on him.

the justice we seek is us and our own actions. but my taking my ability to at least use my pen in this case, i feel robbed and beaten down. i am sure things will look brighter tomorrow, but right now, your comment hit close to home, too close:((

[L. Coyote]

22. Trust me, a lot of us are silent still. That is going to change.

WE are the ones we have been waiting for!

[lala_rawraw]

23. sort of...

i cannot speak about my case... so that does not change for me. i get to have nightmares without sharing anything with anyone. we are the ones we have been waiting for, except in my case, there is only partial justice. one day, when i am released from my obligation on this, i will show you what was done and it will make the hair on the back of your neck stand... you will be shocked. for now, i get to have all this fun alone and worse still, in silence. although i know you folks would help if you could:)

[L. Coyote]

27. Hang in there. Dawn rises. You are not the only one in this predicament either!!

Have any of your fellow researchers been assassinated? Things could be worse, trust me!

[lala_rawraw]

28. your fellow researcher

was assassinated? how come you never mentioned this? no, none of mine have been assassinated or threatened or messed with thank god.

[merh]

48. Don't forget

the arsons and the break ins.

and if you were a part of the accuseds' lives, you are in effect blacklisted.

hugs to you larisa - i understand better than most and the nightmares don't seem to ever go away. i still have hopes the new admin will do the right thing.

:hug: :hug:

[glitch]

18. How insane do you have to be to make decisions like this?

3 hours under armed guard? I'd say damn them to HELL but they are already there. K & R

[lala_rawraw]

20. he has no choice... this

is the only time he will ever see his wife of 40 years again. he has not been there while she got more and more ill, because he was in jail. and she could not see him, because she was too ill to travel. this is all he gets, like it or not, this is all he gets:((

[glitch]

21. I meant the people who won't release him for longer are insane, not him.

Deciding this is all he gets is the act of a zombie.

[lala_rawraw]

24. i think zombies have more heart

than these people. for shame. he needs four armed escorts chained to him to kiss his wife goodbye? why? he might bribe someone (not that he did the first time) to death?

[glitch]

45. Yeah, you are correct, zombies have more heart and soul.

I need to stop maligning zombies by associating them with these fascist bushbot pnazis.

[cascadiance]

31. Damn, this sucks Larissa, as I noted before it's a f'n DOUBLE STANDARD...

the way they screw folks like Minor on one side of the political fence and treat the wingnuts friends who are DOWNRIGHT SERIOUS CRIMINALS with so much more "respect"! When's this going to stop? Obama should be documenting this, so that when he gets some choices to select judges and he picks them more "left of center", he can throw out all of these rulings and say that "we need to bring justice for EVERYONE, not just 'justice' for a select few"...

Brent Wilkes got out to see his daughter's graduation!
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080613-9999-1m13wilkes.html

and now is out on bail...
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080328-1929-bn28wilkes.html

Thomas Kontogiannis was out on bail and took a vacation in Greece without letting the judge know...
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/cunningham/20070918-9999-1m18tommyk.html

Dusty Foggo musta heard on TK's treatment and wanted to get in on the act!
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/06/indicted_cia_spook_kyle_dusty.php

at least the judge in that case had the kahones to say NO to Dusty...

[lala_rawraw]

37. Ted Bundy

got to go to the library

[lala_rawraw]

25. if you guys get a chance... watch the video on OP link...

it is a short documentary about the political prosecutions. prepare to cry and be shocked that you have heard nothing about this.

[bottomtheweaver]

34. Un-be-frukin-lievable.

Never heard a word of any of this before, just the big fish like Blago and Gray Davis in Calif. Scary as hell.

[defendandprotect]

29. Thank you for sticking with these stories . . . corruption at its worst--!!!

[defendandprotect]

30. What can we do to help . . . ???

Certainly any Democrat - whether Governor or Rep or Senator has to feel threatened

by what has happened to Siegelmann and Minor ---

Why wouldn't Pelosi or Reid be pushing for reinvestigation of these cases . . . ?

And why in hell are we keeping 51 of Bush's prosecutors --- !!!????

[lala_rawraw]

36. you are asking the wrong person...

i have no answers to these questions:( in fact, i have the same questions

[defendandprotect]

50. I e-mailed on the WH form last night . . .

but called WH today -- lines very busy -- four tries to get thru and a slight

wait holding for a LIVE comment taker --

Asked for help for Paul Minor as "political prisoner" --

and asked why in view of total corruption of Bush DOJ we were keeping on 51

of the prosecutors!! That this was alarming!!!

I think it's a question we all need to keep asking Obama and Democrats.

Also commented that communications aren't working well -- we don't need more

forms we need open e-mail -- and better telephone access to all elected officials,

including WH.

PS: Will try a few more calls -- Conyers/Pelosi/Reid - as I have time.

Also keep in mind that when the GOP took over USHR and Senate they dismissed every

person who ever worked for a Democrat!!! Everyone was gone!

[eridani]

44. I'm calling the White House comment line tomorrow n/t

[glitch]

46. Excellent idea, me too. nt

[lala_rawraw]

67. because

they too are corrupt. mutual blackmail

[bottomtheweaver]

33. Whoa, a whole new world of Bushler evil.

These videos are just unbelievably sickening. Strange how the Blago take-down seems to have been played from the same script. Blago, Caroline K, now Burris, and of course Gray Davis back in the day, and we're paying the price in California. Basically we're prisoners of a made-in-Texas terra strike. Thanks for the heads up.

:mad:

[lala_rawraw]

38. Here is a link their site

This is a group effort by Diza, Minor (well, he is part of it, but he is in jail obviously), Teel (same as Minor), Whitfield (same as Minor and Teel), and Siegelman:
http://fapp.us/

Spread it around:)

[tomp]

39. i've got an idea. how about obama commutes his sentence? nt

[lala_rawraw]

41. great idea...

in fact, his lawyers have been trying to get O's attention. no luck thus far!

[dmr]

42. The President says he wants to hear from us; let's all write, & then to our Congress members

Put the pressure on - a mass mailing, with no let up.

The pit in my stomach is a heavy one. I haven't felt it this strong since Bush* left office. What you wrote up-thread - of which you can't discuss - upsets me greatly. I hate to think of you facing a gut-wrenching situation alone. It's usually helpful to be able to discuss, to talk things out, but you can't do that, which makes things all the worse. How the legal community can waste their time on a good person is a travesty. But criminal protectionists are a dangerous and paranoid bunch.

I just want to hug you, and keep you safe and sound and away from the evil bastards who have made our democracy just an illusion. A true democracy wouldn't behave this way. A true democracy's lawmakers wouldn't let this happen. A true democracy's media would have held the perpetrators accountable.

Wednesday night on the Rachel Maddow Show, former National Security Adviser to Carter, Bigniew Brzezinski cautioned Rachel on calling another country corrupt unless we looked at ourselves. We need to at least see ourselves as others see us. He went on to say that DC was a bedful of "well organized legal corruption." I wrote that quote down.

I didn't mean to get long-winded, here, I just wanted you to know that your posts up-thread affected me deeply, that I am concerned, and wish I could, at least, give you motherly hugs to help ease some pressures.

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

I think DU as a whole feels the same.
:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

[defendandprotect]

49. We need more open e-mail for elected officials . . .

the forms are a pain in the ass ---

and now the White House has a form!

I never got thru yet on the WH line --- is it comment or live person?

I'll give it a try today on this --!!!

[xcoastal]

61. President Obama must have favorites..

Would be nice to know his homepage, bookmarks.. someone must have asked him that question in an interview.

[Liberal In Texas]

47. Dusturbing but interesting. Rove and his cronies need to be in jail! n/t

[Bake]

51. Minor and MS Sup. Ct. Justice Oliver Diaz were caught up in bribery scandal.

I believe Diaz was eventually acquitted.

Don't just assume this was a political prosecution. Regardless of who does it (plaintiff's lawyer or defense lawyer; Dem or Puke), bribing a judge is serious business. It happens because of the huge dollars at stake in some litigation. We've seen that here in MS in the Dickie Scruggs trial; and now in the investigation/prosecution of Circuit Judge Bobby DeLaughter (remember the film "Ghosts of Mississippi" with Alec Baldwin?).

There are, as usual, two sides to this story.

Bake
Mississippi Lawyer

[Hissyspit]

There are two sides.

So you should go read the other side in the links provided by Ms. Alexandrovna.

The case stinks to high heaven.

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2008/Diaz_placeholder_0408.html

OD: One of the startling things about my case is the way it began. Normally, a criminal investigation begins after a crime is committed. Investigators are sent out to gather evidence and a list of suspects is drawn up. Evidence will then point to someone who is then prosecuted for that crime. Sometimes an investigation is begun after a complaint is made about suspicious activity. In our case neither of these things occurred. At about this time in 2002, federal investigators began to look into the financial dealings of large contributors of the Democratic Party. Paul Minor was the single largest contributor to the Democratic Party in the state of Mississippi. Investigators were sent to examine Minor’s banking records and discovered that he had guaranteed loans to several judges. This became the basis for the bribery allegations. In other words, an individual was singled out for examination from the federal government and prosecutors then attempted to make his conduct fit into some criminal statute. This is not how our system of justice is supposed to operate.

RS: Just to be clear, what Mr. Minor did in guaranteeing loans to a judges is not against Mississippi state law, is that correct?

OD: The loan guaranteed by Minor was a campaign loan prior to the election, not after. All of the proceeds of this loan were used in my campaign to counter the attacks launched by the U.S. Chamber. This is all perfectly legal in Mississippi. Mississippi law specifically provides for loans to campaigns.

[Bake]

53. I live in MS; I followed the story as it broke.

Bake

[Hissyspit]

54. Which newspaper did you read?

Most of them provided pretty corrupt coverage.

[lala_rawraw]

55. Jackson Free Press is excellent

And have covered this case very well.

[Hissyspit]

56. Yes. You and I read Jackson Free Press.

Not everyone did.

[lala_rawraw]

58. I am always amazed

How people assume that all who are convicted are absolutely guilty of the crime. How many people have been wrongfully convicted in the US over the nation's history? The ADL, for example, was created because of a wrongful conviction and execution.

[Bake]

59. The Clarion Liar, of course, and JFP, for starters.

Pretty much everything I could find on it. Hattiesburg American. Et al.

Bake

[merh]

65. Watch the youtube videos

Project Save Justice, Parts 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL8IBcNU34Q

Project Save Justice, Parts 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9aJO8DKrss&feature=related

Project Save Justice, Parts 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ0cAst-Q-4&feature=related

Read Larisa's work, read Horton - become informed beyond what is the "accepted" slant.

Your attitude is exactly what they want - simple acceptance - it harms your profession and it has harmed the democratic party in Mississippi. Check out how disorganized and poorly funded the party is in our state - who will run as the democratic candidate for governor?

[Hissyspit]

52. delete

[lala_rawraw]

57. Diaz was acquitted twice...

The other judges and Minor were acquitted on most of the charges and the jury deadlocked on the rest during the first trial. Duri

ng the second trial, the judge advised the jury that quid pro quo did not have to be proven to prove bribery. The defense was not allowed to present evidence it presented during the first trial. The US Attorney on the case, Dunnica Lampton, brought charges against Minor while he was in the process of filing a case against Magnolia Trucking - a company owned by the Lampton family. There is a great deal more. I have been on this case for nearly two years. I have looked at all sides of the story. There is no question - NONE - that this was a Siegelman-type prosecution. You do know that the FBI whistleblower - the Jackson FBI agent on the case who wanted to blow the whistle - was reassigned to Gitmo, right?

Thanks for your comment, I trust you will take the time to familiarize yourself with the evidence.

[merh]

63. And it appears you are paying attention to only one side,

- the side that the media, as feed by the prosecutors, allowed to be heard. It appears that you've accepted the version the corporate media has spun.

To be found guilty of bribery, there has to be quid pro quo - none was established and none was required to be established. Since you are a lawyer you know that jury instructions make or break a case. The jury instructions in this case were horrible.

Read Horton's writings on this case, they may help you better understand.
http://www.harpers.org/archive/2007/10/hbc-90001343

What Minor, Teel & Whitfield did was not illegal under MS law, it might have been unethical but unethical doesn't equate to guilt of a felony. The feds had no jurisdiction and created their jurisdiction.

Lampton had personal conflicts and should not have been allowed to prosecute this matter. Lampton also had received illegal campaign funds and had to pay them back, all while claiming this prosecution was legit.

The Magnolia Towing case was going on at the time Lampton pursued this investigation and prosecution. It involved the deaths caused when Magnolia's towboat guiding barges down the Arkansas River caused the barges to strike the highway bridge. The bridge collapsed and several cars plunged into the river and the occupants to their deaths.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/webextra/itemsofinterest/centennial/centennial_storypage.asp?ID=070424_1_A4_spanc21124

Barge Crash Collapses Oklahoma Bridge
By ROBERT F. WORTH
Published: May 27, 2002

A river barge crashed into an interstate highway bridge about 65 miles southeast of Tulsa, Okla., early yesterday, collapsing a 600-foot-long section of the four-lane highway and sending as many as nine cars and trucks tumbling into the Arkansas River, the authorities said.

-snip-

The barge, one of two being pushed by the same boat, had just dropped off a load of asphalt and was headed north, said officials at the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. It struck the bridge near its western edge, far from the marked channel, which runs through the middle of the bridge's span, officials said last night.

Shane Guthrie, a personnel manager for the Magnolia Marine Transport Company in Vicksburg, Miss., told The Associated Press the company's tugboat was pushing the two barges when the accident took place. None of the seven people who were on the barge were injured, Mr. Guthrie said.

-snip-

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E2D9123BF934A15756C0A9649C8B63&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

The State filed this tort action in the District Court of Muskogee County, Oklahoma, to recover damages it incurred when a tugboat pushing two barges on the Arkansas River collided with the Magnolia Towing - the towing company responsible for the Interstate 40 bridge near Webber Falls, Oklahoma. The collision caused a portion of the bridge to collapse, resulting in death or serious injury to numerous people as well as substantial property damage. The tugboat was owned and operated by defendant Magnolia Marine Transport Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of defendant Ergon, Inc.,...

http://www.altlaw.org/v1/cases/1129560

Minor represented the plaintiffs in Mississippi as Ergon tried to have the matter heard in Mississippi because by MS state law, their damages would be limited to $1 million. Minor was successful in his efforts on behalf of the plaintiffs and the action remained in Oklahoma, where the incident occurred.

In addition to this case against Lampton's family, Minor had successfully sued Ergon in the past. Daniel v. Ergon, Inc., 892 F.2d 403 (5th Cir. 1990)

Diamond Offshore is a subsidary of Loew's corp, the mega corp that owns Lorrillard Tobacco. Minor was one of the Plaintiff's lawyers that sued big tobacco.

The list of conflicts is pretty long, let's just say big corp didn't want the nasty democratic plaintiff's lawyer to be around to support plaintiffs' causes. Whitfield was told by Lampton when he was first interviewed that he wouldn't be involved if he "weren't so liberal".

The Scruggs cases have nothing to do with this case except to prove that once trent was out of the picture, the DOJ could go after scruggs for actual judge buying - scruggs has plead guilty - minor and the others were not guilty, they just were not given a fair trial.

[Kurovski]

60. K&R. (nt)

[bobthedrummer]

62. K&R+ an archived thread that can be used for indictments

"A DU collaborative investigation: Thelma Colbert, Shannon Ross and other deaths at DoJ" (started May 8, 2007)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x847120