John Edwards...indicted on criminal charges! Politician denies wrongdoing!

Vanity be thy name?





After weeks of speculation, the Government has now moved forward and indicted Presidential Candidate John Edwards on six  counts of violating campaign finance laws, making false statements to Government Officials, and engaging in a conspiracy to protect his candidacy for the White House.

The last charge is the crux of it, really!

Yesterday, Mr. Edwards stood on the Courthouse steps and solemnly admitted to reporters that what he did was "wrong", but vigorously noted for the record that he did not knowingly intend to break the law.

And, that is the bone of contention, in a nutshell.

The Government must prove "intent" on the part of the 57-year-old politician to make their allegations stick.

Because Edwards is known as a competent trial attorney, legal analysts are quick to point out, that Edwards' comments are a sure indication that he is now laying the groundwork for his defense in court(in the event the trial commences on-or-about July 11th as announced at press time).

Edwards intends to vigorously argue in court that he tried to hide an affair (and a love child born out of wedlock) to protect his family.

In sharp contrast, the Government has taken the position that the Edwards defense is merely a smokescreen.

The prosecutors intends to prove that Mr. Edwards knowingly and willfully utilized campaign funds to hide his affair (to avoid a nasty scandal) and to protect his bid for the Presidential ticket.

The funds in question were allegedly gifts from two supporters - and as such - were not used inappropriately, according to a spokesperson for Mr. Edwards.

John Edwards is characterizing the misstep as a unfortunate error in judgment which led him down a slippery slope.

But, ultimately, Edwards does not believe that his actions warrant criminal prosecution.

The response back from the Government was crystal clear.

"As the indictment shows, we will not permit candidates for high office to abuse their special ability to access the coffers of their political supports to circumvent our election laws," Assistant Attorney General Larry Breuer, who is head of the Justice Department's criminal division.

Gregory Craig - a former White House attorney (who handled the Bill Clinton impeachment proceedings!) - lamented that the prosecution against his client was "unprecedented".

"No one has ever been charged, either civilly or criminally, with the claims that have been brought against Sen. Edwards today. No one would have known, or should have known, or could have been expected to know, that these payments would be treated as or should be considered as campaign contributions. And, there was no way Senator Edwards knew that fact either," he asserted to reporters over the past twenty-four hours.

Court papers reflect that the monies in question were solicited and accepted from two individuals - Bunny Mellon (a 100-year-old heiress who contributed $725,000) and Fred Baron (a former National Campaign Finance Manager - now deceased - who coughed up approximately $200,000) - with the help of a trusted aid by the name of Andrew Young.

Mr. Young is expected to be a key witness at the trial.

Young's attorney - David Geneson - told reporters that his client had "no deal" with the Government.  But, Young was apparently promised in writing that if he continued to cooperate with the investigation and subsequent criminal proceedings, that the Government would not prosecute him personally.

Of course, this has caused some experts in the election law arena to cry foul.

Normally such violations are handled with civil penalties and result in fines and requirements that candidates repay the money.

In fact, six weeks ago, a former Chairman for the Federal Election Committee - Scott E. Thomas - met in private with prosecutors to try to convince them not to go forward with the pending criminal proceedings.

"I do not believe that there is any prior case that states that the conduct at issue in the Edwards matter or even conduct substantially similar to it , constitutes a violation of the statute," Thomas argued vigorously (but to no avail).

Which begs the question.

Is there a witch hunt underfoot?

If so, who is behind it?

News at 11!

http://www.thetattler.biz





Bunny Mellon & John Edwards

Criminal Records..."Secure Communities" illegals database launch slips under Nevada radar!

In spite of all the brouhaha over the Arizona Immigration Reform Bill targeting illegals - and the flood of ugly protests in its wake - a Federal database that uses fingerprints to feret out legal status and criminal history was given the green light.

The U.S. Department of Immigration "tool" sifts through data to identify high-risk illegal immigrants who may have been convicted of serious crimes such as rape, kidnapping, and drug trafficking (for starters).

The high-tech program - aptly titled "Secure Communities" (sounds like a sequel to the TV MOW "Stepford Wives" doesn't it?) was pressed into service in Washoe County with little fanfare this past week.

How did the Latino Eagle-eye miss that one?

For now, the Nevada community is the first to facilitate the resource, with Clark County stepping up-to-the-bat by 2013.

Normally, in the past - when a suspect was apprehended and charged - their fingerprints would automatically be sent to the FBI  where sophisticated network computers would match their  criminal records and those held at the Department of Homeland Security.

The program differs from Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act - in that - fingerprints of every suspect will be checked and not just those that were manually inputted based on red flags generated subjectively by law enforcement officers (such as potentially damaging comments made by a suspect in the throes of arrest) according to an ICE spokesperson.

Essentially, the intelligent Secure Communities software will work in tandem with - and bolster - Section 287(g).

Some critics have been quite vocal about the potential dangers.

According to legal scholars, fingerprint databases that probe too far, have the ability to run afoul of an individual's Fourth Amendment Rights - and subsequently - equal protection under the law.

If it is any consolation, supporters of the spanking-new information gatherer, argue strenuously that the ambitious program isn't subject to racial profiling or immigration status.

Why mention it, then?

http://www.julianayrs.com/

Al Gore...Police report reads like Porn novel. An Inconvenient truth...

Well, allegation of tongue-kiss, may not be far off!

When I speculated a couple of weeks ago that the break-up between Al Gore and his long-time childhood sweetheart may have been triggered by events which thus far escaped the glare of the public spotlight - I hit the jackpot -  alright! 

Background:

Post:  07/05/10

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2010/07/al-goregroping-investigation-where.html

Post: 06/01/10

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2010/06/al-goreand-wife-tipper-to-separate.html

Post: 06/02/10

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2010/06/al-goredated-without-tippers-knowledge.html

In the past few days, sordid details of the alleged groping incident have been released to the press, and the tawdry tale reads like a cheap dime-store novel!

The 73-page tome details with no-holds barred the brief encounter between a hire-by-the-hour massage therapist (I use the term loosely) and the former Vice President who was referred to Hotel Staff as a "special guest".

If the enterprising babe was intrigued at idea of gleaning the identity of the mysterious traveller from the front-desk register, she was SOL!

Al Gore booked into his suite under an assumed name.

Mr. Stone!

A pebble for your thoughts, folks.

According to the police report, Mr. Gore greeted the stranger at the entrance of the suite, with a long lingering embrace.

"I was a bit taken aback by it," the masseuse blurted to the police in charge of the investigation.

Why did she not recoil in disgust?

Allegedly, the Hotel informed her prior to the session, that the individual scheduled for the massage was a VIP.

"A powerful man," they stressed.

So, the Hotel Lucia was giving him the Royal Treatment, according to sources.

Dollar signs must have been floating inside that conniving head of hers, because she proceeded to not only "service" Al Gore, but take note of all the salacious details for future posterity.

For example, the muscle-soother noted to investigators right off-the-bat that Gore instructed her to massage the inside of the thighs.

"I mentally noted that a request for adductor work is a bit unusual because it can be a percursor to inappropriate behaviour by a male client."

At his insistence, her hands fluttered up to his stomach to work the muscles in that region - at which point - Bill Clinton's former second-hand man  began to moan!

At this juncture, the masseuse sauntered into more turbulent waters.

Gore instructed her to massage farther down.

 "Go lower," he demanded.

When the clever gal chose a "safe non-sexual" area of muscle, Gore not only reacted angrily - but - uttered up sharp loud verbal grunts.

She recalled that he grabbed her right hand, shoved it down under the sheet, and shouted:

 "There!"

At this point in the titillating tale, Police officers were no doubt all ears with a slight rise in their levi's.

The masseuse, as it turns out, had quite a flair for the dramatic too.

She alleged that Gore abruptly changed his tone all-of-a-sudden "as though he had switched personalities."

Then, he pleaded for release of his second chakra, according to the slightly-off miracle-worker.

"This was yet another euphenism for sexual activity," she insisted to Law Enforcement officials.

If you ask me, this woman is looney-tunes!

Also, it appears from the other allegations, that she is prone to read too much purple prose.

For example, at the tail-end of the session, she charged:

"(He) wrapped me in an inescapable embrace and caressed my back and buttocks (!) and breasts."

The long and short of it?

She alleges that she "tried to get away" but Gore was too strong for her.

So, she succumbed just like that?

Uh-huh.

Gore allegedly maneuvered her into the bedroom after that (with military-style precision?).

Then, he flipped her flat on her back and threw his whole body face down atop (!) of her.

Her choice of words is amazing, isn't it?

But the ordeal was not over.

"He pleaded, grabbed me, engulfed (!) me in embrace, tongue-kissed me, massage me, groped my breasts and rubbed himself against my crotch saying: "You know you want to do it".

And, not once, did she cry out for help!

Golly, Al Gore must be alot more mesmerizing that we all thought, eh?

As Columbo would say, just one more thing.

"Did he have a big dick?"

Inquiring minds want to know.

Hotel Lucia

(Portland, Oregon)

http://www.julianayrs.com/

Charlie Sheen...expected to plea bargain! Jail time on horizon...

Justin Bieber warns not to bend over for the soap in pokey!

According to inside sources, Charlie Sheen has reached an "acceptable" plea bargain agreement in respect to domestic violence charges brought against the "Two and a Half Man" comedy star last Christmas in an upscale neighborhood in Aspen, Colorado.

Arnold Mordkin - the Chief Deputy District Attorney - acknowledged the accord, but declined to disclose the specific details.

Some speculate that Mr. Sheen will plead guilty to one charge of felony menacing and agree to a thirty-day stint in the local jailhouse.

Yale Galanter, legal counsel for Sheen's wife Brooke, also confirmed a plea agreement had been reached, but stopped short of elaborating on the specifics for good reason.

"A deal is not a deal until the judge approves it," she astutely noted to media hounds hanging on every word.

"Brooke is totally satisfied with the deal," the attorney piped up later, "but, if she had her  druthers, the case would have been dismissed."

Once criminal charges of this nature are filed, prosecutors often perceive the accused as a threat to society in general - and for good reason - are inclined to pursue the matter to the full extent of the law in spite of protests later by the initial victim.

That's Polanski's dilemma, too!

Sheen initially pleaded not guilty to - felony menacing, criminal mischief and assault charges - which arose from an alleged violent encounter with his wife Brooke last holiday season in December (2009).

The most serious felony charge is menacing which normally carries a maximum three-year prison sentence.

Sheen is scheduled to be in court Monday for a disposition hearing.

July 21st  was set for the commencement of the trial, although that issue may be moot now, if insiders are correct about what is expected to "go down" in Court in the next few days.

Sheen's attorney bitterly sought to throw out statements that the "Two and a Half Men" actor made to police investigating the case just prior to his physical arrest in Aspen.

An officer questioned Sheen in the basement of a house without advising him of his right to remain silent, which turned out to be a legal bone of contention.

When that wrangling failed for the defendant, I surmise that Sheen was advised to plea bargain, for obvious reasons.

The actor insisted that he did not threaten or hit his wife.

In spite of those highly vocal denials, a police officer's arrest affidavit quoted Brooke Sheen as saying the actor - not only pinned her on a bed while holding a knife to her throat - but issued a threat as well.

More incriminating for the popular actor, perhaps, was an audio recording of a 911 call in which a woman who identified herself as Brooke confided in a dispatcher:

"I thought I was gonna die for one hour."

News at 11!

Winsome twosome in happier days!

http://www.thetattler.biz

Joe Sestak...quote of day!

If you twist it this way...

In a bull sesssion this afternoon on a Network tabloid-style news show - pundits were tossing around their thoughts in respect to the Sestak dilemma and the issue of quid pro quo - when one correspondent had a sort-of Eureka! moment.

On the heels of a remark or two about Bill Clinton's alleged "overture" to Joe Sestak - the clever reporter offered up - what was undoubtedly the quote of the day.

"I guess the offer wasn't inhaled."

I did not offer that man a favor!

http://www.thetattler.biz/

Justin Bieber...quote of the day! Life in the slammer...

Today, Justin Bieber - in the wake of the controversial arrest of his manager (Scott Scooter Braun) for NOT tweeting to local law enforcement in a timely manner - was asked by one reporter if he had any advice for his handler as he stews in the slammer.

The Pop sensation's bang on quip was undoubtedly the upbeat humorous quote of the day.

"Don't bend over for the soap," Justin chuckled to a posse of frenzied paparazzi hot in pursuit.

Well, if the music gig doesn't work out, there's always stand up comedy, kid!

http://www.thetattler.biz

Charlie Sheen...stolen Mercedes & crash fishy Tiger Woods tale?

 

Well, he's got the acting chops to pull it off!

But, the bizarre tale that went out over the newswire earlier today sounded a lot like a Tiger Woods misadventure, to moi.

Allegedly, a Mercedes owned by actor Charlie Sheen, was stolen and later ended down a ravine totalled.

Curiously, search teams who arrived at the crash site - on the heels of a 911 call - combed the area and were unable to locate the driver.

The incident occurred at approximately 4 a.m. on Mulholland Drive in the tony climbs of Beverly Hills.

Sheen called police to report the car stolen, according to a police spokesman, involved with the case.
Coincidentally, another luxury car stolen from a nearby neighborhood was discovered 200 yards from where Sheen's car was located.

The discovery of the 2009 silver Bentley coupe was reported to police about 1:45 p.m. by a press photographer.

Is it possible the two incidents are related - or has Mr. Sheen seized on the fact there were robberies and car thefts in the neighborhood of late - to explain away a smash-up he was involved in?

The incident comes as Sheen faces a court hearing in Aspen on Monday in connection with a domestic violence incident.

Sheen, is alleged to have attacked his wife of 19 months, Brooke Mueller, at a vacation home in Aspen on Christmas Day.

I reported on the incident in December.

Post:  12/26/09

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2009/12/charlie-sheenhollywood-bad-boy-charged.html

I could put two and two together and come up with a dynamite scenario.

Worried about the hearing on Monday, Sheen downs one too many ales when out with pals, ends up miscalculating a turn under a dark cloudy sky on the way home, and suddenly finds himself roaring off Mulholland Drive.

Unhurt, but panicking, Sheen dashes from the scene of the accident to avoid an additional complication in his life.

Later, when his wits are about him ( and he has had the opportunity to chat up good old dad for some advice)  - he calls the police to report the vehicle stolen as quickly as possible to ultimately erase all potential doubt about any personal involvement in the accident.

What say you?

The 44-year-old action/comedy star currently appeared in the primetime television comedy series "Two And A Half Men".

If you ask me, his personal life is stranger than fiction, and more fascinating to stand on the sidelines and watch.

News at 11!

http://www.julianayrs.com

Lindsay Lohan...arrest warrant issued! Heh, turn yourself in, baby...

Crime of lewd bod in a public place, perchance?

Ooops!

Looks like sexy siren Lindsay Lohan is not out of the woods yet (or at least the Beverly Hills) in respect to past D.U.I. woes and subsequent wranglings with the tony enclave's finest!

In fact, Beverly Hills Police issued an arrest warrant Friday, arising from her 2007 conviction for driving while under the influence.

Although a spokesperson for the Department declined to state the reason for the issuance of the warrant, I expect Lindsay failed to follow through on a pesky legal obligation to the court.

Who knows at this juncture!

Lindsay, you'd better get your butt down to the local pokie.

It's no walk-in-the-park to be dragged out of your high-end auto, and gruffly man-handled by some butch dyke as you're hand-cuffed in public (come to think of it, Lindsay, 'ya might like it, eh?), and subjected to extreme humiliation before gawking lookie-loo's in the mean streets of Los Angeles.

"It is our hope that Ms. Lohan will surrender herself so that this matter can be resolved in a timely manner," Lieutenant Mark Rosen said in a prepared statement.

In 2007, Lohan wiled away about an hour-and-fourteen minutes behind bars on a drunk-driving and cocaine-possession conviction, before she was sprung free on bail to face the charges.

Poor Lindsay, she's no stranger to drama!

During a dizzying car chase in the seaside town of Santa Monica, the popular actress lost control of her vehicle, then wrecked the high-end auto in ritzy Beverly Hills amid a glare of publicity.

Right about now, Lindsay's gal pal must be belting out a gusty tune.

"My baby does the hanky-panky!"

Oh, yeah!

http://www.julianayrs.com