« But... | Main | Today's Obama Supporter(s) »
October 30, 2008
Above the Law
and below contempt:
An embattled Massachusetts state senator appeared in a federal courtroom today charged with taking $23,500 in bribes, including cash that she stuffed into her bra during a meeting at a tony Boston restaurant that was secretly videotaped by an undercover FBI agent, federal prosecutors said.
Democratic state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson faces 40 years in prison after federal prosecutors outlined accusations that she accepted the bribes over an 18-month period in a money-for-legislative influence sting operation, prosecutors said. She had $6,000 in cash in her purse when she was arrested at her Roxbury home by nearly two dozen law enforcement officials, prosecutors said.
A federal complaint charges that Wilkerson accepted eight bribes totaling $23,500 over an 18-month period in exchange for her influence on Beacon Hill. Undercover agents posed as a property developer who wanted to build on state land, and another worked Wilkerson as a potential barroom owner willing to pay for a liquor license.
But wait! There's more!
Wilkerson's attorney Max Stern insisted that his client was innocent. He also accused McNeil of trying to "character assassinate" Wilkerson by bringing up her past problems with the Massachusetts attorney general and campaign finance officials.
Wilkerson -– the state's only black state senator –- is a convicted tax cheat and a campaign finance scofflaw who has a long litany of legal problems that has marred her 15-year record as a lawmaker.
There's always more:
Earlier this month, the Massachusetts Bar began proceedings to disbar Wilkerson, an attorney, after an investigation determined that she lied and perjured herself while testifying in a Superior Courtroom on behalf of her nephew, a convicted murderer who was seeking a new trial.
Cheer up democrats. You can still vote for her on November 4:
Wilkerson remained out of public view yesterday, but in a brief statement handed out by campaign volunteers at her headquarters in Roxbury, the Democrat urged voters to stick with her in Tuesday's election after 15 years in office.
"Not only does this represent the biggest challenge in my personal and political life, but it will test to the limit the notion of innocent until proven guilty," Wilkerson said in the statement.
Innocent! Caught on camera, but she's innocent!! I thought she'd pull out the race card, and she likely will later, but for now, well, it looks like she's sticking with the Shaggy Defense:
Honey came in and she caught me red-handed
Creeping with the girl next door
Picture this, we were both butt naked,
banging on the bathroom floor
How could I forget that I had
Given her an extra key
All this time she was standing there
She never took her eyes off me
~ ~ ~
To be a true player you have to know how to play
If she say a night, convince her say a day
Never admit to a word when she say makes a claim
And you tell her baby no way
But she caught me on the counter
(It wasn't me)
Saw me bangin' on the sofa
(It wasn't me)
I even had her in the shower
(It wasn't me)
She even caught me on camera
(It wasn't me)
She saw the marks on my shoulder
(It wasn't me)
Heard the words that I told her
(It wasn't me)
Heard the scream get louder
(It wasn't me)
She stayed until it was over
Honey came in and she caught me red-handed
Creeping with the girl next door
Picture this, we were both butt naked,
banging on the bathroom floor
I had tried to keep her
From what she was about to see
Why should she believe me
When I told her it wasn't me
And it looks like it's working, at least one idiot believes her:
"I've given her staunch support and I'm going to stay loyal," said Dave Goodman, a 43-year-old Roxbury resident who said even photos and audio can be doctored.
And so, yet another "champion for the poor and downtrodden" joins the ranks of Marion Barry, Kwame Kilpatrick, Alcee Hastings and of course, William Jefferson, who I hear is ahead in his race to keep his seat despite his freezer full of cash bribes.
Posted by LindaSoG at October 30, 2008 06:45 AM
Comments
My fear, Linda, is that many Americans want a free lunch -- be it a government subsidy for sitting on their sofa, or a bribe from a businessman. I think there is a significant portion of the country who would like to be in her shoes, so they won't find fault with her actions... the same with Clinton and the whole Monica affair.
Posted by: ProphetJoe at October 30, 2008 04:53 PM
Hey Dave...get a clue, you idiot.
It is amazing that the dumocrats always maintain 'innocent until proven guilty' when it comes to them being caught red handed.
Committing perjury...no problem...taking bribes...no problem...stretching to the limit the definition of the word 'is' is...no problem...running a campaign on the mantra of family values while being married and having an affair...no problem.
Posted by: Gothguy at November 2, 2008 09:42 AM