Some personal insight/information on the federal prosecution mess

In light of the Siegelman situation, I thought I would post my encounter and shed some light on dubya's "Just Us" Department of Justice fiasco (not that this would be a surprise to anyone).

I had an occasion to talk with the jury forewoman on the federal prosecution of extortion charges of Iowa State Senator Matt McCoy (Iowa residents will probably be familiar withe this case). She told me that within a half hour of the prosecution's presentation, she wrote "political prosecution" on her handwritten notes. She told me that 11 out of 12 jurors agreed from the start of deliberations that the case presented came nowhere near proving, or really even suggesting, extortion, and all 11 agreed the case was brought for political reasons. The remaining juror, who was described by her as "rather young and naive" quickly came around and saw the case for what it was worth. It was a slam dunk acquittal.

Fortunately, unlike the Siegalman case, justice was done here. The only injustice was that the case was brought in the first place.

Anyway, thought I would share this charming little tidbit on a Monday morning...


on edit: I should add that McCoy is a democrat, obviously, but is also openly gay. Go figure that he was prosecuted, huh?