WTF!? Mistrial- 40 count indictment against 2 former Westar Energy execs

[kuozzman]

This is frickin absurd! If you live in KS, you've probably heard about this trial throughout the past couple years, or if not, I'm sure you've heard about Tom Delay's interactions with them, which led to one of his slaps on the wrist from the Ethics Committee. The two execs, (one of which has already been sentenced to 4 1/2 years in an "unrelated" money laundering case) David Wittig and Doug Lake were facing 40 counts- one count of conspiracy, one count of forfeiture, 14 counts of circumvention of internal controls, seven counts of wire fraud and 17 counts of money laundering.

Apparently, the jury said it was unable to reach a unanimous decision on the first 22 counts of the 40-count indictment, which itself is amazing, but the jury had reached a unanimous decision on counts 23 through 39. But the judge said that a “partial verdict” was not acceptable and declared a mistrial as to all the counts! What the hell is wrong with a "partial verdict"? They were found GUILTY, why on earth would the judge dismiss the charges?

I've been following this case from the begining, not only because I'm a Westar customer, but because I go to Kansas University where 6 Westar Execs at the time were on the KU Endowment Funds executive committee, which deals with a lot of donations made to KU and the Alumni Association. I tried to get our local and University newspapers to investigate their "investing strategy" for the endowment fund, but most of it is "private".

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/10463657.htm?1c

[salin]

1. on a related note.... item in the news this weekend

about how there has been a quiet rewrite of judges ethics guidelines which has greatly loosened the need for disclosure of conflict of interest (receiving hospitality of those on whose case you sit...)

Wonder what the past history of this judge is with the indictees? Maybe duck hunting trip or other junket within the past 6 months?

[kuozzman]

4. Was that in KS? Got a link?

[salin]

5. think the item was on npr and was about federal judges standards.

was the case in KS in federal district court?

[48pan]

2. Damned Republican Judges - n/t

[Mz Pip]

3. Yeah but

Martha's in jail, so it's a good thing.

Wonder what DeLay had on the judge...

Mz Pip
:dem:

[noamnety]

6. I see they're both generous with campaign donations

http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?NumOfThou=0&txtName=wittig&txtState=KS&txtZip=&txtEmploy=&txtCand=&txt2004=Y&txt2002=Y&txt2000=Y&Order=N

http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?NumOfThou=0&txtName=Lake%2C+doug&txtState=KS&txtZip=&txtEmploy=&txtCand=&txt2004=Y&txt2002=Y&txt2000=Y&Order=N

[Sara Beverley]

7. Red state justice. It's happening all over and the sheeple don't care.

"What's wrong with Kansas?"