SF Indymedia: Green Party Leader Convicted Of Taking Bribes

[Mark E. Smith]

In the wake of viewing hours of highly-incriminating videotape surveillance from federal prosecutors,
a jury today convicted Dean Zimmerman of accepting bribes. The former Green Councilman was indicted
last January in the wake of an FBI corruption probe.

Dean Zimmerman - a recent member of the Minneapolis City Council - was convicted this afternoon in
federal court of accepting $7,200 in bribes from a Minneapolis developer.

The jury took less than a day to find Zimmerman guilty of 3 out of 4 counts in the indictment.

The trial lasted a week and a half and featured extensive undercover FBI audio and videotape of
Zimmerman meeting with Gary Carlson, a local real estate developer - who sought Zimmerman's help in
changing the zoning of his commercial property.

Of particular note was a meeting between the two for a lunch of chicken wings and Barcardi cokes.
Shortly after ordering food, Carlson slid an envelope across the table to Zimmerman - an envelope
containing $5,000 in cash.

That exchange took place in the wake of a birthday party for Zimmerman, during which Carlson asked him
how he could help. Zimmerman simply replied, "Money, money, money."

Other highlights of the evidence against the Green Councilman included Carlson's surprise that
Zimmerman would want to attend a Republican fundraiser. Zimmerman replied, "Republicans, Democrats,
Greens ... What's the difference? It's all money."

http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2006/08/1732035.php

An angel has fallen from heaven...

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Now you know why they call themselves "green."

As in "Show me the Green."

[blondeatlast]

2. A Green took money from a DEVELOPER?

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

:rofl:

Oh, the irony!

Edit: spelling.

[AtomicKitten]

3. that is freakin' funny!

:)

[joefree1]

10. Guess they got used to it

They don't have any problems taking repuke money for their campaigns.

[MADem]

4. Well, the BRIBER is solid GOP....

CARLSON, GARY A
MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55439
DANNA INC./EXEC.

DEWINE, RICHARD MICHAEL (R) Senate - OH
MIKE DEWINE FOR US SENATE


1,000
primary


And the bribEE was NEVER an angel.

Some people are just bastards in it for themselves *cough* (Nader) ....

[LoZoccolo]

5. Good find! Recommended. n/t

[Mark E. Smith]

6. Another article ...

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/08/10/deanzconvicted/

[Bjorn Against]

7. This actually happened a few weeks back...

I am still pissed at Zimmerman over it.

I personally know Zimmerman, and he is an incredibly likable guy but there is just no excuse for what he did.

While I do believe the FBI did target it him for his political views, and probably commited entrapment that does not excuse Zimmerman.

He was wrong, dead wrong and now he is paying the price.

It is sad however because he was at one time a great person, once he served a few years in the city council however he got corrupt.

[gully]

8. You mean there is no perfect political party?

HUH?

[sandnsea]

9. $7,000

I don't get it. I always figure these stories are false because no way could somebody bribe me for $7,000. And I'm broke. And if you're taking $5,000 from LOTS of people, well that's just stupid, you're obviously going to get caught. I don't understand it at all.

[geek tragedy]

11. He should head up the Pennsylvania Green Party, who

are paid employees of Karl Rove!

[The Magistrate]

12. It Is The First Sign Yet, Mr. Smith, They Are A Real Political Party....

[1932]

13. I wonder if he's related to Bob Dylan?