Secret Service Confirms Sen. Orie's Defense Documents Were Forgeries

[JPZenger]

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_745295.html

A few months ago, Sen. Orie's (R-Big Hair) corruption trial ended in a mistrial when it was discovered that the emails she submitted in her defense were forgeries. The U.S. Secret Service just confirmed that fact, officially.

[femmocrat]

1. Why was the Secret Service involved?

:shrug:

[Divernan]

2. Post Gazette Editorial: No Forged Justice - Orie trial must go on

No forged justice: Judge Manning is right: The Orie trial must go on
Friday, July 08, 2011
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


The latest turn does not. Judge Manning had flippantly said "Ray Charles could see that the signature was doctored," but the judge's initial belief now finds vindication from a more serious source: the Secret Service.

While its initial investigation was inconclusive, a supplementary report -- attached by prosecutors to a motion asking Judge Manning for an evidentiary hearing -- finds that three documents bore the marks of forgery. A crucial signature had been cut and pasted.

No determination was made about who was responsible but, as the prosecution points out, these documents were in the exclusive possession of the defense. That mystery aside, the fact that the word "allegedly" has been stripped as a modifier to the word "forged" makes the public interest even more clear: The retrial of the Orie sisters, rescheduled for October, should proceed.

It would be a travesty of justice if it did not. In stopping the first trial for such a serious reason, Judge Manning did nothing but his duty -- and, yes, nobody needs Ray Charles to see that.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11189/1158884-192.stm#ixzz1RVeJmGVn