I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]
An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.
Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.
Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.
There was something peculiar about Geoffrey Fieger in court Tuesday afternoon: Maybe it was because Fieger, a fiery, high-profile defense attorney who has stacked up an impressive career defending the likes of Jack Kevorkian and grilling countless witnesses, found himself boxed in the witness stand as a defendant.
Fieger, while a bit red in the face, seemed very articulate and confident, though his testimony had a hint of sarcasm here and there. He spoke from the stand like any supporting witness, testifying on his own behalf, making his case clear, but perhaps with a victimized twist. Either way, he was believable. He had his answers lined up and he often turned his head and spoke directly to the jury, making eye contact.
The jurors seemed attentive, but relaxed, and there was no apparent tension in the courtroom.
During the questioning, Fieger was asked if two years of grand jury proceedings have had a negative impact on his practice. His response was immediate, in an attempt to prove that this case was very detrimental to him and has done considerable harm. “It’s like Chinese water torture,” he said. “It makes it impossible to be productive and do my job.”
Continued -The crux of the case is whether Fieger knowingly committed a crime when he asked family, friends and associates to donate a total of $127,000 (over the federal limit for a single campaign donation) to John Edwards’ 2004 presidential campaign. The donors allegedly received secret reimbursements from Fieger and his law partner, Ven Johnson, disguised as bonuses. His argument was that if he thought he was doing anything illegal he wouldn’t have had his finances where auditors could notice.
“Our documents are as open and transparent as any financial document,” Fieger said when asked if he tried to keep any financial documents secret. “If I was trying to hide it, I’d set up a corporation in Hong Kong.”
Fieger, who ran as the Democratic nominee for governor of Michigan in 1998, has claimed that the charges filed against him are a “cruel gimmick” created by his political rivals.
In court Tuesday, he deemed the FBI raids of his office and of the homes of his associates unnecessary. “[The authorities] had everything before the raid[s],” he said.
Fieger and Johnson, are charged with conspiracy, false statements, illegal campaign contributions and obstruction of justice. If convicted of all charges, they could each face a maximum of five years for each charge and a $500,000 fine.
At the end of the hearing the jurors filed out quietly as the court decided when to set juror instructions. The court will reconvene Wednesday at 9 a.m. in Detroit.
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter