Government to appeal acquittal of former San Diego councilman

AP ^ | 11/27/6

[SmithL]

SAN DIEGO - The Justice Department said Monday that it will appeal a federal judge's ruling that overturned a jury conviction of a former City Council member accused of taking money from a strip club owner in exchange for political favors.

U.S. Attorney Carol Lam poured significant resources into winning a conviction against Michael Zucchet in July 2005, forcing the councilman to resign and relinquish his position as interim mayor. Four months later, U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey Miller acquitted Zucchet, saying the evidence against him on charges of fraud and extortion was insufficient.

"Because it is rare for a trial judge to overturn a jury's unanimous finding of guilt, it should not surprise anyone that the government would seek to defend the jury's verdicts on appeal,"

[SmithL]

Miller, Jeffrey T.

Born 1943 in New York, NY

Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U. S. District Court, Southern District of California
Nominated by William J. Clinton on January 7, 1997, to a seat vacated by Gordon Thompson, Jr.; Confirmed by the Senate on May 23, 1997, and received commission on May 27, 1997.

Education:
University of California, Los Angeles, B.A., 1964

University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law, J.D., 1967

Professional Career:
Deputy state attorney general, California, 1968-1987
Judge, California Superior Court, San Diego County, 1987-1997

Race or Ethnicity: White

Gender: Male

[CyberAnt]

And .. since Zucchet is a dem - of course he gets a pass.

I'm happy to hear the DOJ is going to go after him - he is scum.

[sig226]

I should have a few more names for the list.

[Hoodat]

Reason #573 why it is imperative to appoint conservatives to the bench.

[sig226]

The g string trial: Micheal Galardi handed out "$100,000's" of bribes, as well as wire fraud and oral sex, in order to get San Diego and las Vegas strip club laws changed. Harry Reid 'rebuked' John Ashcroft for using the Patriot Act to catch these people.

Ralph Inzunza, San Diego Council: bribes for changing the city strip club laws.

*Michael Galardi: "fund raiser"

*Dario Herrera, Clark County NV Commisioner, congressional candidate: bribes, lap dances, oral sex for votes

*Erin Kenny, Clark County NV Commisioner, candidate for lt gov: cash bribes

*Mary Kincaid-Chauncey Clark County NV Commisioner campaign $$$

*Lance Malone, Clark County NV Commisioner: cash bribes, wire fraud, extortion

*Michael Zucchet, San Diego Council, interim mayor: bribes for changing the strip club laws.