Posted on 12/01/2008 12:26:33 PM PST by cll
Breaking radio reports. No print or web source yet.
Federal Judge Barbadoro has dismissed 15 of 24 corruption charges that weighed over Puerto Rico Governor (Democrat) Aníbal Acevedo Vilá.
Details are sketchy, but apparently 13 of the charges have been dropped altogether but two can still be filed again.
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The crook is on a flight to Philadelphia to meet with Obama and is not aware of the events.
He still faces nine serious charges of conspiracy and tax evasion.
The charges that were dropped are related to Puerto Rico, not federal, election laws.
The U.S. District Attorney is expected to appeal since there is a federal element to the Puerto Rico elections, i.e., the Vote America Act, and the post of Resident Commissioner.
One news article posted online by EL VOCERO on December 5 states that the local U.S. Attorney’s office has asked Barbadoro to reconsider his dismissal of the charges. What’s the latest on that?
Nothing new on that.
One co-defendant, however, seems almost ready to plead guilty (Jose Gonzalez Freyre). Another won a separation and transfer of his trial to Philadelphia (Candido Negron).
It would surprise me if Acevedo’s supporters did not publicly question the timing of the dismissals, having been announced “only” after his defeat in last month’s elections.
Assuming the dismissals stand, will the Puerto Rico Department of Justice file local charges against Acevedo? I am sure outgoing Attorney General Sánchez will do nothing, much likely under the excuse that it will be up to the new administration which takes over in less than a month.
There’s no statute of limitations for corruption cases in Puerto Rico so we’ll see.
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