In criminal cases it is recognized that using threats to prosecute other family members is unacceptable duress.
It is logical to assume that a person knows the truth of his own actions and can rightly assess the risk/benefit in plea bargaining for himself. This is not true if the object of the beneficiary of the plea is a third party.
This is why the original defense lawyers and prosecutors kept the “side deal” off the books and hid it from the judge. This is a violation of the courts rules and procedures and also goes to incompetence and self dealing of the Covington law firm.
“...This is why the original defense lawyers and prosecutors kept the “side deal” off the books and hid it from the judge. This is a violation of the courts rules and procedures and also goes to incompetence and self dealing of the Covington law firm.”
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It was at best MALPRACTICE and it well could have been even worse... illegal COMPLICITY WITH THE PROSECUTION.