News round-up, Tuesday 4/22


By albany layman, Section Diaries
Posted on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 07:34:54 AM EST

How about a news round-up, so that we can argue about some new stuff while DIA is gone?

The Albany County Democratic Party candidate screening committee interviewed Soares and Clyne, but made no endorsement.  The TU article does not say who was on the screening committee.  Apparently the process now goes to the county Democratic Executive Committee and a full committee meeting next month.

Confusing legal goings-on in the matter of John Sweeney Jr beating up that kid in 2004.  The victim is suing, and Junior's defense lawyer wants a former State Police official to testify in the case.  E. Stewart wants to establish that the Statie was pushing the case against Junior for political reasons.  That seems unlikely to me, seeing as how that kid did get beat, and Junior was indicted and pleaded guilty.  Apparently, the State Police is becoming a political punching bag.

The Common Council rubber-stamped D'Antonio for the DGS head position, the vote was 13 - 1.  Sounds like Ellis abstained, and Calsolaro voted no.

Aaron Dare pleaded guilty to "filing a fake property deed that concealed his role in [a] $150,000 sale."  But he is still in all kinds of legal trouble, with continuing investigations by the State Police, the DA, and the Feds.

Mittleman is out of the race for the 21st CD.

Have at it.

< Mittleman out: 21st CD | Joshua Szostak the aftermath.... >

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News round-up, Tuesday 4/22 | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)
Sweeney's Kid (none / 0) (#1)
by tmonjeau on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 09:46:26 AM EST
I was surprised to read this article, as ESJ's remarks or letter have nothing to do with the merits of the case.  Since Jr. pled guilty to the assault charge, it is mostly an issue of the amount of damages.  From trying to read between the lines, it looks like the DA wanted to, or felt obligated to meet with the SP prior to charging him.  This would be for one of several possible reasons, such as, should they charge him with a simple assault (i.e. no severe injuries) or 2nd degree assualt (i.e. serious injuries intended and inflicted), or perhaps to bury the case.

  Based on the severity of the injuries and the fact that, per the news reports, Jr. kicked the victim in the head when he was down, the SP rightly felt justified in an Assault 2nd charge, and as in most non political type cases, they just charged him and arrested him.  Whether or not Wiese made any phone calls is irrelevant since Jr. admitted to the crime (and got a pretty sweet deal anyway).

  It seems that unfortunately Jr. made a really bad choice in taking a simple fight to a potentially deadly level and ultimately had to take responsibility for it.  I do not think a kid should have to pay for the sins of the father, so to speak, and despite whatever spin ESJ is trying to put on this it looks like Jr. paid for his own sins, and at a cheaper rate than many others.

sheer speculation (none / 0) (#2)
by albany layman on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 10:14:27 AM EST
My reading between the lines on this is that E. Stewart is exploiting the questions that have been raised about the State Police (Troopergate, the release of Sweeney Senior's domestic incident), either as a way to add to his defense of Junior, or even as an attempt to get something on the record for use in some other case or some other political context.  

But that's just me being suspicious and cynical.

[ Parent ]

Between the Lines (none / 0) (#3)
by tmonjeau on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 02:01:56 PM EST
I am not sure how it might help Jr., but of I course, I am not ESJ.  I think that the second cynical suspicion is quite likely.  But of course, how it will help Sweeney Sr., in light of his taxi-gate and DWI-gate, je ne sais pas...

News round-up, Tuesday 4/22 | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)
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