Comments to this blog have always been accepted within the parameters of good taste and provable assertions. Many of the comments submitted come from a bitter class of individuals who dislike the facts presented here from one self interest or another. Much of that motivation undoubtedly comes from those wishing to maintain a grip on power and whose only weapon is to distort truth when facts about their conduct place them in an unfavorable light.
This week we received a comment about an earlier blog which reminded folks about the conduct James Germano engaged in with Henry Zwack which resulted in their indictments. That comment was thoughtful and deserving of publication. However it was also self serving, portraying a narrow view of a complex issue built upon a wide foundation of events. What follows is that comment for your review and our response to the premises and conclusions which more clearly portray these events.
The comment:
“It's rather quite sad that those who don't try to do what is needed in America must resort to hurting those who have tried.
This week we received a comment about an earlier blog which reminded folks about the conduct James Germano engaged in with Henry Zwack which resulted in their indictments. That comment was thoughtful and deserving of publication. However it was also self serving, portraying a narrow view of a complex issue built upon a wide foundation of events. What follows is that comment for your review and our response to the premises and conclusions which more clearly portray these events.
The comment:
“It's rather quite sad that those who don't try to do what is needed in America must resort to hurting those who have tried.
It's true that Mr. Zwack and Mr. Germano were indicted on numerous counts, but they were indicted by the zealots who were blinded by their own egos. Could it be that the local DA and the US attorney did not indict Mr. Zwack because they did not find evidence of guilt?! The only reason these cases ever came to court was because of political influence and the incredulous belief that if you throw enough mud on one of the cleanest politicians, something will eventually stick. It really was a sad attempt for political gain by those that should never have power. It cost the county unnecessary tax dollars, and it tried to ruin reputations. For what? In the end, Mr. Zwack and all his co-defendants were found not guilty, and they've all continued their great job of public service. It's a shame that the same cannot be said about you all.So here we are five years later and the whining continues. Move on, everyone else has. There are those trying to pick the pieces up, and here you are kicking the garbage cans over.” Submitted by an Anonymous Reader.
Our View:
Recalling the events surrounding the indictment of James Germano, Henry Zwack and several other county officials has nothing to do with failing to do right by America or trying to hurt the former defendants, whom the writer incredibly concludes, “have tried” to do what is needed in America.
One does not get indicted because you are trying to do what is best for America. Even trying to defend Scooter Libby’s actions in lying to a Federal Grand Jury is at best a distortion of an effort to promote an underlying patriotic act.
These individuals were indicted based upon a set of facts largely accepted and based upon a series of tape recordings which detail the reasons for efforts to pressure the county personnel director to grant a political favor in the form of a retest for the grandson of then North Greenbush Democratic Chairman James Germano. The officials said no to Henry Zwack, his labor council Mr. Goldberg and others pressuring on his behalf.
The tapes explain that the favor is needed to secure political support from Germano’s stable of registered Conservative voters in the town all of whom Zwack wants to secure the Conservative nomination in an upcoming primary. For Germano, the deal was a sellout of his Democratic Party and their nominee for county executive, Marilyn Douglas.
A jury felt that the conduct either did not rise to the level of a crime or that the evidence failed to reach the standards for conviction of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. That in no way diminishes the conduct portrayed on the tapes or the validity of the original indictments and the Grand Jury which heard the evidence, returning a bill of charges against these individuals.
To the assertion that they were indicted by “zealots blinded by their egos” is utterly absurd. They were indicted by a Grand Jury consisting of county residents and a Special Prosecutor not tied to the politics of this county, which protected these folks from indictment for more than a year and in fact, indicted two innocent scapegoats in an effort to absolve the conduct of those above them in authority who orchestrated events and manipulated staff.
The suggestion that the local DA and US Attorney did not indict because they did not find evidence of guilt is to ignore the facts. The US Attorney did not have primary jurisdiction. The local DA did. That DA was Ken Bruno, pictured above, the GOP running mate of Henry Zwack, also pictured above. They campaigned together, raised money together and it appears Bruno acted to protect his running mate from a serious examination of his conduct by refusing repeated demands for a special prosecutor whose decisions would not be cast into doubt by political influences and loyalties, all of which are clearly pictured above. It is noteworthy and unmentioned that the US Attorney forced the hand of Ken Bruno who had been ignoring the evidence of a no show job in the Zwack offices until a letter was written to Bruno suggesting that if he did not act, they would. Bruno acted all right. He kept the investigation in house to insure his running mate would not be damaged in the upcoming election and refused to recuse himself from the investigation.
To suggest that the entire process was “a waste of taxpayer dollars, a sad attempt for political gain, and an effort to ruin reputations” simply ignores the seriousness of the actions of these people. There is no question that a jury found the defendants not guilty of the criminal charges associated with their actions. That fact in no way diminishes the reprehensible conduct they engaged in. One could argue a myriad of reasons the jury failed to convict these defendants just as we ponder the verdict of the OJ Simpson trial. The most commonly repeated reasons revolve around the decisions by the Special Prosecutor to indict all the defendants at one time. As a result, he faced at least 5 defense lawyers with large office staffs and resources compared to his limited resources, himself as the only attorney and an investigator and typist.
Our View:
Recalling the events surrounding the indictment of James Germano, Henry Zwack and several other county officials has nothing to do with failing to do right by America or trying to hurt the former defendants, whom the writer incredibly concludes, “have tried” to do what is needed in America.
One does not get indicted because you are trying to do what is best for America. Even trying to defend Scooter Libby’s actions in lying to a Federal Grand Jury is at best a distortion of an effort to promote an underlying patriotic act.
These individuals were indicted based upon a set of facts largely accepted and based upon a series of tape recordings which detail the reasons for efforts to pressure the county personnel director to grant a political favor in the form of a retest for the grandson of then North Greenbush Democratic Chairman James Germano. The officials said no to Henry Zwack, his labor council Mr. Goldberg and others pressuring on his behalf.
The tapes explain that the favor is needed to secure political support from Germano’s stable of registered Conservative voters in the town all of whom Zwack wants to secure the Conservative nomination in an upcoming primary. For Germano, the deal was a sellout of his Democratic Party and their nominee for county executive, Marilyn Douglas.
A jury felt that the conduct either did not rise to the level of a crime or that the evidence failed to reach the standards for conviction of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. That in no way diminishes the conduct portrayed on the tapes or the validity of the original indictments and the Grand Jury which heard the evidence, returning a bill of charges against these individuals.
To the assertion that they were indicted by “zealots blinded by their egos” is utterly absurd. They were indicted by a Grand Jury consisting of county residents and a Special Prosecutor not tied to the politics of this county, which protected these folks from indictment for more than a year and in fact, indicted two innocent scapegoats in an effort to absolve the conduct of those above them in authority who orchestrated events and manipulated staff.
The suggestion that the local DA and US Attorney did not indict because they did not find evidence of guilt is to ignore the facts. The US Attorney did not have primary jurisdiction. The local DA did. That DA was Ken Bruno, pictured above, the GOP running mate of Henry Zwack, also pictured above. They campaigned together, raised money together and it appears Bruno acted to protect his running mate from a serious examination of his conduct by refusing repeated demands for a special prosecutor whose decisions would not be cast into doubt by political influences and loyalties, all of which are clearly pictured above. It is noteworthy and unmentioned that the US Attorney forced the hand of Ken Bruno who had been ignoring the evidence of a no show job in the Zwack offices until a letter was written to Bruno suggesting that if he did not act, they would. Bruno acted all right. He kept the investigation in house to insure his running mate would not be damaged in the upcoming election and refused to recuse himself from the investigation.
To suggest that the entire process was “a waste of taxpayer dollars, a sad attempt for political gain, and an effort to ruin reputations” simply ignores the seriousness of the actions of these people. There is no question that a jury found the defendants not guilty of the criminal charges associated with their actions. That fact in no way diminishes the reprehensible conduct they engaged in. One could argue a myriad of reasons the jury failed to convict these defendants just as we ponder the verdict of the OJ Simpson trial. The most commonly repeated reasons revolve around the decisions by the Special Prosecutor to indict all the defendants at one time. As a result, he faced at least 5 defense lawyers with large office staffs and resources compared to his limited resources, himself as the only attorney and an investigator and typist.
His management of the case allowed him to be overwhelmed and the defendants, in the view of some at least, to escape accountability. One should remember that one man pled guilty to a crime in the case. The no show employee himself made the plea which demanded charges against those in power who permitted the no show conduct. To this day, no one has been convicted for allowing the no show employee who pled guilty to engage in the conduct. Just as no one has ever been convicted for the murders of the two people Mr. Simpson was accused of killing.
Sometimes justice is elusive and kicking the garbage cans reminds us not only of what's inside, but hopefully deters others from repeating the conduct. It might also serve to keep voters more vigilant by keeping careful watch over those who created the garbage in the first place as they attempt to influence another crop of politicians and pass judgement in newly gained seats of power.
2 comments:
How come when the case was going on did CB Smith defend Jim Germano?
That's simple, he never defended Germano during the trial and was a prosecution witness in the Grand Jury which issued the inditements.
Like so many statments made by folks like you, blind to facts, devoid of truth and unconcerned about deamonizing people you fear.
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