Sunday, November 11, 2007

One Blogger and Selective Prosecution

With millions of blogs out in cyberspace, it's hard to say that any one blog truly is unique. But I've become aware of a new blog that I suspect deserves the title of unique. And it provides a unique glimpse into what it is like to be a victim of the Bush Justice Department and its selective-prosecution campaign.

The blog is called Gulf Coast Realist. And its author is former Mississippi chancery judge Wes Teel, one of three defendants who were convicted on corruption-related charges in the Paul Minor case. Minor, an attorney, already is in federal prison and has been shackled and muzzled and moved around, much like former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman. Teel and John Whitfield, a former Mississippi circuit judge, are due to report to federal prison in late December.

Scott Horton, of Harper's.org, has noted that extraordinary measures have been taken related to Siegelman's imprisonment, apparently to make sure he remains quiet. Similar measures appear to have been taken with Paul Minor.

But Wes Teel is not silent. And he provides an insider's view of what it is like to be on the wrong side of a vindictive and vicious Justice Department.

In the 20-plus segments of our "Mississippi Churning" series here at Legal Schnauzer (quite a few more segments are on the way), we have shown that both Teel and Whitfield made rulings in cases involving Minor that were supported by the law and the facts. Yes, both received loan guarantees from Minor, but such financial arrangements are allowed under Mississippi law (and Alabama law, for that matter). In order for Teel and Whitfield's actions to rise to the level of bribery and honest-services mail fraud, they would had to act "corruptly," making rulings that they knew were "unlawful" and actually depriving Mississippians of "honest services."

That simply did not happen in the two lawsuits--Archie Marks and The Peoples Bank--that were at the heart of the government's case. But Wes Teel and John Whitfield are about to go to federal prison anyway.

In blunt terms, they are about to become political prisoners--a status Don Siegelman and Paul Minor already hold.

"Political prisoner" is a term that Americans associate with Josef Stalin or Saddam Hussein or some tinpot dictator in South America. But it is happening now, in George W. Bush's America, and Democrats in the Deep South seem to be taking the brunt of what amounts to an organized terror campaign.

One such Democrat is Wes Teel. His is a voice worth hearing.

It should be noted that Teel's blog is not all doom and gloom. For someone who is about to go to federal prison for something he did not do, Teel seems to have done a remarkable job of maintaining his humanity--and his sense of humor. In a delightful November 4 post, Teel writes about Simone and Phil Simone, two of his cherished and somewhat loony friends.

Will we be able to hear Teel's voice come late December? I wouldn't count on the Bush federal prison system allowing it.

So I encourage Legal Schnauzer readers to check out Mr. Teel's blog while you can. And I don't mean to be melodramatic, but I have studied the Minor case intensely for more than two years, so trust me when I say that Wes Teel and John Whitfield are about to become political prisoners. They already are victims of an American-sponsored terror campaign.

Gives new meaning to the idea of George W. Bush as the "terrorism president."

15 comments:

Anonymous said...
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Unknown said...

Ignore that idiot that just commented. He obviously knows nothing about the case.

I just wanted to thank you for letting me know about this blog.

Anonymous said...

I've seen this exact same comment, as the anonymous one at the top, pasted into comments on other boards. It is just one more republican copy and pasting more rove talk. People are finally waking up to how sick and dangerous these people are.

Anonymous said...

For the record. I am not a Republican; I am a victim of this crime. Minor was my attorney for fifteen years and I found the evidence that indicted these guys. Minor stole $200,000 of my settlement (not his fee).

This is not about parties. This is about the erosion of our right to a fair trial and the integrity of our judicial system. To even consider sympathy for this guys allows an injustice that will continue and others will get hurt.

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Anonymous said...

I find it amusing that Schnauzer is being called a coward by someone who posts anonymously. Hey "Anonymous," Schnauzer tells you exactly who he is. Why don't you tell us who you are. Let's have your name and place of residence. If you don't provide that, I have to wonder who the real coward is.

Anonymous said...

Roger posts by "Schnauzer" which sounds cowardly. Why do you need to know the names of those who comment? Do you need a drivers licence as well?

Anonymous said...

Wrong Lawson. "Legal Schnauzer" is not a real name.

Anonymous said...

Geez, Louise. Try reading the blog. If you look down the left side a little ways, below the picture of the dog, you will see "About Me." The guy tells you his first and last name, where he lives, where he went to school. Click on the profile, and you know everything but what he eats for breakfast.

The name of the blog is Legal Schnauzer. But his real name has been clear right from the outset. Try getting down off your high horse and paying attention.

No one has to comment by their real names. But if you are going to call other people cowardly, why hide behind "anonymous." Show some guts if you are so sure of yourself. If you don't want to tell me, the author of the blog has his e-mail address right there for all to see on the front page. E-mail him and tell him who you are, rather than calling him a coward as "anonymous."

You're lucky he allows you to make comments at all. If I were him, I would block your comments.

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