US prosecutors drop case against Armstrong/USPS

[MarkvW]

Is it possible (now) that Lance Armstrong testified under a grant of immunity? Would the feds have just let him go without asking him the same questions that they asked Tyler and George? Is it at least POSSIBLE (now)?

Is it at least POSSIBLE (now) that Lance wasn't a target in the investigation?

Anybody wanna argue that the mere existence of an investigation is sufficient proof that there will be criminal charges?

DOWNTOWN, BABY!!! The Clinic's conventional wisdom taken DOWNTOWN and positively SCHOOLED!

At least I have that to console me, now that Armstrong won't be charged. Too bad . . .I was sure hoping for an indictment.

 

[The Gnome]

to be more serious...america is pretty corrupt...some decision was made via the cancer stuff and the fund raising...just too hot to handle...and there is just so much more corruption they are ignoring...like from bankers...like from pols...Lance, in their mind, is doing good, somewhat...the deal here is you can be corrupt, but only up to a point in the public light...and the fact is they don't give a s#it about cycling overall...to those in charge, it is a wash...

 

[mewmewmew13]

throwing up at the thought of the crow some will want to feed him, i imagine. i don't think too many people saw this coming, and rr least of all.

I think you are pretty far off on that comment though.

 

[HL2037]

USA should be ashamed of their legal system.

 

[The Plediadian]

Champagne anyone, Tuesday never came, hurrah!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ChrisE]

Well well. I go outside to drink some beer and mess around in the yard, and this happens.

I'm gonna let some of you come down off of your shock before I start posting too much.

You guys stay away from window ledges tonight.

 

[ChrisE]

USA should be ashamed of their legal system.

Doubtful. As they say, it is not the truth but what can be proven to a jury. Big difference.

 

[MarkvW]

Lots of room for maybes....
Justice is easily bought and sold in the U.S.
Fabiani's work is now legendary.
Maybe the case was weak inside the U.S.?
Maybe the prosecuting attorney passed for political reasons? We know the Attorneys General office is fully politicized.
Maybe the prosecuting attorney passed because of the defendant(s) celebrity status?
Maybe the prosecuting attorney passed because of the defendant(s) ability to afford another Fabiani or three in a trial?

Classic bad news Friday release.

My best bet is the age of the case. The SOL. All the basic crimes were time-barred. All that remained was the hard stuff to prove like RICO and ongoing conspiracies.

 

[luckyboy]

This is pretty funny - http://www.theonion.com/articles/lance-armstrong-wants-to-tell-nation-something-but,17973/

 

[Anonymous]

I think this word echoes nearly all peoples thoughts right now.



****!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

not at all.

based on two articles, a press statement by AP and a statement by usada all we now know is

a) that in the eyes of the law armstrong is not yet a criminal
b) in the view of USADA the case against armstrong doping continues and if anything will move up a level.

And thats me done because i have a feeling there is about to be a fanboy invasion by those who cant see the wood for the trees

cya

 

[ferryman]

Wow just wow. Contador going down now and the roof has collapsed for me. Freakin joke.

 

[Stingray34]

Lots of room for maybes....
Justice is easily bought and sold in the U.S.
Fabiani's work is now legendary.
Maybe the case was weak inside the U.S.?
Maybe the prosecuting attorney passed for political reasons? We know the Attorneys General office is fully politicized.
Maybe the prosecuting attorney passed because of the defendant(s) celebrity status?
Maybe the prosecuting attorney passed because of the defendant(s) ability to afford another Fabiani or three in a trial?

Classic bad news Friday release.

If any one of those premises are true, it's far sadder for democracy than a corrupt cyclist getting away with stuff. I'd much prefer if there's not much evidence or that he's actually innocent of all the alleged charges.

 

[SirLes]

Can the last person out please turn the lights out and shut the door.

I suggest after a brief toilet break everyone reconvenes in the Contador thread

 

[auscyclefan94]

not at all.

based on two articles, a press statement by AP and a statement by usada all we now know is

a) that in the eyes of the law armstrong is not yet a criminal
b) in the view of USADA the case against armstrong doping continues and if anything will move up a level.

And thats me done because i have a feeling there is about to be a fanboy invasion by those who cant see the wood for the trees

cya

Because USADA is going to convict him of anything...

 

[Siriuscat]

Maybe the deal is no prosecution but USADA get him instead......I'm with Dim, the Acolytes at the Church of St Lance may need to keep praying a bit longer.

 

[Race Radio]

Where's RR?

Great work by Fabiani and Lehane. Worth every penny.

Still have the Qui Tam case. Ferrari is still going to prison. USADA is still in play.

Money and power

 

[DirtyWorks]

Wow just wow. Contador going down now and the roof has collapsed for me. Freakin joke.

If CAS was press-savvy, Contador going free would have been released on a Friday. The maybe-Monday thing is still a maybe.

What would USADA get, exactly? A harshly worded letter to Team Wonderboy?

I'm not trying to be obtuse. ASO will ignore any finding from USADA. USAC is owned by Wiesel, so they will make anything up to have it go away. We know the UCI is all-in. USADA is the weird dude talking to himself in the corner.

 

[Cloxxki]

If the GJ testimonies in any way become available to those with possible cases against LA, in stead of one federal case, he could have a dozen or more civil cases on his hands? The only way to deny is to make out a LOT of witnesses for perjurers.
It IS possible that some key figures decided to perjure themselves, or really were that stupid (Levi, George, for instance). That brings a bad balance in testimonies.
Witnesses cannot contradict themselves in future courts or go to jail by definition. Easy picking for LA's opposition. And even when LA calls his lying army, the cross-examination might have better questions to ask than the FEDs had.

 

[jamiephillips]

I Bet Ullrich is glad he didn't confess after all!!

 

[ElChingon]

What!?!?

Need an explanation (not from you guys on the forum) or well conclusion. Just a closed statement is rather weird, its as if they hired the CN Mods to handle it.

How can so much be brought up and stated from other riders to only end it with a shut door?

No retaliation or counter sue? Well we know its coming and if it doesn't well still stinky...

On the plus side, one less sticky.

 

[Velodude]

man...what a day to get back from my thirty day ban...I have never been an Armstrong fan and believe that he did juice...but this is gonna really set some folks b##ls alight...pretty exciting Lance is INNOCENT!

No Lance is neither guilty or not guilty. The only outcomes from a trial in front of his peers.

As this was the decision of the prosecutors and not from a deliberation of the Grand Jury the directive must have come from inside the DoJ.

Interesting to hear their reasoning.

 

[mewmewmew13]

Great work by Fabiani and Lehane. Worth every penny.

Still have the Qui Tam case. Ferrari is still going to prison. USADA is still in play.

Money and power

Hope springs eternal.

I'm there

 

[ChrisE]

Hope springs eternal.

I'm there

You guys just don't get it.

Who is believing in "myth" now? Let go, go get some counselling, have a drink. Sheesh.

 

[mewmewmew13]

You guys just don't get it.

Who is believing in "myth" now? Let go, go get some counselling, have a drink. Sheesh.

Chris for once you just made me laugh out loud!

it's not the end of MY life and I heavily have faith in karma.

 

[mwbyrd]

Hope springs eternal.

I'm there

What I don't get is why USADA cares about what Lance did 5/10years ago. They didn't catch him while he raced in the US so what's their gain in pursuing this? I can see how Fabiani would have a field day with this simple fact in court.

Maybe they should focus on the now and not the past. It just doesn't add up. Is USADA just talking big?