US prosecutors drop case against Armstrong/USPS

[Benotti69]

...an unnamed source...shocking

Wow Lance has put on a few pounds.......

 

[LarryBudMelman]

This sounds so much like FOX news, Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, or the Tea Party.
I do not think even the radical right who want to Lop off Barbara Boxers head, would even want to touch a sporting fraud controversy.
I think in the USA sports heroes are saints to the public.

You see how people like Romney have surrounded the issues from all sides? The guy is never wrong. I think I'll call his campaign too. They'll have no problem completely contradicting themselves in order to get at Obama....

 

[Maxiton]

Why not?

From Wonderboy's side, money/power talks. The head of a law enforcement department didn't get there by doing a good job. They got there because they wanted the status/power/influence. So Fabiani whispers in the appropriate people's ear some combination of things that would better their career, or if that doesn't work, things that could end their career. Nothing illegal about it.

From the investigators side, they don't work in a Democratic institution. Just the opposite, it's top-down power and control. Your superior says it ends, well then that's it. And if the investigator doesn't like it, well then they are free to work somewhere else where they will be happier.

Externally, it stinks. Internal to whatever system the investigator works, it just is. I'm not sure what the solution to this problem is.

I see what you're saying, and I'm not implying that corruption isn't a problem in the US. In this case, in fact, we may be seeing some indications of it - but that's exactly the problem. The case is too public, too out there, the indications of corruption too obvious, especially this close to the election. The democrats have too much to lose and too little to gain to allow this appearance of corruption.

On top of which, these federal investigators are for the most part dedicated individuals who will know better than most of us what is going on here, and who won't appreciate it. These people don't like to think that they live in a banana republic. And for the most part they don't.

That's why not.

 

[DirtyWorks]

You'd think this would be catnip for CBS, the WSJ, Daily News, and Sports Illustrated.

I would think the WSJ would have a field day connecting all these Clintonites to Obama and his justice dept. although I think conservatives, with a few exceptions like Scott, have been very critical of the investigation.

If they were politically astute at all they'd do a 180 and start hammering the corruption angle in the Obama Department of Justice. They could nail Boxer, Breuer and Obama on this. I think I may call my parents Rep. Peter King and put some ideas in that idiot's head.

If the current administration gets sensitive about having the how/why the investigation evaporated story, they'd threaten pulling WSJ/CBS/etc media access and so that would kill the story. You have no idea how negotiated most of the news is in order for it to appear in mainstream media.

With Fabiani running around, defending Wonderboy, a story that looks unfavorably at a government institution, regardless of the administration in office would likely never see the light of day.

 

[Race Radio]

The guy you are all missing here is Chris Lehane. Far more important then Fabiani in this mess.

 

[BillytheKid]

Not a sporting fraud controversy....but a rich, famous person getting special treatment because of political connections.

Yeah, nobody cares about that stuff.

It's an election year. The Texas vote alone could easily decide the Presidential race. To dicy?

 

[The Plediadian]

Not a sporting fraud controversy....but a rich, famous person getting special treatment because of political connections.

Yeah, nobody cares about that stuff.

If what you insinuate is true and considering the tefloness of the subject, (Armstrong), and Clinton it would seem every t could be crossed and every i dotted. Deep cover 2.0.
What makes Armstrong invulnerable, besides his connections are his sporting accomplishments against international athletes, which spurns national pride.
This is something even Sara Palin is smart enough to stay away from.

 

[MarkvW]

You guys should have got your shots in when you had a chance. Too late

It will be come increasingly clear that the case was dropped despite overwhelming evidence of guilt. I expect that this story will continue to develop with even more media outlets explore not only why ONE man chose to ignore a mountain of evidence and let a bunch of crooks off the hook but the pressure put on him to do so.

While the rats are scrambling to cover their tracks I expect the full story of how they achieved this to be exposed. Sometimes the cover-up is worse then the crime

Of course there is still the Qui Tam case. The risk for Armstrong, and his friends, is huge. Those type of cases are usually kept secret until trial.....but oh what a trial that will be. I can understand why Wonderboy is selling the jet, settling is the smartest move

Of course the USADA case is going forward, full steam, guns blazing.

Over? nope

Yeah, Yeah. I get it. Somehow Lance's beating the rap is really a step forward in the process that will ultimately have Lance held accountable . . ..

What I am seeing is undisciplined cops who don't like the decision of the United States Attorney General and are willing to violate GJ secrecy rules to further their own agenda. I've reserved judgment on Novitsky, even after he violated the federal judge's order in the BALCO case, but now, if he's talking about a secret investigation--he's just a dirtbag like Armstrong.

A world of pressure is going to come down on the leaky federal ship. People go to jail and careers are destroyed when the GJ secrecy rules are violated. Look at the dirtbag defense lawyer convicted in Balco. If RR wants to cheerlead the violation of GJ secrecy rules, he can also cheerlead the implosion of a federal investigator's career.

There has been a multimillion dollar secret investigation using compelled witnesses, and Armstrong has had NO opportunity to defend himself. Now the feds are selectively leaking information from that investigation to hurt Armstrong. Even you can see how unfair that is! And if you are too blinded by hate to see that, think about it this way: this kind of development is a cataclysmic multiorgasmic wet dream for Armstrong's attorneys.

Do you think the federal judge is going to tolerate a loose cannon federal investigator? Could a federal judge just lock up the GJ information to prevent further harm to GJ witnesses (like USADA)? The bottom line is that the federal government is now treating Lance Armstrong unfairly and federal judges have awesomely broad powers to protect people who have been treated unfairly.

I'm angry because this leaking could jeopardize information sharing with USADA and WADA. It is so insanely stupid, I can't describe it in words.

Cops disagree with prosecutors over charging decisions all the time.

 

[DirtyWorks]

The case is too public, too out there, the indications of corruption too obvious, especially this close to the election. The democrats have too much to lose and too little to gain to allow this appearance of corruption.

Disagree. The information collected by the Grand Jury is locked up tight. I have serious doubts WADA will get access to any of it. I want that to be different like many. Really. But, getting the investigation shut down without an explanation seemingly surprising the people running the investigation was a display of naked power. That same power will keep the information locked up tight.

On top of which, these federal investigators are for the most part dedicated individuals who will know better than most of us what is going on here, and who won't appreciate it. These people don't like to think that they live in a banana republic. And for the most part they don't.

That's why not.

But what's an investigator that's unhappy going to do? Nothing! If an investigator did anything to make his employer unhappy then the career is ended and if the employer is sufficiently offended any retirement benefits are pulled.

 

[BillytheKid]

Note to a moderator: Change the name of these posts: Political conspiracy theories and the ending of the Lance Investigation.

 

[Velodude]

Yeah, Yeah. I get it. Somehow Lance's beating the rap is really a step forward in the process that will ultimately have Lance held accountable . . ..

What I am seeing is undisciplined cops who don't like the decision of the United States Attorney General and are willing to violate GJ secrecy rules to further their own agenda. I've reserved judgment on Novitsky, even after he violated the federal judge's order in the BALCO case, but now, if he's talking about a secret investigation--he's just a dirtbag like Armstrong.

A world of pressure is going to come down on the leaky federal ship. People go to jail and careers are destroyed when the GJ secrecy rules are violated. Look at the dirtbag defense lawyer convicted in Balco. If RR wants to cheerlead the violation of GJ secrecy rules, he can also cheerlead the implosion of a federal investigator's career.

There has been a multimillion dollar secret investigation using compelled witnesses, and Armstrong has had NO opportunity to defend himself. Now the feds are selectively leaking information from that investigation to hurt Armstrong. Even you can see how unfair that is! And if you are too blinded by hate to see that, think about it this way: this kind of development is a cataclysmic multiorgasmic wet dream for Armstrong's attorneys.

Do you think the federal judge is going to tolerate a loose cannon federal investigator? Could a federal judge just lock up the GJ information to prevent further harm to GJ witnesses (like USADA)? The bottom line is that the federal government is now treating Lance Armstrong unfairly and federal judges have awesomely broad powers to protect people who have been treated unfairly.

I'm angry because this leaking could jeopardize information sharing with USADA and WADA. It is so insanely stupid, I can't describe it in words.

Cops disagree with prosecutors over charging decisions all the time.

Look I am on this side of the fence

There has been a multimillion dollar secret investigation using compelled witnesses, and Armstrong has had NO opportunity to defend himself. Now the feds are selectively leaking information from that investigation to hurt Armstrong. Even you can see how unfair that is! And if you are too blinded by hate to see that, think about it this way: this kind of development is a cataclysmic multiorgasmic wet dream for Armstrong's attorneys

Now I am on the other side.

I'm angry because this leaking could jeopardize information sharing with USADA and WADA. It is so insanely stupid, I can't describe it in words.

 

[DirtyWorks]

What I am seeing is undisciplined cops who don't like the decision of the United States Attorney General ... blah blah blah...

For someone that is quick to call the wild claims of others, you have just made more and grander claims than most. The prognostications are amazing.

How about providing some facts to back up some of your claims? Or, are we just supposed to agree with you because you think you are right?

 

[MarkvW]

Look I am on this side of the fence



Now I am on the other side.

Pearls and swine.

 

[BillytheKid]

If anything can someone indict Liggett for crimes against commentary?

You've been named the chief investigator. Prepare your leaks starting now.

 

[MarkvW]

For someone that is quick to call the wild claims of others, you have just made more and grander claims than most. The prognostications are amazing.

How about providing some facts to back up some of your claims? Or, are we just supposed to agree with you because you think you are right?

Read the CN article. The investigators are talking.

 

[DirtyWorks]

I'm calling the Conservatives, Marco Rubio, Allen West, regarding corruption in Obama's Dept of Justice. They're eating it up...

The custom tailored Obama scandal you ordered is finally here:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/t...red-obama-scandal-you-ordered-is-finally-here

 

[DirtyWorks]

Read the CN article. The investigators are talking.

Really? Again, you are very quick to call weak arguments out and now you would have readers believe your wild accusations and fantastic predictions based on the tiniest sliver of fact?

 

[LarryBudMelman]

The custom tailored Obama scandal you ordered is finally here:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/t...red-obama-scandal-you-ordered-is-finally-here

Yeah, solyndra was bs. Full disclosure, I'm a Liberal but not happy with Obama's weakness at all. Not happy with the way Stewart equated the Left with the Right at his rally either.

I've made about 10 calls to Right wing Senators and Congressmen regarding the Boxer/Breuer/Birotte/Armstrong/Fabiani/Clinton/Lewinski Department of Justice Scandal though. Allen West's office was eating that stuff up.

The girl on the phone knew more about the investigation than many of the Amstrong "fans" here. Don't be surprised to hear that maniac Allen West talking this stuff up on O'Reilly...

Anything to get Obama...

 

[BillytheKid]

A vast majority of people just don't care about it. The investigation is closed.
Probably as a result that GJ was not buying the evidence. I would like to know if they closed this thing up as GJ was in the process of voting that no charges be brought. Can a new GJ be called? Maybe it's like rolling dice.

 

[MarkvW]

Really? Again, you are very quick to call weak arguments out and now you would have readers believe your wild accusations and fantastic predictions based on the tiniest sliver of fact?

When investigators say that they had a strong case against a subject of a secret GJ investigation, it's not a tiny sliver--its a baseball bat.

 

[LarryBudMelman]

Prediction alert.

If the current administration gets sensitive about having the how/why the investigation evaporated story, they'd threaten pulling WSJ/CBS/etc media access and so that would kill the story. You have no idea how negotiated most of the news is in order for it to appear in mainstream media.

With Fabiani running around, defending Wonderboy, a story that looks unfavorably at a government institution, regardless of the administration in office would likely never see the light of day.

I'm looking into my crystal ball, not completely clear yet but I see a big story coming out...Big,Big Big story. Stay tuned.

 

[Race Radio]

Yeah, Yeah. I get it. Somehow Lance's beating the rap is really a step forward in the process that will ultimately have Lance held accountable . . ..

What I am seeing is undisciplined cops who don't like the decision of the United States Attorney General and are willing to violate GJ secrecy rules to further their own agenda. I've reserved judgment on Novitsky, even after he violated the federal judge's order in the BALCO case, but now, if he's talking about a secret investigation--he's just a dirtbag like Armstrong.

A world of pressure is going to come down on the leaky federal ship. People go to jail and careers are destroyed when the GJ secrecy rules are violated. Look at the dirtbag defense lawyer convicted in Balco. If RR wants to cheerlead the violation of GJ secrecy rules, he can also cheerlead the implosion of a federal investigator's career.

There has been a multimillion dollar secret investigation using compelled witnesses, and Armstrong has had NO opportunity to defend himself. Now the feds are selectively leaking information from that investigation to hurt Armstrong. Even you can see how unfair that is! And if you are too blinded by hate to see that, think about it this way: this kind of development is a cataclysmic multiorgasmic wet dream for Armstrong's attorneys.

Do you think the federal judge is going to tolerate a loose cannon federal investigator? Could a federal judge just lock up the GJ information to prevent further harm to GJ witnesses (like USADA)? The bottom line is that the federal government is now treating Lance Armstrong unfairly and federal judges have awesomely broad powers to protect people who have been treated unfairly.

I'm angry because this leaking could jeopardize information sharing with USADA and WADA. It is so insanely stupid, I can't describe it in words.

Cops disagree with prosecutors over charging decisions all the time.

Ahhh, your true colors come through when you are angry

No indication that any of this came from the Grand Jury. It seems pretty clear that there were many witnesses that talked outside the Grand Jury. I also see nothing about investigators talking.

As for as information sharing....I suggest you Google Federal Statue 6E

 

[webvan]

Wouldn't like to be in Birotte's shoes right now, what a flawed system where some dude can just pull the plug on two year's worth of work by dozens of people.

 

[Velodude]

Read the CN article. The investigators are talking.

No there are leaks from persons who have knowledge of the investigation. Could be a file clerk.

The Pentagon Papers and Deep Throat's leaks to the Washington Post had huge impacts and forced beneficial changes to government behavior.

Leaks are not all bad and self serving.

 

[Benotti69]

No there are leaks from persons who have knowledge of the investigation. Could be a file clerk.

The Pentagon Papers and Deep Throat's leaks to the Washington Post had huge impacts and forced beneficial changes to government behavior.

Leaks are not all bad and self serving.

"Leaks are not all bad and self serving" and can sometimes produce greater results as Race Radio has broadcast