We pay to defend Cahill ... Coakleys office declines
Massachusetts taxpayers will pay up to $300,000 for outside lawyers to defend a federal civil suit against state Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill because the state attorney general's office declined to handle the case, citing potential conflicts with two state investigations, according to officials involved in the case.
The state Lottery Commission, which is led by Cahill, this month authorized hiring the two law firms, Proskauer Rose LLP and Mintz Levin, to fight a $20 million suit brought by a Rhode Island-based gaming firm, Bingo Innovative Software.
Bingo Innovative Software is alleging that Cahill and Lottery director Mark J. Cavanagh conspired in a "pay-to-play" scheme in which a national competitor, Scientific Games, was awarded lottery contracts as a result of its fund-raising activities for Cahill.
The suit poses potentially serious political problems for Cahill as he begins to lay the groundwork to run for governor next year. His legal team last week filed motions to dismiss the suit. But if it does proceed, the discovery process alone would include witnesses testifying in depositions under oath and the production of internal documents that could prove embarrassing or politically damaging.
Scott Harsebargers law firm is getting 500.00 an hour to defend Cahill. I personally think this story has legs and will eventuality lead to Cahill withdrawing from the Gov/s race in 2010.
posted by Jim Pillsbury @ 10:19 AM
12 Comments
12 Comments:
Hey Jim, didn't you report about some slush fund that Coakley has with an unbeleiveable amount of money in it? Why doesn't she use some of that, which is taxpayer money, to cover the cost of Cahill's defense. It is her job to defend MA state politicians who are charged with something like this, right? How can she just say, sorry, no can do? How about have different ADAs on all of these cases, and keep them separate. Why are we paying all these ADA's if we can not use them? More of the same from the MA state political system if you ask me, more garbage they are throwing at us thinking we are going to buy it. Personally, I don't buy anything that comes out of any MA politicians mouth, and that includes the governor.
FR... good points. I did write about her somewhat secret account a while ago. As you say, none can be trusted at this point.
There may end up being a conflict with Coakley's office defending Cahill... and they may be running for the same office in 2010, especially if Ted lives longer than anyone thinks. Can you imagine what will happen then if she finds some wrong doing before the election... oh man... things will get ugly then.
MA is drowning in debt, the Governor asks all departments to cut their budget, even on the neccessities, but the AG’s office can not do its job because it may create a conflict of interest? Since when has a conflict of interest stopped anyone in MA from doing anything??
I think some day soon Coakly will be giving Honey Fitz a run for his money as the most corrupt politician in MA. Personal experience for me was she left me hanging in a domestic violence case, and MA is suppose to be a model state in that area. She does not give a dam, and that is because she has her eyes on a prize, and she does not want to get messed up in some domestic violence case that may not go exactly the way she wants. So she left me hanging, and the bastard almost killed me. A neighbor heard the commotion, held a gun to him, and told him if he ever came back, he would use the gun. He never came back, but even after that Coakley never pursued my case, said I did not have enough evidence to win. Seems her win ratio is more important than her responsibility to do her job. I will do everything in my power to keep her from ever advancing in her career, but I will do it anonomously because I don’t want to raise a red flag to will make my ex boyfriend come after me again. Welcome to the lovely state of MA, where the rights of woman are at about the same place they were 100 yrs ago.
Guiding Light, the queen of soaps may be going off the air, but Go Fly a Kite, the politicians response to all constituents in MA, is in its 234th year and still going strong. Politics in MA, you gotta love it. If it is illegal, unethical, and outrageous anywhere else in this country, it is SOP here in MA. Even our AG, the keeper of justice and equality, has a staring role in things here. Kennedy may not be around forever, but there is no shortage of idiots vying for his seat at the table. Coakley, in my opinion, is the worst of a terrible lot!!!
Someone is going to have to replace Kennedy, and I bet the powers that be already know who that is going to be, and Coakley is a name I am sure it getting some attention. Why do we have to pay for this guy Cahill’s defense anyway? If he violated the law, why does MA have to pay to defend him? Can’t the AG look at the case, see if it is a case with merit, and if it is, then Cahill did something wrong and should have to pay for his own defense. And if the AG says the case has no merit, then she should represent him because how can it be a conflict of interest if there is no charge there that she thinks is valid? I am no lawyer, so I am sure it is more complicated than I think it is, but how complicated can it be if Cahill is innocent?
The AG is a very very powerful position. That position has the last say in so many areas regarding prosectutions and plea bargins. There is not a politician in MA who has the back bone to stand up to her. Why? Because without exception, they all have skeletons in their closests, and she is in a position to uncover them, and prosecute for them. Would you want to face that? Lets face it, if you are a politician in MA, then you are not the most honest and ethical person on the face of gods green earth, otherwise, why would you be in the state house with the rest of these people, no one seems to be in under the gold dome pointing fingers and calling for reform, so I doubt you could find an honest man or woman in office in this state. Since the AG is the highest law enforcement officer in the state, seems like the AG has not been doing her job of keeping the commonwealth honest and ethical. So, what do you think the chances are our current AG will be aspiring to a higher office, and doing so very soon??? No matter what the odds, I would not bet against her in any race in MA.
And Harshbarger gets the money to defend him. Wasn't he formerly the AG? Seems like there is a little bit of political favoritism going on in this arena, don't you think?
She is a bit of an inigma, don’t you think, the AG I mean. I wonder what game she is playing with this Cahill thing. Not sure about much, but I am sure she is up to something with this refusal to prosecute.
Anon,
I have first hand knowledge of a similar situation and I'll bet, there are many more in the same spot. Coakley will have to answer to this egregious act by not prosecuting those who defy restraining orders.
Lets see how Teds health plays out in the next 12 months. If he were to check out early, the Governor would be replacing Ted and it may not be Coakley. If Ted survives longer and can't run again, there will be a huge sucking sound from his party to place someone on the ticket that could keep his Dem party majority in the Senate. Barney Frank, Markey and a host of party loyalists will jump at the opportunity with little to no competition from the other parties.
Deval will face at least one challenger next year and if Coakley is leading the investigation into Cahill's questionable ethics violation, she would come out looking like she was fixing the race in a Dem primary that she could be in.
All this is so backroom secret politics and hinges on death, money, power and greed. Coakley has a war chest, so does Cahill and Deval will ratchet up his campaign funding with an appearance or two with Obama here in Mass. So then throw in a Republican fat cat who's loaded with extra cash to spend.
You guys may be on target with Coakley not running, but she has all the systems in place to do so in 2010.
$500 an hour? Who the hell do they think they are to charge that kind of money? I bet brain surgeons don't pocket that kind of pay!
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home