Prosecutor In Cheney Trial A No-Show = UPDATE

[DogPoundPup]

Source: UPI

Nov. 20 (UPI) -- A prosecutor in Willacy County, Texas, failed to show up for a hearing regarding the indictments against U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, a judge says.

Judge Manuel Banales said Willacy County prosecutor Juan Angel Guerra failed to show up for a court appearance for his indictments against Cheney and former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, the San Antonio Express-News said Thursday.

"At the very least, I expected the district attorney to be here," Banales said of Guerra's absence Wednesday.

Guerra's office manager, Hilda Ramirez, told Banales she had been unsuccessfully attempting to contact the prosecutor all day.

The prosecutor has been heading up the legal efforts against the vice president and Gonzales, along with state Sen. Eddie Lucio, a prison company and a number of other officials.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/11/20/Prosecutor_in_Cheney_trial_a_no-show/UPI-45901227208880/

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Prosecutor of Cheney vows to fight on

~EXCERPT
"He's not following the norms of how we usually indict people," Guerra said from Houston, where he had flown for a television interview. "Why are these people getting special treatment?"

Banales set a hearing for Friday to allow attorneys for Cheney, Gonzales and state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville and others, to argue against the indictments. Guerra said that should not have been done for weeks.

A Willacy County grand jury indicted Cheney, Gonzales, Lucio and The GEO Corp., a private prison operator, on charges related to alleged abuse in a federal immigrant detention center and in Lucio's case, of illegally profiting from prison consulting fees.

The indictment alleges that Cheney's personal investment in the Vanguard Group, which invests in private prison companies, gives him culpability in alleged prisoner abuse.

Another batch of five indictments charged two district judges, two special prosecutors and the Willacy County district clerk with abusing their powers in investigating Guerra's office.

Banales was obviously dismayed by Guerra's absence Wednesday, and sent Texas Rangers to Guerra's home to look for him.

Guerra said Thursday he was in Mexico before flying to Houston.

"(Banales) can notify me all he wants," Guerra said. "You can't just have a judge say you need to appear." He said he would show up Friday out of respect for the judge.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6123795.html

[hlthe2b]

1. Wasn't he on Ed Schultz yesterday?

Damn... what happened to him?

[tekisui]

2. Maybe he got a call....

:tinfoilhat:

[felinetta]

21. That is exactly what I thought! The fix is in surprise, surpise!

[Cleita]

3. Hmmm.

What if he shows up as a "suicide"? Considering whose being indicted, I think I would get law enforcement on it right away since no one seems to be able to find him.

Edited to add: :tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat:

[Earth_First]

4. He didn't commute by small aircraft did he? n/t

[Greyskye]

5. It's a pretty sad thing when the first thing that comes to my mind...

... :tinfoilhat:

[no_hypocrisy]

6. Which shoes go best with my tinfoil hat?

:tinfoilhat:

[Beam Me Up]

7. Either the glass or the ruby slippers but I wear mine in bare feet. n/t

[diva77]

8. what happens to the case if the prosecutor is a no-show? n/t

[NorCalDem]

10. screw the case...

what happened to the prosecutor?

[diva77]

14. I asked that question because I thought it might give a possible clue as to why the

prosecutor is missing

[NorCalDem]

9. Seriously though!

This is suspicious? :popcorn: :tinfoilhat:

[tekisui]

11. Someone by the same name was arrested in March of 2007:

http://www.valleymorningstar.com/onset?id=1182&template=article.html

[GoddessOfGuinness]

18. Very interesting article...

"Guerra faces felony charges of theft, attempted theft and a separate indictment alleging tampering with governmental records, perjury and abuse of official capacity."

[tekisui]

19. All charges were dropped, and the the judge who ruled against him

is now indicted. It seems they were trying to intimidate him or shut him up.

See this thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4503071&mesg_id=4503071

A lot of info there.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

20. I'm glad the judge has been indicted...

But it's pretty clear that the thugs are out to get Guerra. I hope he's got bodyguards.

[olddad56]

12. that will teach him to mess with organized crime.

[nbcouch]

17. Guerra sleeps with the fishes

[tekisui]

13. For Friday;s arraignment, Guerra says he’ll be there.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/DA_in_Cheney_case_explains_failure_to_appear.html

[tekisui]

15. IT WAS INTENTIONAL!!! See Here, Please:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4503071&mesg_id=4503071

[bluesmail]

16. He was on Democracy Now! this morning.

[OwnedByFerrets]

22. A phone call would do it