Iowa State Senator (D) Indicted - Political Attack by US Attorney?

[DU9598]

Another example of an up-and-coming young (and openly gay) Democratic Iowa State Senator who has been indicted by the US Attorney in the southern district of Iowa.

<http://www.dmregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070314/NEWS05/703140380/1001&lead=1>

State Sen. Matt McCoy was indicted today on a federal charge that involves the alleged extortion of a former business partner who purportedly balked at paying McCoy for consulting work.

The Democrat, who has represented part of Des Moines' south and west sides since 1996, said he has done nothing illegal.

U.S. Attorney Matthew Whitaker has called a press conference for 2 p.m. at the federal building to discuss the indictment, which alleges that he violated the Hobbs Act, a federal antiracketeering law that frequently is used in cases involving public corruption.

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Paul Krugman's article highlighted how the real scandal is not the firing of the 8 US Attorneys ... rather it was the US Attorneys who keep their job by issuing political indictments and conduct witch hunts against Democratic party members. I sure hope that the media recognized this ongoing federal scandal and that someone does a Freedom of Information Act request for all correspondence between the US Attorney in Iowa and Rove/Gonzalez.

So the state senator did work as a consultant, got stiffed, yelled at the guy who stiffed him and now he is indicted. What a country!

[Joanne98]

1. He sounds like all American Bushco...

Ex-Hawk tabbed for U.S. attorney
William Mikesell - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 2/5/04 Section: Metro

The Bush administration appointed a UI alumnus and former Hawkeye football player to be the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Iowa on Tuesday.

Matt Whitaker, who was nominated by Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, was an academic All-American tight end who played on the 1991 Rose Bowl team and earned his law and business degrees from the UI. The Ames native said he was "excited and humbled by the opportunity" to serve as chief litigator of the region.

If his appointment is approved by the Senate, he will fill the position vacated by Steve Colloton, who became a judge in the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. Whitaker said he will serve the federal government and the people of Iowa by focussing on prosecuting felons possessing handguns and preventing terrorism.

The Des Moines attorney was always known for his tremendous work ethic, overachievement, and leadership skills, said Dave Triplett, the Hawkeyes' former tight end coach.

Whitaker was a "quality guy - a very focused, goal-oriented person" who showed up early to practice and stayed late, Triplett said. "He was one of those guys who was always working ahead."

The highlight of Whitaker's football career was a key touchdown in the 1990 win over Iowa State, Triplett recalled.

Now a UI Foundation fund-raiser, Triplett said Whitaker's on-field determination is reflected in his career achievement. He added that he hopes the U.S. Senate approves the four-year appointment.

"If it's based on his character, hard work, and what other people say about him, he will get appointed," Triplett said. "He's the kind of quality guy we need in government."

Despite his unsuccessful run for state treasurer in 2002 on the Republican ticket, Triplett believes his friend's work ethic was not outdone.

"I don't think anyone outworked him," said Triplett, who helped in Whitaker's 2002 campaign. "It was just an uphill battle."

Whitaker said he will represent the U.S. government in a nonpartisan manner if approved for the position.

A law and business degree coupled with a solid college football career make Whitaker an outstanding UI alum, said Margaret McDonald, the co-chairwoman of the Johnson County Republicans.

"Matt will do a fabulous job; he's a great ambassador to the university," said Kermit Anderson, a fellow lawyer and former U.S. attorney. "We hate to see him go."

Whitaker said he still closely follows Iowa football and is glad to see recruits from his hometown planning to attend the school in the fall.

E-mail DI reporter William Mikesell at:

[e-mail]




:puke:

[Doctor_J]

2. This will start happening at least weekly

Arbitrary prosecutions of Dems will become commonplace. get ready, any of you who are high-profile and an actual threat to the BFEE.

[gratuitous]

3. How does a contract dispute become a federal case?

Unfortunately, the story doesn't say. There are several allusions to McCoy's alleged threat against Vasquez, but the closest anyone comes to saying what McCoy said is McCoy's own characterization to Vasquez that he was going to compete against Vasquez for business, and that he was going to be successful. McCoy admits that he used "more colorful language," but that that was the gist of the "threat" he made.

Hard to see, even if McCoy had said something vulgar or mean to Vasquez, how it becomes a federal case, particularly in a country where the Vice President tells a U.S. Senator to go fuck himself, and the President routinely talks about fucking his enemies in the ass.