But was this indictment what caused Gonzales to resign?
It would have been interesting to see what was said on Tuesday. I wonder if it will still be said now, or if this indictment will magically go away….
Something tells me Gonzo messed with the wrong bunch of lawyers here. Or did the Edwards campaign set a nice little trap for him?
Hmmm.
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Attorney Geoffrey Fieger, best known for representing assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian, was indicted on charges of conspiring to make more than $125,000 in illegal contributions to the 2004 presidential campaign of Democrat John Edwards.
The 10-count indictment was returned Tuesday and unsealed Friday. It names both Fieger and Vernon Johnson, a partner in Fieger’s law firm.
Fieger, in a statement issued Friday afternoon, denied the charges, blaming President Bush’s administration, including a Justice Department led by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales that Fieger says is politically motivated.
“The timing of these unprecedented charges, that have no support in fact or law, during the height of the presidential fundraising campaign, is solely intended to intimidate Democratic supporters around the country,” Fieger said.
If convicted, each charge of conspiracy, false statements and illegal campaign contributions carries up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Obstruction of justice is punishable by up to 10 years behind bars and a $250,000 fine.
Steven Fishman, an attorney representing Johnson, said his client hasn’t done anything wrong.
“In America, despite what Alberto Gonzales might think, people have the right to support political candidates who support their views,” Fishman said. “If that is a crime, citizens should be even more afraid of this administration than they already are.”
Gerry Spence, a prominent Wyoming trial attorney representing Fieger, said his client planned to address the charges during a news conference on Tuesday.
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