Samir Cabrera is now a free man

Mr. Cabrerea and I convinced the jury that they should not convict him of scheme to defraud of money.  The news report from NBC-2 is as follows:

Samir Cabrera free, won't face re-trial

LEE COUNTY, FL -

Former real estate broker Samir Cabrera is a free man. A federal judge ruled federal prosecutors cannot retry Cabrera on fraud and money laundering charges because it would violate his Fifth Amendment rights.

The 20-page ruling says a retrial would constitute double jeopardy because there is insufficient evidence to retry him on the original charges.

Originally, Cabrera was convicted six counts of wire fraud and five charges of money laundering.

The wire fraud had two elements: scheme to defraud investors of money and scheme to defraud investors of the intangible right to honest services.

In the jury verdict form, the jury only convicted Cabrera of scheme to defraud the intangible right to honest services. [View the verdict forms]

In June 2010, the US Supreme Court ruled the intangible right to honest services was only applicable if there was bribery or kickbacks involved.

After the ruling, the prosecution asked for the conviction to be vacated so he could be retried.

Monday's ruling states the prosecution cannot retry Cabrera on the honest services charges because there was insufficient evidence to support a conviction on those charges in light of the Supreme Court decision.

The decision also states the jury acquitted Cabrera on the scheme to defraud investors of money, therefore an attempt at retrying him on any of the wire services fraud charges would be double jeopardy.

Cabrera will no longer be subject to supervised release and will not have to report for random drug testing or any other restrictions set by the court.

Casey Anthony Not Guilty Verdict

I am shocked she was found not guilty.  However, we have to respect the jury's verdict.  They were there for the entire trial and listened to the evidence - not the talking heads opinion of the evidence.  That is the reason we have jury trials in this country.  However, she was convicted of four counts of lying to the police and each count carries a maximum of one year jail.  My guess is that the judge will give her 4 years jail, with credit for the time she has served since her arrest.

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe gives up drinking

Daniel Radcliffe has given an interview that he has given up drinking at 21 because he has been partying too much since he was 18.  My first impression is BULLSHIT!  What 21-year-old gives up drinking unless he/she was in a bad car wreck, got arrested for domestic violence or had a close relative die of an alcohol-related death?  After further reflection maybe I'm just being cynical and he's a perfect adjusted star that can responsibly handle his millions.  We'll see. 

Obama uses autopen to sign legislation into law

While traveling in Europe last month, Obama directed his staff in Washington to use an autopen to sign into law an extension of certain Patriot Act powers to fight terrorism. The legislation had been approved by Congress at the last minute, and there was no time to fly it to France for Obama's signature before the anti-terrorism powers expired.

This clearly is an efficient use of government funds to sign this bill into law.  Some Republicans are complaining about this "high tech" signature.  If it saves us tax dollars, I'm all for the autopen!

Anthony Weiner resignation & probable divorce

I'm so glad the egomaniac finally resigned!  There's too much work to do in Washington and we don't need distractions like this guy.  Now, the question is does his pregnant wife stay married to him?  I put the odds at 100 to 1 that she divorces him.

Anthony Weiner

It was reported that Mr. Weiner is going to take a leave of absense today for rehab.  I'm so sick of celebs going to rehab to try to help themselves in the P.R. department.  If he truly thought he needed rehab, he would've admitted everything in the beginning and said he was getting treatment.  First, he lied and said his account was hacked.  Then said some pictures, but not all, were his.  Then, he admitted to tweeting with underage girls.  And his wife is pregnant!!!

Just admit that the real reason you're going to rehab for sex addicts is that you want to meet girls there!!!

Casey Anthony Trial Defense

I have followed this trial and I'm very disturbed by Casey Anthony's defense.  It shows how warped she has become by blaming her father for this child's death.  It is every parent's heartbreak when their child is accused of a crime, but to have your child make up lies about sexual abuse at your hands to try and avoid conviction is horrible.  However, after she is convicted you can bet her family will not stay in contact with her while she is in prison.