Posted on 11/16/2005 6:31:30 AM PST by Yo-Yo
Prosecutor: No Charges In Alleged Fieger-Cox Blackmail Case
Oakland Prosecutor Says Feiger, O'Brien 'Shouldn't Gloat'
POSTED: 2:07 pm EST November 15, 2005
UPDATED: 6:05 pm EST November 15, 2005
PONTIAC, Mich. -- The Oakland County prosecutor said no charges will be brought in an alleged plot to blackmail Michigan's attorney general by threatening to expose an extramarital affair.
At issue were charges of extortion or obstruction of justice in a case involving Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox and trial attorney Geoffrey Fieger.
"I believe there was a conspiracy involved somehow, but I cannot meet my burden of proof," said David Gorcyca, the Oakland County Prosecutor.
Gorcyca said although a conspiracy probably did take place, he does not have sufficient evidence to prove it beyond a reasonable doubt.
"Neither Mr. Fieger or Mr. (Lee) O'Brien should claim victory, act virtuous or gloat," Gorcyca said. "Far from it. In my opinion -- and based upon my review of the fact -- the evidence soundly convinces me that a severe and reprehensible ethical violation or violations were committed by both Mr. Fieger and Mr. O'Brien."
Cox said he respected Gorcyca's decision.
"It was his call to make," Cox told The Associated Press. "He's 100 percent confident these guys worked together to stop an ongoing investigation using threats. ... Regular folks understand that proof beyond a reasonable doubt is not always reachable. That doesn't mean something never happened."
Fieger called for Cox's resignation in a news conference Tuesday afternoon for the attorney general's "unethical and felonious acts."
"You have brought scorn and disrespect upon your office," Fieger said. "For the welfare of the state of Michigan you must resign."
Since March, Cox's office has been investigating Fieger in connection with an anonymous donation of more than $450,000 to a political action committee, Local 4 reported. Cox said O'Brien threatened him with exposure about an extramarital affair if he did not stop the Fieger investigation.
Cox contacted the Oakland County Sheriff's Department, Local 4 reported.
Investigators reviewed audio tapes of discussions between Fieger, O'Brien and Cox.
Nor, least of all, should Attorney-General Cox.
I despise Fieger. That said, this case seems to me to be nothing more than an abuse of office by Cox. How can he claim to have credibility in a "he said, he said" case when he openly admits to deceiving his wife. If he can't be honest with his wife, what is supposed to make us think he would be honest with us?
"I despise Fieger. That said, this case seems to me to be nothing more than an abuse of office by Cox. How can he claim to have credibility in a "he said, he said" case when he openly admits to deceiving his wife. If he can't be honest with his wife, what is supposed to make us think he would be honest with us?"
Let's pull this one apart and look at it....
1. Fieger is an ass... but if I'm in a liability suit I want him to by MY ass. He's one of the top 10 liability attys in the country.
2. How do you leap from a man cheating on his wife to an abuse of office in one sentence? It is possible for a person to honor the integrity of the office even tho he had an affair (one does not prove the other).
3. You do know that Fieger is going after Cox's job, right? That Fieger is running for Atty General?
This makes you wonder, what recourse would Fieger and O'Brien have to clear their names, with Gorcya admitting he can't prosecute, yet making all sorts of seemingly slanderous statements about them?
I'd be inclined to say to Gorcya, "Put up or shut up; either give me a trial, or give me an apology."
I saw Feiger on TV last week, complaining that this idea of breaking up the Ninth Circuit is "political" and that politics has no place in the court system.
In that case, we should ABOLISH the Ninth Circuit, because judicial activism is inherently political, and the Ninth Circuit is hopelessly political.
"3. You do know that Fieger is going after Cox's job, right? That Fieger is running for Atty General?"
And you wonder how I reach the conclusion that Cox abused his office? Let's see, slander your opponent, threaten to file charges, find out there is not adequate proof, finally get your pal Gorcyca to hold a news conference stating that he believed the claims to be 100% accurate, but he couldn't meet the burden of proof.
Why should I believe a person that will lie to his wife? Shouldn't his committment to his wife be stronger than any other committment?
Kinda reminds me of a "memo" that a certain "reporter" splashed all over. He still believes the story was true, you just need to prove him wrong.
Believe me, I am no Feiger fan. MI politics is just so dirty that I think both parties have a lot of mud to worry about.
So you believe a man who beat his wife?
From another story: "Fieger's wife, Keenie, has filed twice for divorce and has claimed Fieger assaulted her."
http://www.metrotimes.com/news/stories/news/18/40/fieger.html
Cox has said that he has reconciled with his wife. I assume that means telling her the truth and apologizing.
I didn't see a mention of the original dust up between Fieger and Cox. Cox is investigating Fieger for $400,000+ in anyomonous donations to a judicial PAC treasured by ficticious characters named Herb Charbenau and Robert Miller.
That's also BIGTIME illegal.
Look, I am not taking the side of either one. I consider Fieger to be as crooked as one can be. However, Cox's "need" to hold a press conference and boldly pronounce that Fieger broke the law and that charge's would be filed, was way out of line.
Why the need to do that? Then we have Gorcy's comments yesterday. Well, that just added rotten fish smells to the rotting flesh smells left by Cox's press conference.
This whole thing stinks. Neither party is clean. I have grown to expect that in MI politics.
So then Mike Cox can't count on your support in his run for Governor? Seriously, it is reactions like yours that blackmailers count on to make their threats work.
King David ordered the death of another man in order to cover up his own infidelity with the man's wife, yet ultimately God forgave him. Now, I'll be the first to admit that Cox is no King David, but maybe there's a lesson in there somewhere?
"So then Mike Cox can't count on your support in his run for Governor?"
Um, no. But then I haven't seen him announce a run for the office. The only thing I have seen is his announcement running for AG again in 06.
"Seriously, it is reactions like yours that blackmailers count on to make their threats work."
Um, no, again. The blackmailers would not be able to even make threats if the "victim" had not done whatever it was the blackmailer seized upon. In this case, adultery.
"King David ordered the death of another man in order to cover up his own infidelity with the man's wife, yet ultimately God forgave him. Now, I'll be the first to admit that Cox is no King David, but maybe there's a lesson in there somewhere?"
Would you type the same thing to someone questionong WJC's character? Would you trust Cox as a close friend?
How about answering my base question. What was the reason for Mike Cox's press release announcing his persuit of Fieger? What was Gorcy's intention yesterday?
Why would they give ammunition to Fieger?
That makes a little more sense.
But your "how can we ever trust someone who cheated on his wife" comment is what I was referring to.
Um, no. But then I haven't seen him announce a run for the office. The only thing I have seen is his announcement running for AG again in 06.
A choice between Fieger and Cox in '06 for AG. Assuming that Fieger can get the nomination, we will have an interesting choice to make next year.
"Seriously, it is reactions like yours that blackmailers count on to make their threats work."
Um, no, again. The blackmailers would not be able to even make threats if the "victim" had not done whatever it was the blackmailer seized upon. In this case, adultery.
True, very true. And the only way to defuse the situation is either to make the information public yourself, or give in to the blackmailer.
"King David ordered the death of another man in order to cover up his own infidelity with the man's wife, yet ultimately God forgave him. Now, I'll be the first to admit that Cox is no King David, but maybe there's a lesson in there somewhere?"
Would you type the same thing to someone questioning WJC's character? Would you trust Cox as a close friend?
As far as Clinton ordering the death of anyone, I have no proof. "Arkanside" feeds the conspiracy theorists, but not me. Unfortunately, the act of adultery in and of itself is not uncommon. How many Republican leaders would we have to abandon on this one litmus test? How many religious leaders for that matter?
BJC perjured himself, and it was that breach that he was impeached for, not for adultery. If Cox has committed perjury, then he is toast.
I don't have to trust Cox as a close personal friend in order to trust Cox to be AG. There are police officers I don't trust as close friends, but I do trust to protect my life.
How about answering my base question. What was the reason for Mike Cox's press release announcing his pursuit of Fieger? What was Gorcy's intention yesterday? Why would they give ammunition to Fieger?
Cox's investigation of Fieger has been going on for a year now, and that was not what was announced this week. What Cox did announce is that he was being blackmailed by the target of an ongoing investigation, and that he referred the case to the Oakland County prosecuter.
I can only assume that he held his press conference to 1) disarm his alleged blackmailer by making the information moot, and 2) to let the voters know that he was being blackmailed by the target of an ongoing investigation.
Cox was investigating the campaign finance alligations long before Fieger decided to seek the Democratic nomination for AG. It is Fieger's actions that, if true, are suspect.
Gorcy's statements regarding Fieger were stupid. And possibly actionable by Fieger. So no, I can't defend them.
Actually, it is an interesting strategy from Fieger. He's under investigation for violating Michigan campaign laws, so he decides to run for the office of his accuser, then can claim dirty politics if he gets indicted. I guess that strategy wasn't working, so he tried blackmail.
"But your "how can we ever trust someone who cheated on his wife" comment is what I was referring to."
I will trust no one that I know is an adulterer and I would be mighty dissappointed in anyone that I trusted if I found out they were an adulterer.
I am in no way a prude, but if a person will cheat on a spouse, they will have no problem stabbing a "friend" in the back. Yes, some people can reform, but I'd rather not chance it.
That's just my opinion. Some might say I have trust issues. ;-)
"I can only assume that he held his press conference to 1) disarm his alleged blackmailer by making the information moot, and 2) to let the voters know that he was being blackmailed by the target of an ongoing investigation."
Sorry, I don't have time to address your entire post. But, in my opinion, this press conference did nothing but harm this ongoing investigation. I don't see that it benefited Mike Cox or the investigation in any way. If you have any inside knowledge, I am all ears. I appreciate FR feedback on issues, that is why I am here.
Keep in mind, that I agree that Fieger is a dirty dog, I just think Cox was out of line too!
Personal trust is one thing.
But we were talking about Attorney General Cox, who holds public office. I guess I don't know him personally so can't comment on whether he would stab a friend in the back.
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