Leopold misconduct trial starts today

[octoburn]

From the Washington Post ~

The Anne Arundel county executive, who is scheduled to go on trial Wednesday on charges of misconduct and misappropriating county funds, isn’t just accused of having his security detail ferry him to and from parking lot assignations with his mistress. Prosecutors say the Republican leader of Maryland’s fourth-largest county also had protection officers accompany him on a pre-dawn assault on an opponent’s campaign signs, compile dossiers on rivals and empty a urine bag after back surgery required him to use a catheter.

and…

In 2010, protection officers allegedly racked up more than $10,000 in overtime keeping Leopold’s mistress and his live-in girlfriend from running into each other at the hospital where Leopold was laid up for two back surgeries.

Linky

The good news is that the judge presiding over this trial is the same one that presided over Sheila Dixon’s trial. I imagine mall parking lot sightings have significantly gone down as well.

[jonsensback]

From the Washington Post ~



and…



Linky

The good news is that the judge presiding over this trial is the same one that presided over Sheila Dixon’s trial. I imagine mall parking lot sightings have significantly gone down as well.

If the guy wasn't trying to "assignate" multiple playmates and doing it in the back seat of a SUV, maybe he wouldn't have needed 2 back surgeries

[RavnFreek]

The guy is a turd.

[octoburn]

Leopold has all of a sudden decided to waive his right to a jury trial so now the judge will decide.

Linky

[Saticon3]

Leopold has all of a sudden decided to waive his right to a jury trial so now the judge will decide.

Linky

Interesting. Maybe the thinking is a jury would be repulsed while a judge may be open to a NG due to matters of law.

[rgh]

I doubt many politicians would want to have their fate decided by a jury. I can't think of many that would be able to put 12 random people together and not have someone who hates them.

I personally like most of Leopold's politics. I had an issue several years back concerning the condition of the house next to me after it went into foreclosure. I emailed all of my elected officials and he was the only one to respond. He replied to my email and asked for my phone number. He then called me and I explained the situation. He even asked what I thought should be done about it and took my suggestions and used them to propose tighter laws on property maintenance. I thought it was pretty cool that a politician actually listened to a constituent.

However despite all of that it seems like there is a pretty strong case against him. I doubt seriously that everyone involved is lying to make him look bad. it appears he has done some shady things in the past. Now he will get his day in court. I do give him props though for saying he will pay his legal fees back to the county if he is found guilty. I will be disapointed if he is found guilty and loses his job. However if he is guilty he should lose his job in my opinion.

[slapshot]

I doubt many politicians would want to have their fate decided by a jury. I can't think of many that would be able to put 12 random people together and not have someone who hates them.

I personally like most of Leopold's politics. I had an issue several years back concerning the condition of the house next to me after it went into foreclosure. I emailed all of my elected officials and he was the only one to respond. He replied to my email and asked for my phone number. He then called me and I explained the situation. He even asked what I thought should be done about it and took my suggestions and used them to propose tighter laws on property maintenance. I thought it was pretty cool that a politician actually listened to a constituent.
.

Ditto.

One of the few politicians that's ever bothered to go door to door in our neighborhood (before all this happened, and he had already been elected - so not seeking votes) to solicit input from the residents. I never saw him as your typical - talk out of both sides of your mouth - type of politician.

I thought that was pretty cool, and certainly beyond what most politicians will do. His screw ups aside, associated with his sexual expoilts, would not deter this voter from voting for him again.

[Saticon3]

I mostly agree with both you guys, except for two issues:

1.: The destruction of the rivals' campaign signs. Destruction of Property is, while not the crime of the century, a criminal act clearly and he and the officers full well know so, this is not a "mistake" or "overreaching" its pure and simple a crime.

2. Accessing priviliged information from CJIS for reasons not connected to a bona-fide, legitamate criminal investigation- well, what I said about #1 applies just as much to this one.

[slapshot]

I mostly agree with both you guys, except for two issues:

1.: The destruction of the rivals' campaign signs. Destruction of Property is, while not the crime of the century, a criminal act clearly and he and the officers full well know so, this is not a "mistake" or "overreaching" its pure and simple a crime.

I honestly don't remember...but did he directly do the deed, or instructed others to get rid of the campaign signs?

2. Accessing priviliged information from CJIS for reasons not connected to a bona-fide, legitamate criminal investigation- well, what I said about #1 applies just as much to this one.

It may have, in his mind, been a legit reason to do so...can't say.

I say, if there's a politician out there that appears to be squeaky clean, it's simply a matter that they haven't looked hard enough. They all are guilty of something.

"Power corrupts, absolutely."

[rgh]

I mostly agree with both you guys, except for two issues:

1.: The destruction of the rivals' campaign signs. Destruction of Property is, while not the crime of the century, a criminal act clearly and he and the officers full well know so, this is not a "mistake" or "overreaching" its pure and simple a crime.

2. Accessing priviliged information from CJIS for reasons not connected to a bona-fide, legitamate criminal investigation- well, what I said about #1 applies just as much to this one.

I agree if he did do what he is accused of doing he should be found guilty and punished in accordance with the law. Being a politician does not make anyone above even if I think they have done a good job serving their constituents.

[Saticon3]

Slap, I believe on at least one occasion, Leopold is alleged to have told one of the officers to stop the car- the officer was chauferring him- and Leopold got out and destroyed a campaign sign. It would seem that both could be charged with dest. of property and/or conspiracy and the officer could have faced administrative charges as well for the like of dereliction of duty,i.e., witnessing a crime and taking no action.

But, not surprisingly, its not that clear-cut, I read the defense is saying the sign was on public property snd therefor the sign would be illegal and if I recall correctly it is not illegal to remove and illegal sign.

I'm beginning to think its highly debatable if anything Leopold did was illegal, but the, I never story emerging as to just how he treats employees- demeaning and like servants--- is beyond the pale, imho.

But, also, I think the employeees share some blame here for allowing themselves to be treated like that. They may have checked their integrity and self respect at the door in exchange for their jobs, personally, I never needed a job that bad.

[lane17]

Where were all the cell phone cameras when this old fart was getting jiggy in the back seat of a car in a public parking lot? However, the worst is having his employees empty his catheter bag. That's demeaning. He has no respect for the men or women that work for him.

[demopublican]

He is a real POS. it is amazing that he did not step down. He had to know how ugly this was going to get.

[octoburn]

What is amazing is that Leopold apparently still has the support of the MDGOP. There have been no public calls for him to step down as far as I can tell.

Perhaps they see any kind of name recognition as a good thing. And if that's the case, the future of the Republican Party here in Maryland could be riding on a Leopold~Dwyer dream team in the next gubernatorial election.

They certainly have a lot of support on this forum that dates back to when allegations started to surface.

Linky

Linky 2

[Baltimatt]

Cleared of one count

A circuit judge found John R. Leopold not guilty Friday of one count of misconduct in office, a partial victory for the embattled Anne Arundel County executive as his trial continued on other charges. Judge Dennis M. Sweeney said Leopold showed "a lack of sound judgment" when he used his taxpayer-funded police protection detail to drive around the county as he took down a challenger's campaign signs, and said he might have been charged with theft or malicious destruction of property.

But Sweeney agreed with Leopold's attorneys that he had been acting as a private citizen, and not as county executive, so the alleged actions did not amount to misconduct in office.

So can I get a police detail if I'm putting up campaign signs for myself?

[Saticon3]

What is amazing is that Leopold apparently still has the support of the MDGOP. There have been no public calls for him to step down as far as I can tell.

Perhaps they see any kind of name recognition as a good thing. And if that's the case, the future of the Republican Party here in Maryland could be riding on a Leopold~Dwyer dream team in the next gubernatorial election.

They certainly have a lot of support on this forum that dates back to when allegations started to surface.

Linky

Linky 2

it is surpsing all the more, given that actually Leopold is not very popular with his own party for the most part, him being a "maverick" type even long before he was counjty exec.
I don't believe Dwyer is all that popular with them either.

[johnpolitics]

I live in AA county. He is a good excutive on fiscal matter. As a person he is a creap.
FYI- When Dixon had her issues no elected officials called for her to resign.
FYI2- If convicted the AA council appoints the new executive and Kendall Ehrlich lives in AA County.