Jury breaks for holiday in Bruno trial
Jon Campbell of the Gannett Albany Bureau had this to report from the Bruno trial today:
The first day of jury deliberations in the case against former Senate Republican Leader Joe Bruno wrapped up without a verdict this evening, with deliberations set to continue Monday morning despite Judge Gary Sharpe’s warning that a five-day layoff could be “dangerous.”
Bruno, 80, is in court on charges he defrauded the state and its residents by accepting nearly $3.2 billion from companies in exchange for his political influence and assistance with referrals. The prosecution alleges Bruno, of Brunswick, Rensselaer County, used his public office for personal gain.
“I am totally confident – as I have said for several weeks – that we have done nothing wrong and the evidence proves that we have done nothing wrong,” Bruno said outside the James T. Foley U.S. Courthouse in Albany.
The trial began more than three weeks ago, and closing arguments concluded yesterday. The jury began deliberations at 9 a.m., and the first note to the court from the jury arrived at 2:49 p.m.
The jury asked for a clarification regarding evidence surrounding the third count facing Bruno, a charge that alleges Bruno committed mail and wire fraud in his business dealings with VyTek, a company owned by Westchester County-based business owner Leonard Fassler.
Sharpe allowed testimony about Fassler’s other business ventures to be
discussed, but reminded the jury they must unanimously decide whether
or not Bruno broke the law in dealing specifically with VyTek.
At 4:23 p.m., Sharpe called the jury back into the courtroom to discuss how they wanted to continue with the Thanksgiving holiday looming. He sternly reminded members of the jury that if they decided to adjourn until
Monday they are not to discuss the case with anyone.
“You have to respect your views and not allow anyone or anything affect your views, other than what you have heard in this courtroom,” Sharpe said.
The jury opted to break for the holiday weekend. Members were seen exiting the building just before 5 p.m. and will return at 8:30 a.m. Monday.
Monday’s proceedings will start with the reading of testimony from Francis Gluchowski, as requested by the jury. During the trial, the former Senate lawyer recalled a phone conversation he had with Chief Senate Counsel Kenneth Riddett about whether Bruno’s dealings with Connecticut-based company Wright Investors’ Services needed to be reviewed by the Legislative Ethics Committee.
Bruno remained loose and confident throughout the day, joking with reporters and friends. “I’m very optimistic and I’m very upbeat and I’m very confident,” he said.
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What in hell is going on up ther with this judge? It’s Tuesday, for crying out loud. Tomorrow is Wednesday. Then, after Thanksgiving comes FRIDAY, Saturday, Sunday. He’s tossing Bruno the perfect opportunity for a reversal plea if he’s convicted. Matter of fact, that gift was probably already set up as the judge’s son supposedly works for the prosecutors. Even if he’s convicted, they’ll probably throw out the verdict and then, citing costs, decline to retry.
Bruno will not see any jail time regardless of the result. I don’t know the facts but on the surface I say he rides away into the night.
Into the dark and stormy night… Someday we’ll look back on these nefarious, greedy phonies and shake our heads as to how we let them get away with it all.
you let them get away with it because your own self interest outweighed the combined interests of the state
and thats how you voted…you didn’t vote for policy
you voted for how much pork your own district got the
little leagues’ etc…it was never about government just
about greed
Jeffrey takes the fallacy of ad hominem to a whole new widespread, all-inclusive level. Next we await his Louis XIV proclamation, “l’etat c’est moi.”
What’s this guy always pointing at? Every picture of him has him waving or pointing. Is this supposed to be a result of some kind of Al Gore PR thing to make him look like he’s in charge of some imaginary army?
Is it me? Why break for Thanksgiving on Tuesday? Don’t these judges answer to someone? Is it really up to the jury to decide how long a break they’ll take?
And why does this reporter not ask the obvious question?
you is being used collectively ..meaning all who have voted
these people into office year after year after year…
take a good look at who represents you….
Republicans loved voting for Joe Bruno…and not just because of the pork. Ditto NYC Democrats and Shelly Silver. You wanted ideology more than honesty – someone who would fight for what your party wanted, whatever your beliefs, but you only saw the corruption in the person in the other party, who happened to support what you hate. So…you rail against Clinton, Spitzer, Pelosi, Reid, Silver, Spano, everybody who is a Dem. And you don’t police your own. And thus, you get Bruno.
By the way, the Dems get no pass either. They do the same thing to those on the right – villify Bush and Palin and tolerate Dem shennanigans.
Since most of the bloggers here are of the right, I suspect the response to my comments will pillor Dems as hypocrites, and will define Bruno as not really a true conservative Republican, therefore, not your fault. If it helps you feel better, go ahead. But the lust for power is bi-partisan, and the abuses of same are, too.
As we enter the fifth day with no news other than the same tired picture of Joe Bruno giving us al the finger…