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If At First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again

Nearly two years after the administration rolled out its big bust of the so-called "Liberty City Seven" (though they'll always be the Seas of David crew to us), the government has decided that the group of paintballers , whose leader used to roam the streets of Miami in a bathrobe, is such a continued threat that the government, after two trials ended in a hung jury, will be going for the hat trick:

Federal prosecutors announced plans Wednesday to retry six Florida men on terrorism charges despite two consecutive mistrials in a case once trumpeted as a success in the government's war on terrorism.

"We've worked very hard this past week, reviewing everything in this case and considering it very, very seriously," prosecutor Richard Gregorie said in Miami federal court. "The United States has decided it's necessary to proceed . . . one more time."...

The two trials have cost several million dollars, including fees for court-appointed defense lawyers and prosecutors' salaries. Providing security for the two trials has cost more than $1 million, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

"Enough is enough," said defense lawyer David O. Markus. "The feds are always saying that they don't have enough resources, so why are they clinging to this money-draining case?"


7 Comments

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I'm sure this time the Feds got them cold, on income tax evasion.

The Daily Show addressed this issue very well back in 2006.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=114155&title=headlines-the-apprentices

ven if they are ac quitted of terrorism charges they still face PWB charges (paintballing while black)

Didn't I read somewhere that they turned to their Leader for spiritual guidance, kung fu lessons and contract work? I love these guys.

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Who looks more pathetic at this point, these paintball d'ohsters or the Feds?

Can someone please explain why "double jeopardy"
doesn't apply in this case? Two trials gone bad.
How is it that the lawyers defending these men don't claim "double jeopardy" or if that isn't applicable not counter sue the federal government for wrongful imprisonment, politicaly motivated charges, and anything else that will stick?

Rove can railroad the Gov. of Alabama into jail, out and American spy in time of war, fire Fed. Prosecutors for political motives and manipulate elections by blocking phone lines and is walking free and getting published in the WSJ editoral pages.

Is this the America we envisioned living in? When the real criminals have their hands at the highest levels of power and the poorest and weakest of us are used and abused with total disregard for civility and decency?

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Double jeapordy does not apply because they were mis-trials, not trials.

It's past time for the defense attorneys to object to the idea of a mistrial and request a verdict of innocense based on the continuing harassment if the government attorneys cannot make their case this third time.

It also seems that these "terrorists" have a legitimate grievance against the prosecutors who are making the decision to continue this harassment and could file charges against them and the government in general. Should be worth enough to buy themselves some boots and uniforms.

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