Erase All Doubts, Release Zimmermann Tapes

Star Tribune LTE:

Nearly a year ago, former Minneapolis Councilmember Dean Zimmermann was convicted on three counts of bribery. To this day, many of Zimmermann's supporters claim he is innocent, even though audio and videotapes presented at the trial clearly showed him soliciting and accepting large amounts of cash.

The U.S. Department of Justice did not release those tapes to the media at the conclusion of the trial. The tapes were shown in open court and are part of the public record. Similar FBI tapes showing public officials accepting bribes have been released to the media.

Zimmermann's supporters have said that then-U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger, Assistant U.S. Attorney John Docherty, the FBI, the judge and jury were part of a conspiracy to "frame" Zimmermann. Some supporters have even conjured a conspiracy that involved Zimmermann's opponent in the last election and even DFL Party officials.

Recent allegations that other federal investigations and prosecutions may have been politically motivated lend credence to those claims. Those allegations have eroded public confidence in the fairness and impartiality of the U.S. Department of Justice.

I believe allowing citizens to view the evidence that convicted Zimmermann would help restore some of that lost confidence. The anniversary of Zimmermann's conviction would be an opportune moment for the government to release those tapes.

KEN AVIDOR, MINNEAPOLIS

Eric Black: "Putdown for Paulose"

Eric Black (now at Minnesota Monitor) has the scoop:

Rachel Paulose, the embattled U.S. attorney for Minnesota, suffered through an awkward moment Tuesday when a retirement party for a long-serving prosecutor in her office turned into a thunderous ovation for several of Paulose's severest critics. Word of the incident has buzzed through the Twin Cities federal legal community and become the latest symbol of a very rough 18 months since Paulose took over the top federal law enforcement job in Minnesota.

Will Paulose get the message or will Minnesota's kick-boxing USA keep fighting to save her job?

US Attorney Scandal Comes to Big Lake, Minnesota

This is cross-posted at Dump Mark Olson

Tom Hamburger of the LA Times reveals "part of the reason" why Tom Heffelfinger ended up on the DOJ's list of US Attorneys to be fired:

But newly obtained documents and interviews suggest that what displeased some of his superiors and GOP politicians was narrower and more politically charged -- his actions on Indian voting.

... in particular:

Described as a matter of "deep concern" to Heffelfinger, the issue arose from Kiffmeyer's directive in the fall of 2004 that tribal ID cards could not be used for voter identification off reservations

Kiffmeyer is now involved in a national scandal. If Kiffmeyer ran in a special election, it is likely that she would have to answer questions about her involvement in the GOP's campaign to disenfranchise minority voters.

If Mary Kiffmeyer cannot run for office because of her role in the US Attorney scandal, that may explain why the MN GOP 6CD Chair has gone from "no comment" on Rep Mark Olson to whitewashing Olson's Wikipedia page. Olson's trial for domestic assault is scheduled for June 7th (Correction: Rep. Mark Olson's Trial is Monday, June 4th)

Olson may have his own connection to the US Attorney scandal. Olson worked closely with Gary Dean Zimmermann promoting PRT legislation at the Capitol and at Minneapolis City Hall. It's very likely that e-mails to and from Olson and other GOP politicos turned up on Zimmermann's computer which was seized in a raid on Zimmermann's house only four months before Heffelfinger announced he was going to resign.

David Strom and Katherine Kersten Whine About Rachel Paulose

Katherine Kersten was invited on David Strom's Taxpayer League radio show Tuesday, May 29th to talk about Rachel Paulose and the U.S. Attorney scandal.

There's no mention of the AUSA's at the Minnesota U.S. Attorney's office who demoted themselves in protest of Paulose's lack of management skills.

Here's an excerpt of the interview:



Hear the entire podcast HERE.

Rachel Paulose, Free Cubby the Bear! (and the Zimmermann trial tapes)

PiPress reporter Ruben Rosario:

But in the meantime, at the very least, I would settle for knowing what happened to Cubby the Bear.

A federal judge sentenced country music star Troy Gentry to three months of probation and a $15,000 fine earlier this year for improperly tagging the bear after killing it three years ago in an enclosed area near Sandstone, Minn.

There was talk the bear, now government property, would be preserved for educational purposes or exhibited at a museum.

A Pioneer Press courts reporter called two months ago to find out about its fate. The inquiry has gone unanswered. Perhaps it's classified.

Small potatoes, perhaps. But Minnesotans deserve better than this.