One can only hope that this gets a lot of play over the next few weeks.... It is so typical of the Republican culture of corruption. Fortunately, the trial in Lucas County Ohio Common Pleas Court is expected to last through Election Day on Nov. 7. Jury selection is expected to last through the week, with testimony beginning next week.
In an unrelated case, Noe has already pleaded guilty earlier this year to funneling
$45,000 to President Bush's re-election campaign and was sentenced last month to two years and three months in federal prison. He won't begin that sentence until after the state charges are resolved.
But in today's case prosecutors and lawyers for a once-prominent Republican fundraiser were set to pick jurors Tuesday to hear charges that he stole $2 million from a $50 million rare coin investment he managed for the state.
AP is reporting:
~~~~ Jury selection in the closely watched case begins just four weeks before a critical statewide election in which coin dealer Tom Noe is being painted as the embodiment of the state's broader political scandal.
Democrats say the trial will show how Republicans have used their influence to create a culture of corruption, including how Noe, 52, used his political connections to land the investment by the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation.
Noe has pleaded not guilty to theft, money laundering, forgery and a corrupt activity charge. He faces up to 10 years in prison on the corrupt activity charge, which includes the allegation that he stole $2 million from the fund. YEA RIGHT!!!
A state audit said Noe funneled the money into his own businesses, spent some remodeling his Florida Keys home and loaned money to friends.
Investigations into the bureau's coin investment led to separate ethics charges against Gov. Bob Taft, who pleaded no contest last year to failing to report golf outings and other gifts. Four former Taft aides pleaded no contest to similar charges.~~~~
Time to clean house Ohio.... Both our state's and nation's !!