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Governor of Puerto Rico Indicted

A two year investigation has resulted in the indictment of Puerto Rico Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila on on 19 counts "including conspiracy to violate U.S. federal campaign laws and giving false testimony to the FBI."

Acevedo dismissed the indictment as nothing but politics and "a spectacle designed to damage me." ....The 55-page indictment alleges that Acevedo also personally helped a group of Philadelphia-area businessmen in their efforts to obtain Puerto Rican government contracts after they delivered illegal campaign contributions from their own staff and family members.

Acevedo is a superdelegate for Barack Obama. Big Tent Democrat has some thoughts on how Puerto Rico's voters will vote in their June 1 primary here.

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  • Display: Sort:
    Governors (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by Stellaaa on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:14:51 AM EST
    Man, they are dropping like flies.  I would call this a crime wave among the Governor class.  

    What party does he belong to? (1.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Saul Goode on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:34:11 AM EST
    It's frustrating. The MSM is not informing us what party this guy, Kwame Kilpatrick, Elliot Spitzer, nor David Paterson belong to.

    It's almost like they have some sort of agenda, or something

    Parent

    You're Joking, Right? (none / 0) (#8)
    by squeaky on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:36:27 AM EST
    well on Faux (none / 0) (#40)
    by BarnBabe on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 12:31:58 PM EST
    We had a lot of Republican bad guys identified as Democrats if you remember.

    Parent
    umm... (none / 0) (#9)
    by mindfulmission on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:37:07 AM EST
    ... read the second sentence of the article:
    The indictment also charged 12 others associated with Acevedo's Popular Democratic Party


    Parent
    mindful mission (none / 0) (#13)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:42:32 AM EST
    can you please not put the tagline and your blogname at the end of every one of your comments. It takes up too much space. People can click on your user name and find it. Thanks.

    Parent
    signatures? (none / 0) (#29)
    by mindfulmission on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:55:35 AM EST
    So we can't have signatures?

    I wasn't aware... sorry.

    Parent

    The Justice Department (none / 0) (#11)
    by rebrane on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:39:06 AM EST
    is currently only indicting members of one political party, so it's not necessary to put it in the story.

    Parent
    I don't think the Parties in Puerto Rico (none / 0) (#25)
    by JoeA on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:54:16 AM EST
    are necessarily Democratic and GOP as elsewhere.

    Parent
    heh (none / 0) (#47)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:34:20 PM EST
    If they were Repubs you would know.

    Parent
    Still Trivial (none / 0) (#4)
    by squeaky on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:29:55 AM EST
    Compared to the number of GOP indictments.

    Parent
    Here you go. (none / 0) (#46)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:33:40 PM EST
    Are the no crooked Republican governors? (none / 0) (#28)
    by BernieO on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:55:32 AM EST
    It sure looks like the Justice Department is focusing on Dems and ignoring Republicans. Unless you believe that Republicans are more moral. Look at what has happened to Don Siegleman.

    Parent
    Evidently not. (none / 0) (#48)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:35:47 PM EST
    Do you think criminals are just created to keep things "equal?"

    lol

    ;-)

    Parent

    It is a sad day (5.00 / 2) (#14)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:43:18 AM EST
    Acevedo Vila is a good man. I believe he will be proven innoncent of these charges.

    I hope so (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:45:26 AM EST
    any chance of you writing a post on it?

    Parent
    No (none / 0) (#19)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:48:37 AM EST
    I have close friends in the Acevedo Vila Administration.

    Parent
    he may well be. (none / 0) (#18)
    by cpinva on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:47:40 AM EST
    but not in time for the GE. this is going to be another "527" ad for the mccain campaign, if sen. obama is the dem. nominee.

    "three words son, deer.in.headlights."

    Parent

    Why? (5.00 / 2) (#21)
    by JoeA on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:51:32 AM EST
    Why should an Obama endorsing Governor superdelegate's behaviour reflect on him any more than Clinton endorsing Governers?

    I just don't see how this is relevant to the primary, or the G.E.

    Parent

    More likely (none / 0) (#20)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:50:10 AM EST
    it means Obama will lose a Super delegate. And his main political supporter in Puerto Rico.


    Parent
    Do you think he will have to stand down? (none / 0) (#22)
    by JoeA on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:52:51 AM EST
    It is strange all these indictments and related leaks all coming to light just now regarding Democratic politicians.

    Fishy timing if you were a cynic.

    Parent

    I wouldn't be so cynical if we had not (none / 0) (#30)
    by inclusiveheart on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:56:14 AM EST
    already seen evidence of politicization of the DOJ and it wasn't a seminal election year.

    Parent
    Just as well we can rely (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by JoeA on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:58:37 AM EST
    on the US Attorneys to all be non-partisan and fair.

    Parent
    The Philly connection is interesting (none / 0) (#24)
    by andgarden on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:53:27 AM EST
    Ron White's name was mudd up there.

    Parent
    So your view is Acevedo Vila's view ... (none / 0) (#37)
    by Meteor Blades on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 12:19:21 PM EST
    ...that these are trumped-up charges? (I am not being snarky; I don't follow PR politics at all, so I'm genuinely curious.)

    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#39)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 12:31:30 PM EST
    I think it is trumped up BS.

    Parent
    Full disclosure (none / 0) (#41)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 12:32:21 PM EST
    I am not an unbiased observer. I have close friends in that government.

    Parent
    You'd make a great criminal defense (none / 0) (#42)
    by oculus on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 12:37:59 PM EST
    attorney, as that is always the first statement to the press.  

    Parent
    He knows far more about lots of (none / 0) (#45)
    by oculus on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 04:45:41 PM EST
    matters than I ever will.  That's why I read his stuff.

    Parent
    Trolling (1.00 / 10) (#35)
    by Semanticleo on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 12:05:38 PM EST
    "This thread was about Hillary's interview. New readers, your comment must be on topic or take it to an open thread. And read the comment rules before commenting."

    Jeralyn;

    Your fascism shows through every hole in your cloth coat.

    Jeez, that word gets defined down every day (none / 0) (#38)
    by andgarden on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 12:29:49 PM EST
    Actions Speak Better than Words (1.00 / 1) (#44)
    by RThomas on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 04:45:22 PM EST

    Before the negative press regarding Mr. Wright, Mr Obama had on numerous occasions declared Mr. Wright as his mentor and spiritual teacher for the past 20 years and even went so far as to include Mr. Wright in his election staff, these are the actions of Mr. Obama.   When the press found out about the Hitleresque personality of Mr. Wright, Mr. Obama's staff writers immediately created a rebuttal of hyperbole that amazingly some people actually believed.  

    But regardless what Mr. Obama and his staff reply, Mr. Obama cannot retract his clear public proclamation that Mr. Wright has been mentor and spiritual teacher for over 20 years.  And that up to recent negative press, Mr. Wright was on Mr. Obama's Spiritual Advisor Committee campaign team.  Mr. Obama cannot make excuses regarding this or deny it.  And to downplay the violent rhetoric of Mr. Wright is like trying to make excuses for Hitler.  Hitler and Mr. Wright both convey hateful and paranoid messages that should shivers through the average American.  Never would I expect to see in my lifetime a man of such evil taking the pulpit on National Television and professing extreme hate and implied violence that has direct implications for almost every white, Jew, non-Christian, Christians of other faiths,  government officials, peoples from other countries and so on.  Didn't Hitler do this to?

    If you make the choice to listen and learn from a so called spiritual mentor every week over 20 years, do you expect me or any other rational being to believe that you wouldn't be or want to be influenced by their ideas?   And what does that say of your personal integrity if you chose American hating Mr. Wright as your mentor in life?    

    Action is the real measure of a person, not their words.  We know who Mr. Obama is by his life and choices, not the words he spins.   And we can only imagine the amount of hatred Mr. Obama will unleash once he achieves ultimate power.  Uh-Oh!

    And also consider recent announcement that the chief of the firm involved in the State Department's passport breach is one of Obama's adviser.  (And why is this not being discussed?) And that Obama has been caught lying about Rezko, regarding the amount of money Rezko gave him, and that Obama still hasn't come clean about his Rezko land deal.   Or further, how Mrs. Obama makes a phenomenal $317.000 a month at a hospital in Chicago that is famous for turning away the poor, especially the black poor.  

    If Obama were to become president, what would stop Mr. Obama from appointing Mr. Wright to his cabinet?    And after Mr. Wright's appointment, if anyone complained no doubt they would be called racist.   And it seems as if this strategy - that it is racist to criticize a black man - is already in effect as Mr. Obama can do anything corrupt with minimal impunity by the public or the press.  
    But if Hillary so much as sneezes, she is taken through the laundry and hung out to dry and then beaten some more.  Such an obvious bias treatment towards Mr. Obama because of his race is racial discrimination.  And I believe another reason why Mrs. Clinton is unfairly criticized to such an extreme is because a handful of powerful men in the media can't stand the idea of a woman for president - likely a libido thing.

    We should have as our country's leader someone with wisdom and knowledge, whose goal is the selfless betterment of the world. We should not elect someone with a personal agenda for personal power or select them because of the fashionably of their race or the preference for a gender.

    With all the red lights in Mr. Obama's resume, and all the hyperbole that he spins that keeps us from knowing the real Mr. Obama, are you sure this is the person best to lead our country?  Should we gamble away the American future to a man who associates with and is taught by men who hate this country and its people?


    When I read the news this (none / 0) (#3)
    by DCDemocrat on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:28:20 AM EST
    morning of the Governor's indictment, my immediate thought was this development represented a a wrinkle in Obama's plans to secure Puerto Rico's delegates.

    According to an item I read, (none / 0) (#23)
    by inclusiveheart on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:53:17 AM EST
    the Philly Democrats have close connections to Gov. Rendell.

    philly.com=>

    I'm wondering what effect all of these DOJ investigations are going to have on the Democrats ability to secure delegates for the Electoral College.  That was my first thought.

    Parent

    hmm... (none / 0) (#5)
    by mindfulmission on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:30:08 AM EST
    ... why must everything be related to the election?

    How does this indictment have any relevance to Obama or Clinton or the election?

    One of the themes (none / 0) (#6)
    by DCDemocrat on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:32:51 AM EST
    around the governor's endorsement of Obama has been his ability to deliver the state's delegates to the junior senator from Illinois.  This theme seems somewhat more implausible given the governor's delicate legal situation.

    Parent
    The state? (none / 0) (#10)
    by rebrane on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:37:21 AM EST
    Not yet, anyway.

    Parent
    Yeah, I guess (none / 0) (#36)
    by DCDemocrat on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 12:14:31 PM EST
    I tipped my hand concerning my feelings about Puerto Rico's status.  

    Parent
    Eerily reminds me of the Rezko/Levine MO (none / 0) (#12)
    by felizarte on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:40:27 AM EST
    in Illinois, more commonly known as Pay to Play.

    Parent
    It doesn't. (none / 0) (#49)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:39:21 PM EST
    this thread is about (none / 0) (#15)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:44:38 AM EST
    the Gov. of Puerto Rico's indictment. Please don't inflame by bringing up race, Wright, Rezko, etc. They have nothing to do with it.

    Comments about Puerto Rico's primary and the impact of the indictment on it, if any, are fine.

    FYI (none / 0) (#26)
    by squeaky on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:54:22 AM EST
    Here is an interview he did with Charlie Rose.

    Seigelman redux? (none / 0) (#27)
    by Grindhouse on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:55:06 AM EST
    Given the Roger Stone involvement with "tips" to the FBI on Spitzer's dalliances, and the long-chronicled
    hitjob by Rove, et al, on Don Siegelman in ALA, who can be blamed for seeing the Acevedo indictment as yet another DOJ election-year trashing of a Dem Gov?

    Possibly related to (none / 0) (#32)
    by andgarden on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:59:07 AM EST
    Disadvantage Today...Obama (none / 0) (#33)
    by Coral Gables on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 12:00:33 PM EST
    As the Governor of Puerto Rico was expected to help close the gap in the PR primary by helping Obama, it's safe to say that thought flew out the window this morning.

    This was a long investigation that will add an additional challenge in PR for the Obama campaign should the nomination process not be settled by June 3, as he essentially lost his biggest supporter on the Island.

    Obama knew Vila was under investigation. (none / 0) (#34)
    by Saul on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 12:04:05 PM EST
    Shows bad judgment on his part for taking his endorsement know he could be indicted.   Plus the last thing Obama needs is  more guilt by association conflicts.

    You can find a copy of the (none / 0) (#50)
    by TomLincoln on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 10:20:41 PM EST
    Indictment here. Actually it is a Superseding Indictment, signifying that there was a previous one kept sealed and with no arrests. Governor Acevedo Vila has indicatd he will not resign, the votes to impeach him are simply not there at this time, and he apparently intends to still run for reelection.

    Both Clinton and Obama are already setting up shop in Puerto Rico for the June 1 primary.