Word: pleas
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Ferguson's lawyers, famed criminal defense attorney William Kunstler and co- counsel Ronald Kuby, intend to shape an insanity plea using black rage. In a widely praised 1968 study titled Black Rage, African-American psychiatrists William Grier and Price Cobbs argued that racism forced blacks to make certain social adaptations, becoming mistrustful and suspicious of outsiders. That, say Ferguson's lawyers, combined with a mental disorder, triggered their client's attack -- and should mitigate whatever punishment is meted out to him. Says Kuby: "Being exposed to racist treatment over a long period of time drove Ferguson to violence." Critics...
Either way, Rostenkowski would have to give up the Ways and Means chairmanship. That would be part of any plea bargain, and if he is indicted, it would be required by the rules of the House Democratic Caucus. Technically, if he is tried and acquitted, he could resume the chairmanship some years down the road. It seems likely, though, that Rostenkowski will resign even as an ordinary member of Congress, whether he cops a plea or has to start preparing, at the age of 66, for an almost certainly long and exhausting trial...
...outlook for Rosty may be even bleaker than the talk of a plea bargain , would indicate. The rumored charges seem difficult to construe as misdemeanors: embezzling from the House mailing office, abusing its stationery store to subsidize gifts for campaign workers and paying no-show workers in his Chicago district office. Rostenkowski's defense team has not yet denied some of those specifics. In fact, according to a source close to the Congressman, Bennett has given up on the idea of saving his client's chairmanship and is offering a plea in return for a reduction or elimination of prison...
Under criminal investigation for possible financial irregularities, Ways and Means chairman Dan Rostenkowski began exploring a plea-bargain agreement with federal prosecutors. The Illinois Democrat, who claims he is innocent, wants to avoid indictment on felony charges and the possibility of prison, if he is convicted. Rostenkowski is now said to believe his legal problems will force him to relinquish his powerful chairmanship, whether a deal can be reached or not. That is terrible news for Democrats. Without Rostenkowski at the helm, they fear, the President's health reforms could sink in Congress...
Joel Rifkin, a landscape gardener from Long Island, New York, who has admitted killing 17 women, was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Tiffany Bresciani -- the first of the slayings to come to trial. Rifkin's insanity plea was rejected...