Word: silverman
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Those pleased responses followed Special Prosecutor Leon Silverman's release of a four-volume, 1,025-page report on his investigation into the claims of various unsavory characters, including gangsters who turned Government informers, that Donovan and his New Jersey construction company had close ties to organized crime. Silverman investigated upwards of 24 separate allegations-a "disturbing" number, he said-but concluded that there was "insufficient credible evidence" to support a successful prosecution of Donovan for any crime. A federal grand jury, which heard the evidence produced by Silverman, voted not to indict Donovan on any charge...
While Donovan had every right to claim vindication, Silverman pointedly declined at a press conference to say that the Secretary had been "exonerated" or "cleared" by the six-month investigation. Silverman repeatedly stressed that he could only say there was "insufficient credible evidence," explaining that in some cases the testimony of a single individual "would be sufficient-if your source is a pillar of strength." The persons accusing Donovan of witnessing or making payoffs to labor racketeers were not in that category...
...fact that Donovan was not charged with a crime, however, is not likely to be the end of the matter. The Silverman report makes clear that the FBI withheld important information about Donovan and his company from the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee during his confirmation hearings. If the committee members had been given all that information at the time, it seems doubtful that Donovan would have been confirmed for his post...
Mullen also failed to tell the committee about a series of wiretaps on the phones of William Masselli, a Genovese family "soldier." Those wiretaps, according to the Silverman report, show that Masselli boasted of how "I get along good with all the bosses" of the Schiavone Co.; he was overheard naming the five top officers, including Donovan...
...wiretaps also show that Masselli claimed he got an interest-free $200,000 loan from Schiavone. The check, according to the Silverman report, was cosigned by Donovan. Masselli complained that he had to pay $20,000 to Schiavone as a kickback to get the loan. An FBI report showed that Schiavone officials contend this accusation was an attempt by Masselli to extort money from the company...