Since it was revealed that Cheektowaga Councilmember Charles Markel forfeited his office by being convicted of a crime, there have been a series of fact distorting and spinning articles and letters published by the Buffalo News. See:
http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/cheektowaga/cheektowaga-councilman-pleads-guilty-in-fraud-20140414
http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/cheektowaga/future-of-cheektowaga-councilman-uncertain-after-guilty-plea-20140415
http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/cheektowaga/councilman-markel-losing-his-seat-after-illegally-taking-unemployment-20140416
http://www.buffalonews.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/letter-markel-served-people-of-cheektowaga-well-20140428
Markel has decided to play this out in the court of public opinion, rather than take his chance with a jury of peers. His post conviction story is that he discovered his own error and repaid the money of his own volition. That isn't a crime and it's extremely unlikely that it happened that way. In forty years of practicing law, I have never seen an accidental criminal conviction. It just doesn't work that way. If I have a criticism of Frank Sedita it is that he isn't zealous enough in going after politicians. Frank would never have prosecuted this case if it went down the way Markel now says. But Frank seems reluctant to punch back.
Since it's always difficult to find the truth in the BNews, I thought I would pull the transcript of Markel's admission to committing the crime and sentencing. Here it is in all it's naked glory. Markel is fully informed and cops the plea of his own volition. Read it yourself and make up your own mind.
http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/cheektowaga/cheektowaga-councilman-pleads-guilty-in-fraud-20140414
http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/cheektowaga/future-of-cheektowaga-councilman-uncertain-after-guilty-plea-20140415
http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/cheektowaga/councilman-markel-losing-his-seat-after-illegally-taking-unemployment-20140416
http://www.buffalonews.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/letter-markel-served-people-of-cheektowaga-well-20140428
Markel has decided to play this out in the court of public opinion, rather than take his chance with a jury of peers. His post conviction story is that he discovered his own error and repaid the money of his own volition. That isn't a crime and it's extremely unlikely that it happened that way. In forty years of practicing law, I have never seen an accidental criminal conviction. It just doesn't work that way. If I have a criticism of Frank Sedita it is that he isn't zealous enough in going after politicians. Frank would never have prosecuted this case if it went down the way Markel now says. But Frank seems reluctant to punch back.
Since it's always difficult to find the truth in the BNews, I thought I would pull the transcript of Markel's admission to committing the crime and sentencing. Here it is in all it's naked glory. Markel is fully informed and cops the plea of his own volition. Read it yourself and make up your own mind.
