1 month ago
22
Not that anyone here actually believes the American DOJ having a 92%+ conviction rate is a result of their hard work in building a case and finding justice - but I always assumed this was happened because people were scared to go to trial and because of the trial penalty. Always thought most people who were charged found it easier to plea and save everyone time.
But it's clear that if you're in the DOJ's crosshairs, they'll get you at all costs.
And I think a LOT of these stories are rife with conspiracy. It seems there are bigger parties and factors in play than what's on the page.
I spend time listening to stories from the justice-impacted and thought I had heard everything but this Carlos Watson (the former CEO of Ozy Media) story has me bothered. While running Ozy, Watson makes an enemy in Ben Smith (from Buzzfeed, at the time). Later, Smith moves on to the NYT where he publishes a hit piece on Ozy because of their failed negotiations. A criminal case is built, for some reason, in Smith's (NY) backyard where Ozy doesn't operate or do business. Watson goes to trial in a courtroom located in a place that had nothing to do with him or the business, the court wouldn't allow key evidence, and the kicker: the judge had a major financial stake in the victims that wasn't made clear until later.
Guess how that ended for Watson?
They can just decide to totally railroad a person like that and there's nothing that can be done?
When judges with conflicts of interest can preside over cases without anyone batting an eye, it’s clear that the deck is very simply rigged.
And this is under what's considered a pretty standard, normal AG??
Do any of us stand a chance?
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