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Operation G-Sting
A federal corruption trial in Las Vegas involves one or Reid's Proteges as a defendant and another as the star government witness. The charges are that Reid's proteges, among others, were involved in bribery and depriving the public of honest services. One has already pled guilty to the charges. Follow this trial to have a perspective whenever Reid speaks of a culture of corruption. Most recent posting is shown first, balance is in chronological order.
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What the Searchlight Reveals: Harry Reid’s Protégé Sentenced to 50 Months in Prison for Corruption
Calling the corruption 'shocking and extremely disturbing', a US District Judge sentenced Reid Protégé Dario Herrera to 50 months in jail. The crimes were committed when Herrera was the Chairman of the Clark County Commission. Reid, who handpicked and supported Herrera as a candidate for Congress in 2002, has refused to criticize his protégé for his offenses.
Sentencing for another Reid Protégé, who pled guilty of corruption and cooperated with the government has not yet occurred.
If you are interested in additional information on the sentencing of Reid’s Protégé Dario Herrera, visit http://tinyurl.com/etlxj.
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- 08.22.2006
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What the Searchlight Reveals: Harry Reid’s Protégé Guilty of Corruption
The jury in the Operation G-Sting trial deliberated for about 16 hours over two days and found Reid’s Protégé Dario Herrera guilty of conspiring to deprive the public of honest services. The specific findings were guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 10 counts of wire fraud and six counts of extortion. He was found not guilty of 2 counts of extortion.
Reid supported Herrera for Congress and continued to support his protégé even after the indictment, saying “He’s a young man who has a lovely wife and a child … Why can’t people leave him alone? None of us are perfect.” Senator, none of us are perfect, but your protégé has now been convicted of corruption.
In an earlier interview, when Reid was pressed about Herrera’s ethics problems, Reid said: ‘He’s an honest man’ and reaffirmed that Herrera had his vote of confidence.
Senator, does the conviction of your protégé change your opinion?
Does Herrera still have your vote of confidence?
More importantly, now that one of your protégés, Erin Kenny, pled guilty to corruption and another of your protégés, Dario Herrera, was just found guilty of corruption, will you admit that corruption is a bipartisan issue?
If you are interested in additional information on the trial and conviction of Reid’s Protégé Dario Herrera, visit http://tinyurl.com/gqwgx for a comprehensive recap.
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- 05.09.2006
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What the Searchlight Reveals: Harry Reid and Operation G-Sting
The Program
Two protégés of Nevada’s embarrassing senior Senator, Harry Reid, are key players in a federal corruption trial in Las Vegas, known locally as Operation G-Sting. The Reid World will keep you up to date on trial proceedings. Since one cannot tell the players without a program, this first email will simply set the stage.
The charges allege that a strip club owner, Michael Galardi, made cash payments to two Clark County Commissioners in return for their work behind the scenes to loosen strip club regulations. Former Commissioner and Reid Protégé Dario Herrera is alleged to have received over $200,000, in addition to free lap dances and other “sexual favors.” Former Commissioner Mary Kincaid-Chauncey is alleged to have received over $19,000.
Galardi pled guilty and is testifying for the government as part of a plea agreement. Another key government witnesses is Reid Protégé and Former Commissioner Erin Kenny, who also pled guilty to corruption and receiving cash payments to assist Galardi.
In 2002, Reid Protégé Dario Herrera ran for US Congress, with Harry calling on his protégé’s behalf saying - "I’m calling to tell you that Dario Herrera is a man of integrity who puts people first.”
When Herrera was indicted, Reid continued to support of his protégé, saying “He’s a young man who has a lovely wife and a child … Why can’t people leave him alone? None of us are perfect.”
Real World to Reid World – the idea of corrupt politicians is repugnant to most Americans. Of course, anyone who has held their nose and followed Harry’s statements would know that Harry believes democrats are always above reproach. That is why Harry maintains he can keep his $68,000 in Abramoff affiliated funds as being perfectly legal, while contending that lesser Abramoff involvement by Republicans is evidence of corruption.
Harry still maintains that his protégé Herrera is ‘an honest man,’ reaffirming that ‘Herrera had his [Reid’s] vote of confidence.’”
In 2002, Erin Kenny ran for Nevada Lieutenant Governor. Harry Reid openly supported and promoted her candidacy, saying: “The thing I most admire about [my protégé] Erin [Kenny] is that she’s a person who does what she thinks is right. She may not always follow what is popular at the time. She has a fixed set of principles and off she goes.”
Considering that she has pled guilty to corruption, one must wonder exactly what ‘fixed set of principles’ Harry admired so much. ‘Off she goes’ will take on a new meaning once Reid protégé Kenny is sentenced; we just hope her performance as a federal prisoner will be something else for Harry to admire.
Well, now you know the players. Opening statements are complete and the first witnesses are testifying. The Reid World will keep you posted so you can follow the trials and tribulations of Reid’s protégés.
(Reid World note: To eliminate any confusion, Reid’s connections to Operation G-Sting have nothing to do with the Harry Reid Thong available over the internet, although both appear to involve serious crimes.)
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- 03.21.2006
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What the Searchlight Reveals: Harry Reid and Operation G-Sting
1st Week Update
In their opening statement, the federal prosecutors asserted that Galardi paid Reid Protégé Dario Herrera $10,000 a month in exchange for helping Galardi open the Jaguars strip club. The specific assistance was for construction permits, liquor licenses and changes in laws relating to strip club locations and internal activities. The full currency for the alleged bribes was cash, lap dances and unspecified sexual favors. Reid’s Protégé Herrera was running for US Congress and needed cash.
Early testimony revealed that local police were concerned about the new club, because strippers from other Galardi clubs had been repeatedly arrested for soliciting prostitution and immodest public behavior. Police requested $24,000 to investigate other Galardi clubs in 5 other states. Reid Protégé Herrera led the effort to deny this request to investigate Galardi.
The evidence being presented is that shortly after voting in support of Galardi, Reid Protégé Herrera made a request for $30,000 and met with the Galardi bagman.
To date, Reid Protégé Kenny has not testified. She has already pled guilty to charges similar to those faced by Herrera and is a cooperating government witness.
If you are interested in additional information on the last week in the trial of Reid’s Protégé, visit http://tinyurl.com/jm5sq for a comprehensive recap.
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- 03.28.2006
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What the Searchlight Reveals: Harry Reid and Operation G-Sting – 2nd Week Update
This week started with some interesting revelations.
Prosecutors presented evidence of Reid Protégé Herrera telling Malone to hit up Galardi “for that commitment.” Malone responded that “I’ll get the money to you or someone else.
In 2002 when Reid Protégé Kenny was running for Lt. Governor, Galardi was heard telling Kenny that he had already registered 300 strippers to vote. Galardi asked Kenny for help on a strip club licensing issue, promising to register another 10,000 strippers. Reid’s Protégé Kenny responded “I’m saying man that could swing an election.”
Sometime later, Kenny called Malone saying, "I need money to finish this race off” and "I’m begging now. I’m on my knees. You can’t get me in a more vulnerable position right now." Reid Protégé Kenny justified this request by saying "I’ve done more for Mike [Galardi] with [Galardi’s strip club] Jaguars every day screaming at people then anyone else has."
Kenny took the stand and testified that she received payments from Galardi to redirect her efforts on his behalf, that she knew that Galardi was looking for favorable treatment on his matters and that she was sure the payments were illegal.
To confirm that this was not an isolated incident, Kenny admitted that she was paid approximately $200,000 from a development company to assist in a zoning change to support a commercial development.
The development was not popular with her constituents, but she followed her fixed set of principles, took the bribe and supported the development. She must have made Harry proud. “The thing I most admire about [my Protégé] Erin [Kenny] is that she’s a person who does what she thinks is right. She may not always follow what is popular at the time. She has a fixed set of principles and off she goes.” Senator Harry Reid - 12.15.2003
If you are interested in additional information on the last week in the trial of Reid’s Protégé, visit http://tinyurl.com/kgrcy or a comprehensive recap.
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- 04.04.2006
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What the Searchlight Reveals: Harry Reid and Operation G-Sting – 3rd Week Update
This week completed the testimony on Reid Protégé Kenny, in which she admitted to taking several hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes. The focus then turned to Reid Protégé Dario Herrera, who is on trial for corruption charges, specifically for bribery and depriving the public of honest services.
The testimony detailed the things of value Herrera received in return for support on matters before the Clark County Commission.
The main witness was strip club owner Michael Galardi. Galardi testified that he had been paying politicians for years because, being in the topless industry, he needed to be prepared for those who wanted to shut down his business. Reid Protégé’s Kenny and Herrera were just two of the people Galardi paid to ensure that he could stay in the business. The testimony was that Dario frequented Galardi’s strip clubs and never paid for anything, including lap dances, oral sex in the strip club bathroom and on the golf course.
Galardi testified that he once asked Herrera why he wanted to leave the Clark County Commission and run for Congress. According to Galardi, Herrera rubbed his finger and thumb together and said "I don't want to deal with scum like you anymore. I want to deal with the big boys."
Reid wanted to get Dario with the big boys as well. In February 2002, Reid reaffirmed his support for Herrera in the race for an open congressional seat. When asked whether it was time to pull the plug, Reid supported his protégé, dismissing “all the ethics problems” by saying that Herrera was “an honest man” and that his protégé “had his vote of confidence.’”
Galardi had a slightly different view of Reid’s protégé; Herrera, Galardi said, was "arrogant ... he acts like he's doing you a favor taking your money. That's just Dario. He's cocky."
In August 2002, Harry made automated calls in support of his Protege Herrera, saying - "I’m calling to tell you that Dario Herrera is a man of integrity who puts people first.” Apparently, the person Dario puts first is Dario. The jury heard evidence of Herrera receiving free lap dances. One detail the jury did not hear was that, on the day Herrera’s son was born, Herrera went to the strip club and received an hours worth of free lap dances. The judge ruled that the fact that Herrera received free lap dances on the day his son was born was too prejudicial.
In June 2005, after his Protégé Herrera was indicted, Harry had this to say about him: “He’s a young man who has a lovely wife and a child … Why can’t people leave him alone? None of us are perfect.”
Message to Harry and his Harpies, no one and no party is perfect. Corruption is a bi-partisan problem deserving of a bi-partisan approach. Reid has no moral authority to lecture anyone about a ‘culture of corruption;’ he actively supported two individuals charged with corruption, his protégé Kenny for Nevada’s Lieutenant Governor and his protégé Herrera for US Congress. After working so hard to bring someone like Herrera to Congress, Reid shows that he is simply a partisan hack. Reid should return his own Abramoff money and hold his tongue on ‘corruption’ issues.
If you are interested in additional information on the last week in the trial of Reid’s Protégé, visit http://tinyurl.com/gfy4oc
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- 04.11.2006
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What the Searchlight Reveals: Harry Reid and Operation G-Sting – 4th Week Update
The government rested on Wednesday, which was earlier than expected, so there is less to report than in past weeks.
Galardi testified to a sexual relationship with Reid Protégé Kenny, an allegation which she, a married mother of 5, denies. The question seems to be who is lying about this, Galardi or Kenny. Galardi and Kenny have both pled guilty to the corruption and bribery charges. Kenny showed no shame in her testimony about other dirty deeds but she does deny this.
What she did not deny was the evidence that she has a sweetheart deal, being able to keep the bulk of her accumulated bribe money. She has admitted to taking over $400,000 in bribes, but must only repay $70,000. She did not declare the money on her income taxes, but is immune from prosecution for tax fraud and the IRS does not appear to be pursuing a civil action for back taxes. Nice deal if you can get it - perhaps taking care of herself in such a slick manner at the expense of the public is the essential component of Kenny’s ‘fixed set of principles’ so admired by Harry Reid.
As for the other Reid Protégé, Dario Herrera, one of Galardi’s strip club managers testified that he walked into Galardi’s strip club office and saw Galardi and Herrera sitting around Galardi’s desk, which was piled high with $100 bills. When the witness asked Galardi what the meeting was about, Galardi replied "What do you think that was about?" Harry Reid said his protégé was an honest man, so the Reid World is still trying to figure out what that meeting was really about.
The nice thing about the short court week is that, after wallowing in the antics of Reid Protégé’s Kenny and Herrera, everyone had enough time to clean up before the weekend.
If you are interested in additional information on the last week in the trial of Reid’s Protégé, visit http://tinyurl.com/o8ys5 for a comprehensive recap.
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- 04.20.2006
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What the Searchlight Reveals: Harry Reid and Operation G-Sting – 5th & 6th Week Updates
The past two weeks involved the defense surprisingly denying the allegations, attacking the credibility of government witnesses and attorneys engaging in legal arguments over witnesses and jury instructions.
Essentially, Reid Protégé Herrera adopted his mentor Reid’s Abramoff defense.
As you may recall, Reid accepted over $68,000 in Abramoff affiliated funds. Reid’s former top aide, Eddie Ayoob, went direct from Reid’s staff to being the top democrat on Team Abramoff. Ayoob arranged Reid’s representation of the Indian Tribes that contributed to Reid’s campaign coffers and organized fundraisers for Reid at Team Abramoff offices.
The Reid Abramoff Defense: I accepted the money legally, did nothing wrong and will keep it. Republicans, on the other hand, who accepted smaller sums with fewer ties to Team Abramoff are corrupt and should return the money. Although the Reid Abramoff Defense is ridiculous, he appears to have gotten away with it.
So, Reid Protégé Herrera adopted his version of the Reid Abramoff Defense. Herrera testified that he did accept golf outings, lap dances and other sexual favors from Galardi. He said he knew that these gifts were intended to influence his decisions as a commissioner, but (drum roll please) he did nothing illegal.
One issue was why, on numerous occasions, he spent more time driving to a meeting to discuss issues with Galardi than he spent talking about the unidentified ‘issue’. Wiretaps indicated that the meetings were to provide Herrera with ‘services’ that could not be delivered over the telephone. Herrera denied this, testifying that he wanted to be accessible to talk to constituents about these ‘issues’. No testimony on whether constituents who did not provide Herrera with certain ‘personal services’ such as lap dances received similar visits from the dedicated commissioner.
Although Harry Reid must have been so proud of his protégé, trial observers do not know if the Reid Abramoff defense will work for Herrera. Jurors who watched other witnesses testify about Herrera receiving lap dances and oral sex did not look at Herrera when he testified.
Closing arguments start this week and the next update will be when the jury reaches a verdict or there is some other significant occurrence.
If you are interested in additional information on the last week in the trial of Reid’s Protégé, visit http://tinyurl.com/ks62q and http://tinyurl.com/jresz for a comprehensive recap. For an analysis of Herrera’s testimony, see http://tinyurl.com/f3hc3.
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- 05.02.2006
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