Dick Cheney charged?

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Dick Cheney charged over jail 'abuses'
US Vice-President Dick Cheney has been charged with "organised criminal activity" related to alleged abuse of inmates in private prisons.
19 Nov 2008[/align]
A grand jury in South Texas indicted Mr Cheney along with former attorney General Alberto Gonzales on Tuesday. The indictment has not been seen by a judge, who could dismiss it. Mr Cheney's office declined to comment. "We have not received any indictments. I can't comment on something we have not received," said a spokeswoman, Megan Mitchell.

The grand jury in Willacy County, in the Rio Grande Valley near the US-Mexico border, said Mr Cheney was "profiteering from depriving human beings of their liberty," according to a copy of the indictment obtained by Reuters. The indictment cites a "money trail" of Mr Cheney's ownership in prison-related enterprises including the Vanguard Group, which owns an interest in private prisons in south Texas. Mr Gonzales used his position to "stop the investigations as to the wrong doings" into assaults in county prisons, the indictment said.

The indictment, overseen by county District Attorney Juan Guerra, cites the case of Gregorio De La Rosa, who died on April 26, 2001, inside a private prison in Willacy County. The grand jury wrote it made its decision "with great sadness," but said they had no other choice but to indict the two "because we love our country".

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I don't understand what this Grand Jury system means, but here's hoping it's a genuine charge that will be prosecuted.

[maycm]

Can't see Cheney getting justice in Texas, especially considering the Bush connections.

[Skylace]

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I don't understand what this Grand Jury system means, but here's hoping it's a genuine charge that will be prosecuted.

A grand jury will only see if there is a enough evidence for him to go to trial. Nothing more. It's basically set up to make sure a case doesn't go to trial on just the word of a prosecutor. So the prosecutor here will have to convince this "impartial group of ordinary citizens" that there is enough to take him to court. We'll have to see.

[SpursFan1902]

I can't see it happening, but some pretty amazing things have happened this year, so who knows. All I will say is I hope he gets what he deserves, whatever that may be.

[pirtybirdy]

It looks like more kooks taking cracks at sending Cheney up the river. The usual fare of tying up our courts with nonsense charges that won't and shouldn't stick.

[Skylace]

It looks like more kooks taking cracks at sending Cheney up the river. The usual fare of tying up our courts with nonsense charges that won't and shouldn't stick.

Well, since this is a grand jury it won't be tying up the courts. That's the whole idea behind it. The grand jury is set up as checks and balances. So if the grand jury finds there isn't enough evidence he will not go to court.