Oy did I wake up pissed off this morning.

But then I read John Pacenti's tremendous column today and learned that former prosecutor Sean Cronin, who got into such hot water for his shockingly poor judgment during the Ali Shaygan trial before Judge Gold (now on appeal), is actually working on Gitmo cases!?!?!

Thanks John, now I feel a whole lot better.

Here's Senor Calli on this pickle of a predicament:

“I was surprised to learn that there would be an appeal of that order with a professed view from the Department of Justice in Washington to hold prosecutors accountable,” he said. “Judge Gold is one of the finest district court judges in the country. He went to great pains at the sanctions hearing to protect the due process rights of these prosecutors and law enforcement agents and gave them every opportunity to explain themselves.”

Calli said Gold, along with many federal jurists around the country, is concerned that prosecutors are not being held accountable by their department.

“I think whether it’s in Alaska or Florida or in Boston, you are seeing district judges police their own courtroom,” he said.

Ahh yes, accountability --a wonderful concept that should in all cases be applied strictly to others.

Angry commuter Joe DeMaria chimes in:

“Government seems to be blind to the message Judge Gold was sending,” DeMaria said. “I’m concerned when a senior government prosecutor seeking the position of U.S. attorney is being defensive about it. Whether it’s sanctionable or not, the conduct was not defensible.”

Defensive? Lack of accountability?

You want to talk defensive and unaccountable conduct, consider the Dark One's appearance on Fox News Sunday:

“We ask these people to do some very difficult things,” Mr. Cheney said. “They do so at the direction of the president.”

Interesting choice of words, "difficult."

In what sense is it "difficult" for the perpetrator to have to torture someone "at the direction of the President"?

Hmm, this reminds me of a discussion we had recently on Rump's blog.

You mean it's "difficult" for the torturer in that sometimes this person is called on by the state to be ruthless, to be cold-blooded, to be merciless in committing what some might from the outside view as cruel, inhumane or even immoral acts -- to compartmentalize and justify these actions because they are being done for the greater good, for the nation, for total Victory, and for Our Fearless Leader?

Nope, good thing modern Western Civilization has never encountered that impulse before.

The inestimable Julie Kay breaks news as usual regarding the shameful effort by prosecutors in Alex Acosta's office to trap uber-lawyer David O. Markus, which resulted in an explosive $600k sanctions order by Judge Gold:

The three prosecutors themselves are appealing. Josefsberg and Pearson filed a notice of appeal for Hoffman, and Martinez and colleagues Maureen Lefebvre and Susan Tarbe filed a motion on behalf of Cronin.

Martinez said he will argue that Cronin and the others were wrongly denied the opportunity to speak at the hearing when they were sanctioned.

“They were excluded and didn’t have the opportunity to put on their case,” he said. “Just as [defense attorney David O.] Markus wants due process rights, we feel Mr. Cronin is entitled to his due process rights. It is appropriate for him to be heard by the judge.”

Gilbert has not yet filed a notice of appeal. Becerra, who moved to Greenberg from the U.S. attorney’s office, has taken the case pro bono, according to her secretary. Becerra is out of the office on parental leave.

When asked whether Martinez, a former Miami U.S. attorney, was representing him pro bono, Cronin said, “I’d rather not answer that.”

Oh man, that's rich -- was Sean so flustered by Julie's question that all he could do was say "I'd rather not answer" -- thereby answering by not answering? Was he not prepared to handle that inquiry? What's the big deal about going pro bono in the first place? (Note -- corrected, thx).

BTW, I love that these prosecutors are now pleading for due process -- which of course they deserve -- when it was apparent from the sanctions order that due process was not exactly at the top of their trial to-do list.

Also, didn't Cronin testify (lamely) for several hours before Judge Gold anyways? As the Judge repeatedly told him, "tell the truth, Mr. Cronin."

Plus, even my buddy Paul Calli gets quoted!

And, in a surprise move, so does Kendall Coffey.

Walter and Donald, sing this one out please.....

It's cold, rainy, dreary, and wet, everywhere I look there are toxic assets -- and I haven't even left my house yet.

Welcome to Monday.

Let's see, I like happy endings, don't you?

Here's one for the Carlton Fields white collar trial team of Mike Pasano, Paul Calli, and Marissel Descalzo, who represented attorney Luisa Inclan Bird:

A jury found Puerto Rico's former governor not guilty Friday on all nine counts including conspiracy, money laundering and lying to the FBI, concluding his monthlong corruption trial.

Anibal Acevedo Vila, who could have faced 20 years in prison if convicted, was the first governor to be charged with a crime since the island became a semiautonomous U.S. commonwealth in 1952.

Acevedo made the sign of the cross as he heard the verdict and began to cry, as did former adviser Luisa Inclan, who was also cleared of similar charges.

Judge Paul Barbadoro faced both defendants after the verdict. "This case has ended. You are free to go," he said.

The acquittal is a major blow to the U.S. Attorney's office, which prosecuted the governor in an election year — likely contributing to his defeat in one of the most lopsided elections in Puerto Rican history.

U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodriguez said Friday that she respects but disagrees with the verdict. She also denied that evidence was weak.

"The circumstantial evidence allowed for inferences to be made that the jury did not understand as such, but we accept that," she said.

In other words -- great prosecution, dumb jury. Congrats guys!

In other news, our elusive butterfly may have spread his wings again, and we are looking for Peggyann Delaney in connection with a 50th high school reunion. Any leads, please let me know.

Sheesh, what am I, the local pennysaver?