The Times makes no attempt to explain the jury's reasoning here:
Vincent Asaro, Accused in Lutfhansa Heist, Is Found Not Guilty
By STEPHANIE CLIFFORD NOV. 12, 2015
Vincent Asaro, the reputed mobster charged in connection with the notorious 1978 Lufthansa robbery, walked out of federal court in Brooklyn on Thursday a free man after a jury cleared him of racketeering and other charges.
The verdicts, delivered after little more than two days of deliberations, left many in the courtroom stunned, most visibly prosecutors from the United States attorney’s office, which had spent years building a case against Mr. Asaro, 80, with testimony from high-ranking Mafia figures and recordings made by an informer for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
But the case relied heavily on the cooperation of some of those Mafia figures, some of them admitted killers, and the jury ultimately rejected the government’s accusation that Mr. Asaro helped carry out a criminal enterprise engaged in murder and robbery, most notoriously the Lufthansa robbery, which became a central plot point in the film “Goodfellas.”
I don't know where the prosecution case foundered, and certainly mobsters have walked before. Presumably in the fullness of time jury members will present their thoughts to the media, but while I wait for actual evidence I will (more or less reflexively) blame the pervasive progressive "Can't trust the cops" attitude held by our President and the NYC Mayor.
They, presumably, will blame Bush. Or maybe Cheney.
First without raalizing this is not the post I wanted to comment on.
Posted by: Jack is Back! | November 12, 2015 at 06:36 PM
Didn't the heist occur during the Carter presidency? I blame Jimmuh.
Posted by: Comanche Voter | November 12, 2015 at 06:37 PM
What? you got a problem with this?
As Joe Pesci said, "You think this is funny?".
You can lose your life with the wrong and right answer.
Posted by: Jack is Back! | November 12, 2015 at 06:40 PM
78 was Carter. New York was a dump (but fun party zone). The jury was microaggressed to by the stereotype of Sicilians as mobsters.
Posted by: henry | November 12, 2015 at 06:48 PM
So, Mr. Asaro gets to keep the gun and the cannoli because JustUs is now a weak horse?
Those slave pen evictions for smoking ought to be a lot of fun.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | November 12, 2015 at 06:54 PM
Rudy would have got a conviction. He knew how to turn the co-conspirators/actors.
Now I have to worry Vinnie Asaro likes to make day trips to Southampton and is easily offended if someone takes his parking spot.
Posted by: Jack is Back! | November 12, 2015 at 06:56 PM
The FBI has expanded its investigation of Hillary Clinton’s private email server and is now looking into whether “materially false” statements were given to federal agents, Fox News is reporting.
So, they're saying the is a redux of Scooter Libby.
Tim Russert .. call your office
Posted by: Neo | November 12, 2015 at 06:58 PM
U Muzzle is now threatening police action for hurtful speech.
http://www.mediaite.com/online/university-of-missouri-police-ask-students-to-report-hurtful-speech/
Posted by: Rocco | November 12, 2015 at 07:01 PM
'You really are a funny guy!'
Posted by: Beasts of England | November 12, 2015 at 07:04 PM
WASHINGTON (CNN) —A Secret Service officer assigned to the White House was arrested after he was caught in a sting sending naked pictures of himself to someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl from Delaware, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Thursday.
Lee Robert Moore turned himself in to the Maryland State Police Barracks on Monday, the same day the complaint was filed against him in the U.S. District Court for Delaware.
The complaint details a series of online chats between Moore, 37, and a Delaware State Police detective posing as a 14-year-old girl from Delaware. Moore is alleged to have sent naked photos of himself to the undercover officer and requested to meet in person to have sex.
When he turned himself in, Moore waived his Miranda rights, according to the complaint, and agreed to an interview with law enforcement. In the interview, he said that he sent some messages while on the job at the White House and admitted to sending messages to what he believed was an underaged girl and other underage girls on a mobile messaging service.
Moore was charged with the attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years.
I can hear it now ... "I did not have sex with that .. minor"
LUN
Posted by: Neo | November 12, 2015 at 07:05 PM
There's also that mob conviction, noted in 'find me guilty'
Posted by: buccaneer morgan | November 12, 2015 at 07:09 PM
Neo,
Are you sure it wasn;t a research project?
Posted by: Jack is Back! | November 12, 2015 at 07:09 PM
Are there any Tampa-area JOMers? I am heading down there next week and a)would love to meet up for lunch or a drink, and b)am looking for a suggestion for a decent golf course to kill a few hours and lose some golf balls at. Nothing special--I'm a solid 15 handicapper at best. I'm staying in the area of the airport.
Posted by: boatbuilder, Esq., Lord of All He Surveys | November 12, 2015 at 07:11 PM
That involved the lucchesr mob which was the longest trial till that date.
Posted by: buccaneer morgan | November 12, 2015 at 07:13 PM
Maybe the jurors caught wind of Manhattan DA Vance's little racket and figured what's sauce for the goose...
Posted by: boatbuilder, Esq., Lord of All He Surveys | November 12, 2015 at 07:15 PM
Assorted LE and leadership types IM'ing little girls. Inmates running amok at various and sundry asylums across this great land.
The Feds ready to take on transgender rights as the new civil right. I'm blaming medical marijuana.
Posted by: matt | November 12, 2015 at 07:16 PM
U Muzzle is now threatening police action for hurtful speech.
You couldn't pay me to go to the University of Missouri.
funny - Sheryl Crow is an alumni
Maybe the bathroom poop problem was because someone took her advice about only using 1 square! Hah!
Posted by: Janet | November 12, 2015 at 07:20 PM
IS btw took credit for the Beirut bombings today.
Posted by: buccaneer morgan | November 12, 2015 at 07:26 PM
boatbuilder,
Rocky Point. Muni and short but fun. About 10m from the airport.
Posted by: Jack is Back! | November 12, 2015 at 07:30 PM
According to the police report, when the swastika was discovered, the Jewish organizations were notified. Not the blacks. I guess cultural appropriation is acceptable on occasion.
Posted by: Beasts of England | November 12, 2015 at 07:33 PM
The agheenco affair is where the real potential for a windfall.
Posted by: buccaneer morgan | November 12, 2015 at 07:34 PM
Sheryl Crow went to college? Who knew?
Posted by: maryd | November 12, 2015 at 07:34 PM
"According to Crow's new strictures, the average person should use "only one square per restroom visit, except, of course, on those pesky occasions where two to three could be required". Further details were not offered as to the precise nature of these "pesky occasions", though "we are an industrious enough people that we can make it work", she insists."
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2007/apr/23/musicnews.music
To be REALLY green, you might use NO squares & just use your excrement to decorate the walls of the bathroom.
Posted by: Janet | November 12, 2015 at 07:38 PM
Test
Posted by: Jim Eagle | November 12, 2015 at 07:38 PM
I'm more than ready for a National Melt a Snowflake Year.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | November 12, 2015 at 07:38 PM
He's 80. I assume the jury didn't want to spend the money.
Posted by: Jane | November 12, 2015 at 07:42 PM
jane,
Its New York. The jurors learned that vinnie and his pals had their addresses. Its the way it works there. Even at 80 he has his contacts, plus he is an icon to the wise guys.
Posted by: Jim Eagle | November 12, 2015 at 07:49 PM
Thanks, Jack.
Posted by: boatbuilder, Esq., Lord of All He Surveys | November 12, 2015 at 07:54 PM
That too jib.
Posted by: Jane | November 12, 2015 at 07:55 PM
We had a smaller case in south florida with some mid level importers, Willy and sal, they bribed the jury, hence causing the us atty to go on a infamous bender in a gentleman's club.
Posted by: buccaneer morgan | November 12, 2015 at 08:04 PM
There's a vinnie in goodfellas who was played by Marty scorceses father.
Posted by: buccaneer morgan | November 12, 2015 at 08:17 PM
Its simple tonight. Can the Jets stop the Bills run and their young QB.
I think they can and Fat Rex gets his overdue New York raspberry.
Go Jets.
[subbing for Extrameous and peter]
Posted by: Jim Eagle | November 12, 2015 at 08:17 PM
--He's 80. I assume the jury didn't want to spend the money.--
I had the same thought although I didn't consider the money angle as much as "He's frickin' 80. What's the point?"
Posted by: Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki | November 12, 2015 at 08:36 PM
The heist is nearly forty years gone, as well. More of a history book than an investigative report. Even if there's no statute of limitations issue, there are obvious vulnerabilities for a miscarriage of justice. I'd be awfully reluctant to find someone guilty of a crime that old unless the evidence was overwhelming.
Posted by: Cecil Turner | November 12, 2015 at 08:45 PM
Sister Souljah said that Hillary! reminds her of 'the slave plantation white wife of the white master.'
I guess she hasn't forgiven Willie.
Posted by: Beasts of England | November 12, 2015 at 08:48 PM
As if on cue Lew Alcindor proves, again, his heart cannot get oxygen all the way up to his brain and makes a complete shining ass of himself compared to the relatively sensible column by Jason Whitlock I linked this morning on the same subject.
Posted by: Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki | November 12, 2015 at 08:49 PM
I'd almost like to see Trump as pres if only to prove that deporting [and prompting self deportation] of whatever million illegals are here is not exactly an impossible task.
It is only to the extent people think it is.
Posted by: Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki | November 12, 2015 at 09:00 PM
It's war guys--gird your loins--stop here on the way to RNC HQ to pick up your free sharpened pikes:https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/time-for-gop-panic-establishment-worried-carson-and-trump-might-win/2015/11/12/38ea88a6-895b-11e5-be8b-1ae2e4f50f76_story.html
Iggy- we're counting on you to shlep the battering ram here.
Narciso, scout the place.
Jane and Caro, distract the security guards.
Cecil--the atrategic planning is all yours.
Ballard, get us the necessary money for bail and lawyers.
That is all,
Commander C
Posted by: clarice | November 12, 2015 at 09:17 PM
Riger Murdock has just lose the ball.
Posted by: buccaneer morgan | November 12, 2015 at 09:17 PM
Which US Attorney provided details to Scorsese for the Goodfellas script? Loretta Lynch.
Posted by: Beasts of England | November 12, 2015 at 09:18 PM
If universities continue to melt down and make their kow tows to these psychotic pseudo Marxist punks of color I think you will begin to see the free market start to break the embargo that the Gramsci crackers have established over higher ed.
I'm surprised it has started so slowly considering how dysfunctional so many of them already are.
If they get even worse there will be a backlash of millions of parents who will simply refuse to pay scores or hundreds of thousands of dollars to have their kids spend four years with Sideshow Bob and the Nairobi Trio and come out either addlepated beyond reclamation or unemployable.
Seven years of a psychotic pseudo Marxist punk of color in the WH has given us exactly what he and the Chinless Wonder wanted; a courageous conversation on race that consists of left wing racists of color screaming at left wing crackers of guilt who vomit their guilt out on command like a mother penguin for the little dipshits to lap up and start squawking for more.
What sane parent wants to send their kid into four years of A Clockwork Orange and Black and Red and Yellow and Brown?
Posted by: Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki | November 12, 2015 at 09:21 PM
Heh, a full confederacy of dunces, voinovich, barbour kean, still looking for the elephant.
Posted by: buccaneer morgan | November 12, 2015 at 09:22 PM
The Romney advisor in clarice's link said that the strategy now is to wait for the other candidates to self-destruct.
I think that has always been taught GOPe 101.
Posted by: Threadkiller | November 12, 2015 at 09:25 PM
In the field of settled science it turns out that more acidic sea water causes coral reefs to grow, not die.
97% of climate scientists are sticking their fingers in their ears and closing their eyes.
Posted by: Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki | November 12, 2015 at 09:28 PM
Is Jennifer Rubin on life support?
Posted by: Captain Hate on the iPad | November 12, 2015 at 09:40 PM
I was focusing on commissar henson, but it turns out he's only trotsky compared to the interim Mizzou president, Middleton and his November coup
Posted by: buccaneer morgan | November 12, 2015 at 09:41 PM
Reefs are built almost entirely of calcium carbonate. If you suck up a base, the remaining water will be more acidic as a result. That this was amazing to the people doing the study, meant they never even had as much as a salt water aquarium that they dealt with the chemistry on. We have dunces doing climate studies...
Posted by: GMax | November 12, 2015 at 09:41 PM
Good to hear that Voinovich is having a melt down.
Posted by: Buckeye | November 12, 2015 at 09:45 PM
The concern for the GOP shown by the WaPo typists is very touching.
How in the world can we reduce the number of targets for them to shoot at fast enough to alleviate their concern? I wonder if they will actually die of concern if the nomination process runs up to the convention, forcing them to compress six months of attacks into four months?
Posted by: Rick Ballard | November 12, 2015 at 09:57 PM
The concern for the GOP shown by the WaPo typists is very touching.
How in the world can we reduce the number of targets for them to shoot at fast enough to alleviate their concern? I wonder if they will actually die of concern if the nomination process runs up to the convention, forcing them to compress six months of attacks into four months?
Posted by: Rick Ballard | November 12, 2015 at 09:58 PM
It's absolutely a coup, narciso. Coupled with a year-long get out the minority vote campaign.
Posted by: Beasts of England | November 12, 2015 at 09:58 PM
Groin-Itch backing the mailman's son. If his daughter hadn't been run over by some crack headed imbecile while running for Mayor against Kucinich, that ignorant RINO would've never risen higher than some bean counter in the county auditor office.
Posted by: Captain Hate on the iPad | November 12, 2015 at 09:58 PM
Well this comes through the other bob costa, the one who makes our eyes twitch.
The sky dragon is still on track to raise the waterlevel by one meter. (if you're pulling a scam, aim high) ht tim blair.
Posted by: buccaneer morgan | November 12, 2015 at 10:01 PM
The WaPo outdid itself with that hodgepodge of quotes from Republican has-beens, never-weres, and documented losers. I guess the many Republicans nationwide now filling formerly Dem seats were unavailable for comment. Or perhaps their responses were calm and confident, but the WaPo wanted hopeless and hysterical.
Posted by: DebinNC | November 12, 2015 at 10:03 PM
INSIDE JOB: MIZZOU’S NEW INTERIM PRESIDENT MADE ‘RACE-RELATIONS’ VIDEO WITH ACTIVIST LEADER
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/11/12/inside-job-mizzous-new-interim-president-made-race-relations-video-activist-leader/
Posted by: Threadkiller | November 12, 2015 at 10:09 PM
The economist, house organ of conquistador coffee is similarly verklempt, is their a polish equivalent of the new regime in Warsaw
Posted by: buccaneer morgan | November 12, 2015 at 10:11 PM
Yes that's what I was referring to, and I intended the October revolution parallel.
Posted by: buccaneer morgan | November 12, 2015 at 10:13 PM
save the reefs! burn fossil fuels!
Posted by: peter | November 12, 2015 at 10:15 PM
No wonder the climate loons act like shrieking ninnies; they never enjoyed the soothing experience of watching healthy tropical fish.
Posted by: Captain Hate on the iPad | November 12, 2015 at 10:23 PM
The Washington Post article, it's interesting, the reference to establishment Republicans aching for someone electable, and then someone saying we might have to draft Romney. Hmmm, he's shown us how electable he is already.
And, as far as University of Missouri, I've been thinking for months how college students remind me of the communists in East Germany and the USSR. I've seen the students referred to fascists, but, to me, they're more like the horrible overlords of the Cold War.
Also, I read a really interesting article about the growth of microaggresion and trigger warnings. Think you all might be interested in how some of it can be traced back to an Israeli's student complaint 'water buffalo' against loud-mouthed black students, think they were girls. The term was considered racists, when in Israel it meant rowdy or inconsiderate people.
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/09/the-coddling-of-the-american-mind/399356/
Posted by: Joan | November 12, 2015 at 10:31 PM
Think I will head to bed.
Nytol!
Posted by: Miss Marple 2 | November 12, 2015 at 10:46 PM
It's absolutely a coup, narciso. Coupled with a year-long get out the minority vote campaign.
Remember Obama saying he was gonna have a 500 thousand civilian army? This is it.
"We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded." - Barack Obama
Posted by: Stephanie | November 12, 2015 at 10:47 PM
It's an extreme case of "1st world problems." Even the 60s Vietnam protesters were at least marching about something important, even if they were idiots and communist sympathizers. Protesting imagined phony grievances, demanding men be able to use women's bathrooms and showers... it must go back to how these kids were raised, that were overprotected.
Mrs K was just reading a book called "Blessings of a B-" that talks about how important it is to expose teens to mean people, failure, rejection, etc., so that they can be prepared to leave home. Kind of obvious, but easy for many to forget in the heat of the moment.
Posted by: jimmyk | November 12, 2015 at 10:50 PM
They are feral eloi which is an odd image, how numerous are they, not many but even so called reasonable people at cmc seem to be surrendering.
Posted by: buccaneer morgan | November 12, 2015 at 10:54 PM
Rucker the coauthor had carried more water for zaphod and red queen then a Roman aqueduct.
Posted by: buccaneer morgan | November 12, 2015 at 11:02 PM
It took chutzpah for black MO football players to threaten not to play football Saturday after losing 5 of their last 6 games. Maybe they can beat BYU this week, then it's back to MO being stomped by SEC teams.
Posted by: DebinNC | November 12, 2015 at 11:05 PM
Well it was more a promise not a threat, which they still reneged on.
Posted by: buccaneer morgan | November 12, 2015 at 11:08 PM
Shades of that first pilot of ncis, they found a French jihadist at a beauty salon in turkey.
Posted by: buccaneer morgan | November 12, 2015 at 11:25 PM
Asaro could have made the argument, he was 'liberating' Lufthansa cargo. Equally ludicrous arguments were preferred in Donnie brasco.
Posted by: buccaneer morgan | November 12, 2015 at 11:42 PM
From Clarice's link:
I think they're half-right. Nominating Trump would have all the effects cited above . . . but Carson might well win. And in any event, the WaPo's transparent concern-trollery looks more like an effort to incite internecine warfare than an honest attempt to inform.The only real loser scenario is Trump v. Bush as the final showdown for the nomination. If it's Carson, Rubio, or Cruz, the emerging contender should be able to take a fire hose to the red witch.
Posted by: Cecil Turner | November 13, 2015 at 05:02 AM
Will do Commander!
(salutes)
Posted by: Jane | November 13, 2015 at 11:41 AM
talks about how important it is to expose teens to mean people, failure, rejection, etc.,
The school of tending bar, slinging drinks and dealing blackjack taught me more about people and how to work with the difficult ones than any higher education could ever do.
Posted by: glasater | November 13, 2015 at 03:19 PM