DENNIS HASTERT- FORMER SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE PLEADS GUILTY-TWO DIFFERENT LEGAL SYSTEMS

                               Disgraced Former Speaker of The House-Dennis Hastert

There are two separate justice systems in the United States.

While both systems are dysfunctional, each serves the purpose of ignoring the laws 

of our Country. 

There is the justice system specifically designed for the rich, famous, politically 

connected such as Dennis Hastert,  and it bends over backwards to not hold those 

accountable for breaking laws.

Then there is the justice system for the rest of us, designed to intimidate, bully, 

screw us, in particular, to abuse the victims, dismiss the dignity of regular citizens, 

by using prosecutorial overreach (misconduct) to gain whatever predetermined 

result is deemed "proper by those in power.

  

I did a story some time ago about the unethical, inappropriate abuse of Aron Swartz 

by the U.S. Prosecutors Office, ultimately leading to Swartz committing suicide.

I have personally witnessed the abuse of Prosecutors powers in both my father's 

murder and the killing of my son Steven. 

We read, view, and hear about how the law is twisted like a pretzel to provide all 

kinds of abuses by the legal, law enforcement, justice, and Court systems.

Now we have the case of disgraced former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, the

longest serving Republican House Speaker.

Hastert's is a case that should outrage every American.

He’s a raging hypocrite.

He’s a personal and political sleazebag.

After leaving Congress he has been one of the leading lobbyists in Washington, 

trading his political connections to advocate for Corporations, and making huge 

amounts of money in the process.

In a supposed free, democratic, nation, everyone is equal under the law, but instead 

in reality the legal system gives certain people, very special easy treatment

Here in America we are supposed to live under a fair and just system of law, and by 

any reasonable count this entire Hasert case is an absolute disgrace.

Hastert pleaded guilty this past Wednesday to structuring money transactions in a 

way to evade requirements to report where the money was going.

The money, investigators said, went to pay someone identified as "Individual A", 

$3.5 million in hush money.

In addition, Hastert was charged with making false statements to federal 

investigators.

As part of a plea deal, Hastert pleaded guilty only to the count of hiding money 

transactions.

Two sources with knowledge of the federal investigation told CNN in 

June that Hastert was paying a former student to stay quiet about allegations of 

sexual abuse from when he was a wrestling coach and teacher in Yorkville, Illinois.

There are additional multiple reliable reports that he was also covering up additional 

allegations of sexual misconduct with other students dating from when he was a 

high school wrestling coach about 30 years ago. 

Hastert is not facing jail time for the sexual conduct, if any. No charges have been 

brought or answered. 

Amazingly, no-one is pursuing the reports to investigate the alleged sexual abuse by 

him, and other reports that there are additional victims that he may have abused.

Is Dennis Hastert an alleged pedophile or not?

We will probably never know, because unlike others who would be prosecuted to the 

fullest extent of the law for such heinous behavior, mysteriously, prosecturorial 

discretion magically decided to cut him a plea bargain deal.

Prosecutors recommended that the judge consider the federal sentencing 

guidelines, which given Hastert's crime and lack of previous criminal history, is a 

sentence ranging from no prison time up to six months.

The sentencing date was set for February 29.

"As part of the sentencing process in this case, as in all cases, we will provide the 

court with relevant information about the defendant's background and the charged 

offenses, and the defendant will have an opportunity to do the same, so that the 

court can impose an appropriate sentence taking into account all relevant factors in 

the case," the U.S. attorney's office for the Northern District of Illinois said in a 

statement.

Hastert initially pleaded not guilty to all charges, but Hastert's defense team entered 

negotiations with prosecutors last month.

Whoever Individual A is, it’s not rocket science to figure out he’s got something big on Hastert.

And that something is worth $3.5 million to the former speaker.

From 2010 to 2014, Hastert withdrew approximately $1.7 million in cash from various 

bank accounts, providing the money to “Individual A.”

Then in July 2012, Hastert started withdrawing money in increments slightly less 

than $10,000, allegedly to evade the bank’s reporting as required by law for 

withdrawals of $10,000 or more.

When these transactions caught the attention of the FBI, agents met with Hastert in 

December of last year.

He lied to them, telling them he didn’t trust the banks, triggering an F.B.I criminal 

investigation. Washington being Washington, there is of course speculation about 

what this deep, dark secret is that it was worth $3.5 million to Hastert to keep it quiet.

A former Republican congressional aide put it this way: “He opened himself up to 

blackmail and paid an enormous amount of money. Whatever the underlying cause, it must be so abhorrent to the people who elected him, or it was illegal,or both.

In announcing his original indictment, the FBI must know the identity of Individual A, 

and that Hastert for some time has been paying off this person.

One has to assume Individual A has irrefutable proof of whatever acts Hastert has 

paid so much to conceal. 

Each count in the indictment for evading federal reporting requirements and lying to 

the FBI carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and $250,000 fine. 

But, if you are very rich like Hastert you can hire the best high priced lawyers and 

manipulate the legal system designed for very important people such as him.

It stinks, but this is just another example of the broken justice system at work.

UPDATED OCTOBER 22, 2015-REST IN PEACE KATHY MAHONEY SORABELLA

UPDATED-OCTOBER 22, 2015

OBITUARY

NATICK: Kathleen (Mahoney) Sorabella, LICSW, age 48, a lifelong Natick resident, died peacefully on Tuesday evening, October 20, 2015 at her home. She was the devoted wife of Carl D. Sorabella. Born, raised, and educated in Natick, she was a daughter of Edward F. “Ned” Mahoney of Natick and the late Barbara (Krauss) Mahoney.  Kathy was very active in volunteerism and community affairs, and had been instrumental in bringing back Fourth of July fireworks to Natick.  Her caring for others led her to conceive and bring to fruition SHADOWS, a safe place of refuge for women in need. Eventually entrusted to SMOC, SHADOWS is thriving to this day. Kathy was recognized for her work in 1994, when she was hailed MetroWest Woman of the Year. She was honored to be a member of the Olympic Torch Relay Team for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.  After a well deserved rest, Kathy earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Framingham State University and went on to receive her Master’s in Social Work from Simmons College in 2008. After clinical work she was granted her LICSW by the state.  She enjoyed travel, family and friends, and in quiet times enjoyed creative writing and all genres of music. Mother of the late Ryley Sorabella, she is also survived by her siblings, Kevin Mahoney and his wife Sharon of AZ, Marcia Haines and her husband Michael of FL, Thomas Mahoney and his wife Michelle of Sandwich, and Kara Malcolm and her husband Chip of Natick; sisters-in-law, Doreen Newhouse of Germany, Denise Sorabella of So. Yarmouth, and Gail Guarino and her husband Richard of Gardner; an uncle, Paul Krauss and his wife Sally of NC; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Her funeral will be from the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common, on Monday, Oct. 26th at 9:00AM with a Mass of Christian Burial in Saint Linus Church, 119 Hartford Street, Natick at 10:00AM.  Burial will follow at Saint Patrick Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Sunday, 5 – 8PM.  Donations may be made in Kathy’s memory to benefit her brainchild, SHADOWS, c/o SMOC, 7 Bishop St., Framingham, MA 01702.

To View Guestbook, Sign Guestbook and Directions to the Funeral Home-CLICK HERE.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

REST IN PEACE KATHY MAHONEY SORABELLA

Kathy Sorabella died on October 20th, 2015 at the age of 48, after a long battle against cancer.

I never met Kathy or her husband Carl (see picture above, they were inseparable) but had written a two part series about about their struggles in 2011 (see the series at the links below).

http://jerrywolkoff.blogspot.com/2011/07/have-heart.html

http://jerrywolkoff.blogspot.com/2011/07/have-heart-part-2-updated-news.html

Kathy Sorabella knew what it meant to struggle, fight, and never give up.

The fact she was homeless for two years as a young adult inspired her to open a shelter to give hard-luck women like her a place to go.

"My fear (was) dying and never having made a difference in the world," Kathy Sorabella once said, but she then became an accomplished Social Worker, obtained her Masters Degree in Social Work, and her Certification license from the State of Massachusetts. 

And she did make a difference in people's lives despite her hardships as a homeless young adult and later in her brave battle with Cancer.

Kathy and I exchanged e-mails over the years and she showed me and the others who knew her what the meaning of courage is all about.

Kathy was intelligent, compassionate, loving, kind and driven by a deep desire to make a positive difference in the world  

When that girl got something in her head, there was no stopping her from fighting to get what she wanted.  

It's so sad that her life ended this way after all she overcame in using her own difficulties to learn how to help others.  

She accomplished a lot of good, and did it with incredible passion.

Kathy Mahoney Sorabella was a warrior who fought against evil, loved life, and died much too young.

She will be missed by those who knew her and is an inspiration to all of us as a human being who made a difference in this world. 

REST IN PEACE KATHY.

THE UMPQUA COLLEGE VICTIMS & THE SHERIFF SAYS A MOUTHFUL,THEN HIDES IT

Everyone forgets the dead victims in tragedies, except those who loved them.

As I stated in my previous post, so far there are nine innocent human beings who died in the Umpqua (native indian translation is "thundering waters") Community College massacre ranging in age from 18 to 67: Lucero Alcaraz, 19 Rebecka Ann Carnes,18; Jason Dale Johnson, 33; Quinn Glen Cooper, 18; Treven Taylor Anspach, 20; Lucas Eibel, 18;  Lawrence Levine, 67;  Kim Saltmarsh Dietz, 59; and Sarena Dawn Moore, 44.

They all had dreams, aspirations, goals to be the very best they could in life, now none of what they hoped for will ever come true for them and their families.

These dead human beings are the sons, daughters, father's, mother's, relatives, friends, lovers, and innocent victims whose lives have been stolen forever from them and those who loved them.

             

                                             Lucero Alcaraz, 19

She hadn’t picked a major yet, but was hoping to become a nurse or a pediatrician.

Rebecka Carnes, 18

Carnes’ cousin, Lisa Crawford, posted a message on her Facebook account, calling Carnes “vibrant” and said she was “loved fiercely.”According to the post, Carnes has just started school and a new job.

                                                  Jason Johnson, 33           

Johnson’s mother, Tonja Johnson Engel told NBC News her son had just started classes on Monday.

“He started Monday and he was so proud of what he had accomplished and rightly so,” she said. “The other day he looked at me and hugged me and said, ‘Mom, how long have you been waiting for one of your kids to go to college?’ and I said, “Oh, about 20 years.”                                         

                                                                 Quinn Cooper, 18

Cooper was originally from Roseburg. He had graduated from high school in June and died on his fourth day in college, according to a statement from his family.

“Quinn was funny, sweet, compassionate, and such a wonderful, loving person,” the statement added.

Cooper had been planning to take his brown belt test next week, and also enjoyed voice acting and dancing, according to the statement.

“I don’t know how we are going to move forward with our lives without Quinn,” the statement added. “Our lives are shattered beyond repair.”      

                                               Treven Anspach, 20
                           

Anspach’s family described him as a “one of the most positive young men, always looking for the best in life,” and as “a perfect son.”

The 20-year-old was from Sutherlin, Oregon.

                                  
                                                  Lucas Eibel, 18

According to a statement from his family, Eibel volunteered at a local wild animal park and at an animal shelter. He had graduated from Roseburg High School with “high academic marks” and received a scholarship.

Eibel was studying chemistry.

“We have tried to figure out how to tell everyone how amazing Lucas was, but that would take 18 years,” the family statement added.

                                                 Lawrence Levine, 67                            

Levine, 67, taught at Umpqua Community College, authorities said Friday. He lived in Glide, Oregon.

His Facebook page include a photo of him fly fishing, and he appears to have written for a fishing organization. In one entry described diving into the river near his home.

“As I gazed into the depths, I saw my shadow and rays of light emanating around my silhouette,” Levine wrote in 2013. “The light danced to the rhythm of the breeze on the water; it was all in one and magical, and that was what I dove into.”

     Kim Dietz, 59

Dietz was 59-years-old. She lived in Roseburg. According to a post on Facebook, Roseburg had worked as a caretaker at an Oregon vineyard and had a daughter who attended Umpqua Community College.

                                    Sarena Moore, 44

Moore, 44, lived in Myrtle Creek, Oregon, authorities said Friday. 

According to Moore’s Facebook page, she attended Reno High School and worked for the Oregon Conference of Seventh Day Adventists.

Countless others have been wounded both physically and emotionally.

These people above are the most important realities to remember as those who loved them will never see, talk, or touch them ever again.

Unless you have lost a loved one to violence as they and I have, do not even try to imagine what these people are feeling. It is beyond your comprehension to walk in their shoes.

As always, there are these ironic, side stories that pop up, in particular the ones about the law enforcement community whose sworn job is to fairly enforce the laws, treat the dead with compassion, and above all to be honest in doing their jobs.

Now that this massacre is in his jurisdiction, I wonder how the Sheriff feels about his ignorant prejudiced statements re "actors hired by the Federal government that were part of the Sandy Hook Massacre as part of a conspiracy".

No wonder he immediately tried to hide it by deleting his post off of Face Book about "the conspiracy", after all, these are now his dead friends, his community, and it really happened.

It is so easy to pontificate about the violent death of others that you don't know, but when he saw this happen in his Town, one of the first  things he thought of doing was to protect his own ass by removing the stupidly, moronic Face Book post.

Good job Sheriff, your a real piece of work, little children in Connecticut murdered along with Twin Towers human beings supposedly murdered by the government, but now when it hits you in the face, run to erase your ignorant mumbling.

Am I pissed at him, yes, because to those such as him, it never is about the victims who have died, it always is about the politics, egos, protecting ones job, and saving face of those who are so cruel as to judge others who have suffered tragedies.

As the national debate over gun control raged online after the mass shooting at Umpqua Community College on Thursday, comments on the subject posted on Facebook by Sheriff John Hanlin of Douglas County, whose force responded to the latest rampage, came under scrutiny.

The sheriff, who has made no secret of his strident opposition to tougher gun laws, made his views clear in a letter to Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. posted on his department’s Facebook page on Jan. 16, 2013, after the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Mr. Hanlin urged the vice president to treat his letter as “a formal request that you NOT tamper with or attempt to amend” the Second Amendment.

“Gun control is NOT the answer to preventing heinous crimes like school shootings,” he wrote, adding that efforts to restrict gun ownership “would be irresponsible and an indisputable insult to the American people.” 

The sheriff also warned the vice president that “any federal regulation enacted by Congress or by executive order of the president offending the constitutional rights of my citizens shall not be enforced by me or by my deputies, nor will I permit the enforcement of any unconstitutional regulations or orders by federal officers within the borders of Douglas County Oregon.”

Ok, he's entitled to his views on gun control but......

Three days before that letter was released, Mr. Hanlin shared a link on his personal Facebook page to a YouTube video, which suggested that the shootings at Sandy Hook and the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 might have been staged by the federal government to provide a pretext for “disarming the public” through gun control legislation. 

In a comment imploring his Facebook friends to watch that video, whose producer claims that the parents of children “allegedly shot” at Sandy Hook were actors, the sheriff wrote, “This makes me wonder who we can trust anymore.

A screenshot from the Facebook page of Sheriff John Hanlin

 in Douglas County, Ore..Creditvia Facebook

After that update attracted criticism, 

it was removed from Mr. Hanlin’s 

personal Facebook page on Friday, 

but not before numerous screenshots 

were made and shared online.

Shame on Mr. Hanlin, trying to score points on the unknown innocent dead 
with his complete indifference of a 
fantasy tale, now he sees real 
mass killings in his own backyard.

This is what Americans do, 
distancing themselves from 
ugly reality by weaving their 
webs of self denial, indifference, 
that tragedies happen only to 
others, and will not visit them 
with the horrors of killings.

The "safety bubble' of "not here 
where I live", and "it's a government 
conspiracy killing people 
elsewhere", doesn't work 
any longer to protect us.

Perhaps, but I doubt it, he and 
others will learn some humility 
that the innocent dead in his town 
are precious human beings, 
just as those he casually dismissed in 
other town's killings as somehow
being actors conspiring to fake the 
horrific losses of those they loved.

Where will the next mass murder 
happen, and it will, seemingly 
out of nowhere,the cycle 
will continue because we refuse 
to do anything serious to stop it.