Trial of Geoffrey Fieger
| United States v. Fieger | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Court | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan |
| Full case name | United States of America v. Geoffrey Fieger, Vernon Johnson |
| Decided | June 2, 2008 |
| Verdict | Acquitted on all charges |
| Defendant | Geoffrey Fieger |
| Court membership | |
| Judge sitting | Paul D. Borman |
United States v. Fieger (officially the United States of America v. Geoffrey Fieger, Vernon Johnson) was a 2008 federal trial of famed lawyer Geoffrey Fieger, who was indicted on charges of violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act, making false statements, and obstruction of justice.[1] Vernon Johnson, a fellow law firm partner, was a co-defendant in the case. The charges were brought in relation to the John Edwards 2004 presidential campaign.
After four days of deliberations, the jury found Fieger not guilty on all ten charges, and Johnson was found not guilty of the five charges he was indicted on.[2]
Fieger was notably represented by famed lawyer Gerry Spence.
Background
[edit]It was alleged that the defendants used 60 straw donors to make contributions in the then-maximum allowable amount of $2,000 per donor.[1] Geoffrey Fieger is best known for representing doctor Jack Kevorkian. Prosecutors alleged that the conspiracy occurred from March 2003 to January 2004.
A grand jury issued 40 subpoenas, while around 80 FBI agents raided Fieger's law firm.[3][4]
Fieger faced up to 55 years in prison and fines up to $2.5 million if convicted on all 10 charges.[5]
Trial
[edit]The trial lasted for eight weeks.[6][7] Testimony itself lasted for 18 days, with jurors deliberating over four days.[8] Fieger and Johnson were both acquitted of all charges.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "#07-655: 08-24-07 Michigan Attorneys Indicted for Alleged Campaign Finance Violations". www.justice.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
- ^ Carter, Terry (2008-06-02). "Spence's No-Loss Record Stands with Fieger Acquittal". ABA Journal. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
- ^ "Fieger faces indictment over campaign funds". The Oakland Press. 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
- ^ Margulies, Peter (2010). Law's Detour: Justice Displaced in the Bush Administration. Critical America. New York: New York University Press. pp. 136–137. ISBN 978-0-8147-9559-0.
- ^ Krolicki, Kevin (2007-08-24). "Detroit lawyer charged for 2004 Edwards donations". Reuters. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ^ Karoub, Jeff (2008-04-14). "Fieger calls case 'a joke' as campaign finance trial starts". Crain's Detroit Business. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ^ Brasier, L. L. (2014-10-28). "Dispute led to nasty split between Fieger, ex-partner". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ^ Mfellows (2008-06-02). "Fieger acquitted in Detroit campaign finance violations case". mlive. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ^ Irwin, Jim (2008-06-03). "Ex-Kevorkian lawyer acquitted of campaign charges". Daily Report. Retrieved 2024-10-07.