[To Star-Tribune editors. Please publish the text of this email as a letter to the editor no later than Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2005. Thank you.]
Dean Zimmermann is the target of a politically motivated frame-up and smear campaign being carried out at taxpayers expense. Consider: The timing of the sensational raid on Dean Zimmermann's house to seize documents that are already in the public domain (at a Hennepin County website). The FBI press releases. The evidence presented in reports published by the Star-Tribune. The ulterior motive: Kill the Green Party's chances of holding and gaining seats on the city council this fall. The FBI's case against Dean rests heavily on sworn statements by a 'cooperating witness' who allegedly "bribed" Dean. The cooperating witness is reportedly a building contractor who didn't actually get anything in return for money allegedly given to Zimmermann to help with costs of the Green Party's redistricting lawsuit and Zimmermann's reelection campaign. Of two request for zoning changes within Dean's ward, one didn't go anywhere at all, and the other was not at all controversial. I suspect that all DFL candidates seeking reelection to the city council have taken money from business owners who apply for permits, zoning variances, etc. You can't run a business without being subjected to regulations that might require action by the city council. The question is whether those campaign contributions are made in exchange for promises of favors. I urge elected officials and candidates for public office in Minneapolis to join me in denouncing the FBI's frame-up of Dean Zimmermann, and in calling for a public inquiry into this monstrous abuse of police power by the FBI. -Doug Mann, King Field, 8th ward Candidate for city council and Green Party member http://educationright.com/blog - REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
