Apparently lacking sufficient evidence for the US attorney to obtain a Grand jury indictment against Minneapolis City Council person Dean Zimmermann on charges of taking a bribe, the FBI raided the Zimmermann's home with a sealed warrent 5 days before a local primary election, and didn't neglect to alert the press and issue a press release.
The FBI sting of Zimmermann is being compared to the string resulting in a plea of guilty by former City council member Brian Herron to a charge of felony extortion in July 2001. However, the investigation of Herron was kept under wraps until after Herron copped a plea. The FBI had audio-visual tapes of meetings between Herron and a cooperating witness that left no doubt that Herron was taking money in exchange for promised favors. Zimmermann is a member of the Green Party and is the GP's endorsed candidate for the sixth ward city council seat. The Green Party has displace the Republican Party as the opposition party in Minneapolis. Press accounts: 09/11/05 Green Party Challenges FBI Motives in Zimmermann Probe Minneapolis Observer "Local Green Party officials are challenging the FBI and US attorney Tom Hefflefinger to deliver a Grand jury indictment of City Council member Dean Zimmermann or close down its investigation..." ...Eisenmenger said two members of the Zimmermann campaign were subpoenaed to testify Monday before a Hennepin County grand jury, but were told Friday their appearances had been cancelled. He also questioned why U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger cancelled a Friday press conference where he was to release a statement on the case. “He should hand down an indictment or close the investigation, ” Eisenmenger said. “It’s well within a reasonable citizen’s request in asking for that.” Full text at: http://www.mplsobserver.com/node/278 Feds search Minneapolis Council member's home Rochelle Olson, Star Tribune September 9, 2005 ZIMM0909 Federal agents executed a search warrant at the home of Minneapolis City Council member Dean Zimmermann today. Zimmermann, a Green party member who is seeking re-election, was not available for comment, but his campaign manager, Lauren Maker, said the agents spent three hours at his home. Maker said the agents confiscated everything relating to Zimmermann's campaign, including financial records and a pre-primary mailing in process. Maker said the agents told her the affidavit attached to the warrant was sealed, so she was unable to explain the purpose of the search. But Maker also said the agents took Zimmermann's personal financial records as well... Full text at: http://startribune.com/stories/587/5604473.html -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:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
