The criminal trials of the LaRouche movement in the mid-1980s stemmed from federal and state investigations into the activities of American political activist Lyndon LaRouche and members of the LaRouche movement. They were charged with conspiring to commit fraud and soliciting loans they had no intention of repaying. LaRouche and his supporters disputed the charges, claiming the trials were politically motivated. The trial, described as a "courtroom extravaganza", was repeatedly delayed and finally ended in mistrial, after which a federal grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia issued further indictments against LaRouche and five associates. After a short trial, they were convicted of mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud on December 16, 1988. LaRouche, who was also convicted of tax evasion, was sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment; he entered prison in 1989 and was paroled five years later. In separate state trials in Virginia and New York, 13 associates received terms ranging from one month to 77 years. The Virginia state trials were described as the highest-profile cases that the state Attorney General's office had ever prosecuted. Fourteen states issued injunctions against LaRouche-related organizations, three of which were forced into bankruptcy after failing to pay contempt of court fines.
Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaRouche_criminal_trials
_________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1653:
The Protectorate: Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Cromwell)
1689:
The Parliament of England adopted the Bill of Rights, declaring that Englishmen possessed certain positive civil and political rights. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_of_Rights_1689)
1850:
The Canterbury Pilgrims aboard Randolph and Charlotte-Jane arrived to settle Christchurch, New Zealand. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christchurch)
1944:
World War II: The Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany launched its final offensive in the western front, the Battle of the Bulge. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Bulge)
1971:
Pakistani forces in East Pakistan surrendered, ending the Indo-Pakistani War and the Bangladesh Liberation War. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Flag_Debate)
_______________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
lambent (adj) 1. Brushing or flickering gently over a surface. 2. Glowing or luminous, but lacking heat. 3. Clever or talented without effort. (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/lambent)
______________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
Perhaps it is better to be un-sane and happy, than sane and un-happy. But it is the best of all to be sane and happy. Whether our descendants can achieve that goal will be the greatest challenge of the future. Indeed, it may well decide whether we have any future. --Arthur C. Clarke (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Arthur_C._Clarke)