By Allan Lengel
ticklethewire.com
Mayor Richard Daley’s ex-Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Al Sanchez and a co-defendant caught a big break Tuesday when a federal judge overturned their public corruption convictions and ordered a new trial because the government failed to reveal the extensive criminal record and gang ties of a key witness, the Chicago Tribune reported.
“Based on these findings, this court has lost confidence in the integrity of the verdict convicting these defendants,” U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman wrote. No new trial date was set.
The judge said the failure to disclose the information prevented the defense from properly cross examining the witness, the Tribune reported.
In March, a jury found Sanchez guilty of mail fraud for rigging city hiring to reward political workers. Co-defendant Aaron Del Valle, who worked for Sanchez, was convicted of perjury, the Tribune reported.
Government officials acknowledged the error, but had contended it wasn’t enough to warrant a new trial, the Trib reported.
To read more click here.
