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Kyle Hopkins
Kyle Hopkins writes about Anchorage city government and politics. He covered last year's campaign for governor, and has blogged extensively about Alaska politics for the past year. He grew up in Southeast Alaska and was a reporter at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and Anchorage Press. E-mail Kyle at khopkins@adn.com
Sean Cockerham
Sean Cockerham writes about Alaska state politics. He spent three years based in Juneau for the Daily News before joining the Tacoma News-Tribune two years ago to write about Washington state politics. He went to Iraq twice for the News Tribune, and previously wrote about Alaska government and politics for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Now he's back in Anchorage. E-mail Sean at scockerham@adn.com
Erika Bolstad
Erika Bolstad covers Alaska issues, including the congressional delegation, from Washington, D.C., for McClatchy Newspapers. Before joining the bureau this summer, she spent seven years as a reporter at the Miami Herald, where she covered politics, government and the state legislature. E-mail Erika at ebolstad@adn.com.
Browne withdraws - 5/13/2008 12:33 pm
Larry Bird vs. Georgianna Lincoln - 5/13/2008 11:39 am
An Alaskan VP? - 5/13/2008 7:48 am
ANWR vote...sort of - 5/13/2008 6:57 am
Palin to call special session - 5/12/2008 6:06 pm
Campaign season - 5/12/2008 5:32 pm
Gara's fundraising - 5/12/2008 5:10 pm
AK superdelegate update - 5/9/2008 3:56 pm
'Fairbanks what!' - 5/9/2008 10:19 am
Jackson Q&A - 5/8/2008 7:15 pm
Health commissioner resigns - 5/8/2008 4:17 pm
Surreality recap - 5/8/2008 2:50 pm
The prosecutors - 5/8/2008 1:14 pm
Full Kohring statement: 'I refuse to cower ...' - 5/8/2008 12:30 pm
A ride home - 5/8/2008 11:53 am
The judge - 5/8/2008 10:46 am
42 months - 5/8/2008 10:32 am
Hitchhiking to court - 5/8/2008 10:00 am
'I'm here to proclaim my innocence' - 5/8/2008 9:24 am
'Old Valley' - 5/8/2008 9:07 am
At the courthouse - 5/8/2008 8:39 am
Where they make their money - 5/7/2008 5:42 pm
Posted: May 8, 2008 - 12:30 pm
Kohring and his attorney John Henry Browne talk to the media. (Bill Roth/ADN)
From Kyle in Anchorage --
Here’s the full statement Kohring read to the judge John Sedwick today, based on a written copy he handed out before the hearing.
When he actually stood up to speak, Kohring ad-libbed in a couple areas, but for the most part stuck to this script. As he talked, Sedwick listened silently and a guy in a black-and-white "proud to be Valley Trash" shirt searched for a seat.
I stand before you not to plead for mercy as others have done before me. Instead, I'm here to proclaim my innocence. I don't believe I received a fair trial last fall which is why I did not prevail in this court room.
I was stunned when I learned after the trial you are married to one of my biggest personal and political enemies from my years as a legislator, who showed up at this very court at the end of my trial. Federal law and the Judicial Code of Conduct required you to excuse yourself from my case even if a perception of a conflict existed and to avoid the appearance of partiality that might reasonably be questioned. You judged yourself blameless despite a mountain of evidence documenting the antagonistic relationship between your wife and myself occurring over a two-year period. Furthermore, you live directly across the street from the government’s star witness who was heavily relied upon to convict me. Your houses are just 65 feet apart. You did not speak one word of these conflicts and I knew nothing of them until after the trial. I’m so disappointed that the very person who now holds my fate in his hands – you --- is married to the person who’s job I eliminated and who’s budget I cut millions of dollars from and developed personal animosity. There’s no way this could not be viewed as a conflict by any reasonable person. I now stand before you waiting to be sentenced to prison and will forever wonder if your sentence will because of the battles I fought with your wife. That is incredibly unfair.
There is something I will admit. I exercised poor judgment when accepting cash gifts for my daughter form a longtime friend – or at least someone I genuinely believed was a friend until he betrayed and turned against me. I will also admit I did not live up to my personal standards and expectations of my community. So I apologize to all who expected me to set a higher ethical standard. It may not have been right, but in no way were bribes involved. There were no criminal acts and I absolutely had no intention to commit any crime whatsoever.
My words, “Let me know what I can do to help; my door is always open to you; feel free to give me a call anytime” was my mantra as a legislator, words I spoke thousands of times in the course of doing my job. It’s ironic that these very words have now been used against me by the government to erroneously claim they represented a bribe. My words and frequent offer of help were genuine and heartfelt and intended simply to be a good representative – not anything corrupt. Unfortunately, your ruling on Habit Evidence prevented my supporters from testifying on this issue.
This conviction has destroyed me. I am bankrupt and penniless, my house is in foreclosure, I’ve lost my job and career, my wife is divorcing me and I’m losing my family. The total cost to me including lost wages is approaching a half million dollars.
My attorney and I attempted to conduct ourselves during the trial with integrity. There was no lying, manipulation or taking things out of context as was done against me – just an honest presentation of the facts. I do not lie to anyone.
I used to believe in my government. I swore to uphold and protect the principles of our country and constitution, but do not respect those who manipulated it.
I must follow my conscience and stand up for my rights even if I have to pay a price. I refuse to cower before you in hopes of receiving a lighter sentence, and I know I’m risking retribution by standing my ground as I’m subjecting myself to this court’s wrath. But I shouldn’t have to fear retribution by defending myself. I simply can’t in good conscience express remorse for something I did not do. I intend to continue vigorously fighting for my rights and eventually prove my innocence, but will only be exonerated if I receive a fair trial with a fair judge. The truth will only be revealed if my case is heard before jurors untainted by bias and if all evidence is provided the jury.
I want to thank the jury and appreciate their efforts but wish to let them know they did not have all the relevant informant needed to determine my innocence. I must continue defending myself and go through the appeal process, even if it means doing so from a prison cell. I beseech everyone in this state who believes in truth and justice and insist that it treats its citizens with honor and decency. I for one shall not rest until justice prevails.
If I had committed wrong doing, I would admit it and accept punishment. But my conscience is clear. I did nothing criminal, so I must assert my innocence. I owe it to my family and friends and the thousands of people who elected me to the Legislature, all of whom I sincerely thank for their support. All I ask for is to be treated fairly and be given an opportunity for a fully open and fair trial which I’m convinced would result in my exoneration.
Thank You.
May 9, 2008 - 2:58pm | akhalfwit
I know a guy that knoiws a guy that did fed time there
he said probably all that is happening is one or two of the inmates have told him "You got a purty mouf" whatever that means.
7 May 9, 2008 - 6:15am | leowassilie
Guitar Hero seems to grow on some people....
6 May 8, 2008 - 5:57pm | darkdakota
Sedwick should lower his head in shame
That was a great speech.
Jews do not name children after living relatives. Under the theory that until a person dies they can still shame their name. I will pray everynight I am alive that little Jack Sedwick, the Judge's grandson grows up to know his namesake was part of the problem in Alaska. Not the solution and not a man of integrity. And, the women in my family live to be over 100 frequently. I am only 47.
Not only for Vic Kohring's fight to be successful to uphold what is left of our Bill of Rights but for what Sedwick has done to my fiance'. A 100% service connected disabled veteran that relied on John Sedwick to uphold the rights he wore the uniform for.
MakeTheArmyHonest.Com
Dear God.......
May 8, 2008 - 7:27pm | palmerbuyer
I understand your frustration with the court system and hope your court case comes out the way you want, but it has NOTHING to do with THIS case ......
Unfortunately, MORAL and LEGAL are not necessarily the same thing. Sadly, your fiance has found that out. (I know several people that have fought similar fights, and it takes a huge toll on everyone involved. I wish you and him well.)
Slandering the judge and his family, especially his GRANDSON, does not make your fiance the winner in a courtroom, nor does it make your arguments any truer. Or less true.
That said, Vic needs to take responsibility for his own actions.
NO ONE ELSE is responsible for Vic's actions. (He is the one ON TAPE!!!!)
I do not believe that the judge or Deb S. had an axe to grind against Vic. (Vic, get OVER it!! You weren't that important.)
Nor do I believe that the judge was prejudiced against Vic because he went to high school with someone 40 years ago or lived near someone else.
This is Alaska. I WENT to school here OVER 40 years ago. Alaska is a 'small town'. If you cut out everybody you ever knew, went to high school with, or lived near, there wouldn't be ANYBODY on a jury, let alone to be a judge.
Vic is his own worst enemy. He does it to himself every time he opens his mouth.
He needs to quit blaming everyone except himself for what happened. HE IS ON TAPE. He needs to quit whining. NO ONE is out to get him. They don't have to. He does it to himself.
May 8, 2008 - 9:54pm | darkdakota
If they needed the Public Integrity Section From DC
To clean this place up as US Attorney's then why is it so hard for Alaskans to wrap their mind around the fact they needed an outside JUDGE as well? Not one ALASKAN US Attorney has brought these charges.
If the Corrupt Bastards Club was so widespread do you really think the CHIEF federal judge, on the bench since 1992 didn't get a whiff of it? Did Sedwick ask for the Public Integrity Section to come in? No, I think Bottini and Sullivan in their zeal to put a feather in their cap ignored THEIR oath to the US Constituion and the ethics cannon and ignored the APPEARANCE of inappropiate relationships by the judge, his wife and their chief witnesses. If they couldn't let Bill Allen testify as the Bill of Rights assures us in an OPEN trial with the witnesses compeled in OUR favor then they should have held Vic Kohring's trial until they could. Those two men should also hold their heads in shame. Vic may be guilty but they hurt all of us as citizen's in their desire to get a conviction,they were damning and mocking the Bill of Rights. Maybe somebody should be looking into the relationships of all those involved.
I have witnessed myself Judge Sedwick allowing fraudulent testimony in his court. I have the written proof in front of me. Real simple John Mitchell put in an EEO complaint to his entire chain of command. Since he was a Ranger and a field soldier not a pencil pusher he did not specifically say EEO. He didn't spend his career behind a desk, hence his 100% service connected disability. Instead he claimed age discrimination, disability discrimination, etc. On 15 February 2005 Malcolm AKA Donald Pressley, Director of Plans and Operations did an EEO investigation. Again not calling it that but adressing both age and disability discrimination amongst other things. He took a statement in fact from one David A. Moore in Bldge 1, Room 130, FRA on 20 January 2005 according to the FOIA request we were sent. In a letter dated 21 March 2005 his WIFE Wanita Pressley claims to Sedwick's court that John Mitchell never submitted an EEO investigation. The Ft Richardson IG Lt Col James Buckingham (the guy now living with his wife, PaPa Pilgrim's wife and 29 intermarrying kids on Lazy Mtn) did what the US Army IG called a "fraudulent" investigation in a letter to Don Young's office. Also acknowledging the Malcolm AKA Donald Pressley investigation. All the players were at that midnight meeting out at Ft Rich from BG Hirai on down. Maybe Sedwick is allowing the Pressley's more leeway on lying in his court because he has a special spot for husband and wife cover-up teams. I know I talked to both Patriot Act US Attorney Nelson Cohen AND Public Integrity Section US Attorney Edward Sullivan personnally and told them of this fraud. Neither Malcolm AKA Donald Pressley or his wife have been held to account for their lying to a federal court. Malcolm AKA Donald is alo a Military Intelligence Lt Colonel and signed different parts of the investigation wearing each hat. Who exactly are these two and why are they being allowed to keep their security clearances after commiting what is a felony in Sedwick's court?
Your argument that we could not have found an impartial judge does not hold water. Federal judges are brought in from around the country to hear cases in large political trials such as this.
Your argument that Sedwick casually knows Bill Allen was discounted the her divine appendage in an article recounting how they go to block parties together. I would like to hear John Henry Browne ask Sedwick under oath how many times he has been to the Petroleum Club? As per the testimony today Bill Allen and the Sedwick's live 65 feet from each other.
Abramoff is sitting in jail, singing like a canary in a cage in an agreement with federal prosecutors. There is no reason why Bill Allen and Rick Smith are not doing the same. There are many cases on SEDWICK'S calendar that read something like United States v $47,000 or United States v. Cadillac Escalade. Yet Bill Allen was allowed to keep 400 MILLION and US Attorney Bottini lowered himself to slide under the belly of the snake and justify his deal with Bill Allen. The Public Integrity Section, the Justice Dept, Judge Sedwick et al served us all up a dog pile sandwhich and we should all just say "with mayo please". Sorry my standards of intregity are higher then what I have seen here. And yes, I want little Jack to know what a creep his grandfather was. Maybe it will shame him into having higher standards for himself.
In his blind ambition to justify not granting another trial Sedwick goes back to a World War 1 espionage case against some German-American's. In that case the judge was upheld even though he said: "One must have a very judicial mind, indeed not [to be] prejudiced against the German Americans" because their " hearts are reeking with disloyalty".
Is this the standard of justice we want for Alaska? What if we took out German Americans out and put in the word Negro or Indian? At what point does someone stand up to this judge like Vic Kohring had the guts to do today and say enough? Vic Kohring may be guilty as sin, but, he did more today to stand up for justice then most realize. At the very least he as us all deserves a fair trial.
May 9, 2008 - 6:50am | leowassilie
However, how many Judges have testified in a case under oath? I'm sure not to many, if any at all.
As the information is unravelling from these "lobbyists", just have to hope these criminals aren't pardoned by the Houstonians.
Let's not forget that Justice means little when governors and presidents pardon these types.
Just remember, this is the time of our history where more individual constitutional power has been granted to corporations than ever before, at the same time more individual human constitutional rights are taken away than ever before.
Bill Allen's deal where his family gets to keep the dirty money is laughable. On the contrary, kind of like the father who has custody of his kid, yet still pays child support.
May 9, 2008 - 8:24am | darkdakota
Anyone who believes that the oil companies (yes, I know Veco was oil services) were bribing the elected in Alaska but somehow forgot to bribe their brethren in Texas is delusional.
We have an oil profiteer and war profiteer as President and VP. Any wonder why oil is at $126 a barrel this morning and were have been under the pretense of the WOT longer than World War 2? I'd say Bush and Cheney were very successful at what they were bought to do.
You are right, maybe it doesn't have to be John Sedwick. Maybe we can see Debbie Sedwick raise her right hand and answer a few questions. Of course true to form I am sure Judge Sedwick would clear the courtroom of the public and limit what John Henry Browne could ask her and still call it justice.
5 May 8, 2008 - 2:44pm | candie_graham
The sign on Trunk Road last year said it all!
4 May 8, 2008 - 2:05pm | Stags_Leap
how does he get his legs crossed in this photo? Seems unnatural to me.
3 May 8, 2008 - 1:17pm | theld
If indeed the judge is married to one of Vic's biggest (documented) opponnents, IF a star witness lives that close to the judge, I do believe the judge should have been outta there. IF Vic appeals, his guilty verdict (he may actually be guilty) may get thrown out because of this.
Then how can you say justice was served?
May 8, 2008 - 3:15pm | imakill
Guilty or not... why leave it open to a technicality?
The judge should have admitted a conflict of interest and allowed a different judge to take the case. I'm not saying the judge didn't act impartial, but that speculative doubt always undermines a decision in the courts.
2 May 8, 2008 - 12:51pm | alaskamountainman
There's A Message Being Sent.....
.......and it says in big letters, "YOU"RE OUTTA HERE VIC"! Lest some on this forum not know it, Vic was found guilty by a jury of his peers, not the judge. His was convicted due to his corrupt behavior and proof thereof. I find his statement to the court laughable and contemptible in light of the overwhelming evidence presented at trial.
What is it with some people (mainly public figures) that just can't (won't) EVER admit they were wrong (guilty) about something (anything) they do (did), and just say "I'm sorry"? I guess it's just an ingrained trait to just project perfection instead.
Goodbye Vic. Maybe we can get together for that chat over coffee in a few years. No hard feelings big guy.
1 May 8, 2008 - 12:35pm | bestintheland
His comments say it all. There is no justice in the justice system!
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8 May 9, 2008 - 10:55am | valleycrabber
Tom Anderson Being Asaulted
There is now a rumor from another convict that Tom Anderson has been suffering assault recently at the Federal Penitentary in Sheridan, Oregon where he is currently serving out his sentence. Apparently, since learning late last month of Mr. Anderson being on the take while promoting private prisons, groups of inmates from the General Population have been repeatedly targeting Tom for asssault. God know what assault means in a Federal Prison. Lesil Mcguire did not return calls for comment.
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