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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.
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
Recycling the recycling plan - 5/7/2008 4:52 pm
Metcalfe drops out - 5/7/2008 1:53 pm
Legislative director - 5/7/2008 9:15 am
Is that it for Jake? - 5/6/2008 7:04 pm
Tonight - 5/6/2008 4:29 pm
Wuerch resigns - 5/6/2008 3:06 pm
Assembly: Trashtastic - 5/5/2008 8:54 pm
Posted: May 8, 2008 - 9:24 am
Kohring in the courthouse. (Erik Hill/ADN)
From Kyle at the federal courthouse --
Kohring just handed me a copy of the statement he's about to make in court to the judge:
"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 trail 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 occuring over a two-year period. ..."
There's lots more... I'll update soon but have to run in the courtroom.
14 May 8, 2008 - 12:22pm | 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.
13 May 8, 2008 - 11:34am | MaggieBray
Not as much prison time as he deserved
Kohring is just another criminal trying to get by his reprehensible conduct by claiming to be a "victim". He needs to bring his head out of the clouds and accept responsibility for what he's done. Take your punishment and start actling like a man for heaven's sake!
12 May 8, 2008 - 10:33am | Melzie
Crying since indicted, he will have a long sentencing. He will bring in the victim from the Palmer cat case to show impartial treatment!
11 May 8, 2008 - 10:26am | rainey4075
I for one am tickled to see this thief go to jail. But I must say even I question the fairness of one judge making all the decisions and judgements on his own actions. Fair or not, honest or not it doesn't look right. Remember, Sedgewick is after all a lawyer so his honesty is ALWAYS in question. Just so there is no taint, get a new judge to review the apeal and sentence. What is the hold up, how long did he get?
May 8, 2008 - 10:30am | DecemberRain
The judge is probably drawing this out as well. Vic is accusing him of bias and I don't think he will let Vic's accusations go easily.
Is it normal with a situation like this that one judge gets all the cases?
May 8, 2008 - 11:43am | darkdakota
That's the Million Dollar Question
They are suppose to be randomly assigned yet Sedwick got them all....
10 May 8, 2008 - 10:18am | darkdakota
Post the whole statement when you can. It sounds verbatim from what I have been typing here for two weeks.
I have witnessed this judges games in my fiance's case for two years. Vic didn't get a fair trial. My bet is he gets another with another judge.
I wonder if Birch is at the court house? How is Mrs. Sedgwick doing?
8 May 8, 2008 - 10:13am | andyl
Vic--shut up-you are on video tape-end of subject!
Do the crime--do the time! Man *******-Up!
7 May 8, 2008 - 10:10am | rainey4075
His lawyer says Vic is poor, living in a trailer while Allen lives like a king. Reminds me of a quote from Mike on the "Red Green Show" when Red asked Mike if crime paid, Mike replied "not the way I do it."
6 May 8, 2008 - 10:07am | rainey4075
His lawyer says Vic is poor, drives a beat up truck and lives in a slum trailer. I seem to remember that he was calling himself conservative when he lived liked this as a representative. He is a thief.
5 May 8, 2008 - 9:53am |
This post was deleted for being off topic or violating the ADN user agreement. We encourage readers to "flag" offensive or off-topic comments for review by ADN staff.
4 May 8, 2008 - 9:51am | magneto
3 1/2 years.
3 May 8, 2008 - 9:45am | antidanfagan
Vic not as guilty as people think
Vic is not innocent, but I dont think he should have been the fall guy. It's obvious he has taken the fall for some pretty "important people".
By the way what's up with the new hair style?? lol kinda funny....
May 8, 2008 - 10:06am | akartisan
Okay, I guess you are right. He is only 100% guilty. I will give you that one.
May 8, 2008 - 9:50am | pete_moss
Vic did wrong and its time we all get over the grey areas of right and wrong and stand up to be counted. Vic is wrong, now he is being spanked. Regardless of the fact that there are others who should also get a spanking.
2 May 8, 2008 - 9:43am | extremejor
Keep sayin' it over, and over, over, over again...
and then it must be true! Classic narcissistic manipulative personality trait.
1 May 8, 2008 - 9:36am | DecemberRain
Morgan Hite must be relieved for this--
The focus will be off her for a bit!
We have Vic on tape selling out. The judge's wife showed up to say "nya-nya-nya-nyaaa" to Vic, but she got ahead anyway even without him trying to cut her job. (Like they needed her money?)
Vic is like a dog with an old bone. I am so sick of him.
May 8, 2008 - 9:38am | magneto
That was the most idiotic post I have seen on here in a long time.The Morgan Hite part anyway.
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15 May 9, 2008 - 11:01am | 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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