Judge calls off hearing regarding masseuse for governor

[The Sushi Bandit]

Source: Honolulu Advertiser

SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Island — A federal judge says the court won't play an investigative role in the case of a woman being let out of prison to give the governor of the Northern Mariana Islands a massage.

U.S. District Judge Alex Munson on Monday granted the U.S. territory's motions to quash U.S. government subpoenas and to void a court order for an evidentiary hearing for later this month.

Federal prosecutors had argued Gov. Benigno Fitial needed to answer questions about temporarily freeing the woman who is facing charges in a human smuggling case.

Munson said a traditional investigation and use of a grand jury are more appropriate than a court hearing to determine if the government's case against the woman or her rights may have been prejudiced by the unusual events.


Read more: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100208/BREAKING01/100208041/Judge+calls+off+hearing+regarding+masseuse+for+Northern+Mariana+Islands+governor

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People forget that Northern Mariana Islands are part of the U.S!

[Ken Burch]

1. That's clearly going to be the best thread title of the day.

n/t.

[KamaAina]

2. Fitial is a repuke turned teabagger, an Abramoff crony, and ran sweatshops

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benigno_Fitial#Political_career

Fitial worked as a budget analyst for the government of the former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. He also worked as a former executive for Tan Holdings Corporation, which was the largest garment manufacturer in the Northern Mariana Islands at the time.

Fitial is a former member of the Republican Party, and even served as the chairman of the Republican Party in the CNMI.

Fitial left the Republican Party, and founded his own political party, the Covenant Party in 2001. He used the Covenant Party as a vehicle to run for Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands in the 2001 gubernatorial election with his running mate, then-Education Commissioner Rita Inos. However, Fitial was defeated in a landslide by the Republican ticket of Juan N. Babauta and his running mate, Diego Benavente. The Babauta-Benavente ticket received 5,512 votes, the largest number of votes ever received by a gubernatorial candidate in history to date.

In 2003, Fitial was successfully elected to the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives in the 2003 midterm election. Candidates from his Covenant Party were also elected, giving the party the majority in the House of Representatives. Fitial was further elected the Speaker by the House in 2003, replacing Republican Speaker Heinz Hofschneider. He represented Precinct 3, which includes parts of Saipan and the northern islands.

I actually know someone from Saipan. She certainly does not seem like the type to support a monster like this!

[The Sushi Bandit]

3. Thanks for the info!

[ShockediSay]

4. Wonder if this "judge" was involved w/ the Fascist leaning Federalist Society

Was Roberts? Scalia? Alito?

[Jax]

5. Legislating from the bench, a right wing staple.