Four other Democrats charged in the scheme pleaded guilty: former City Clerk William McInerney, former Councilman John Brown, former council aide Anthony Renna and former Democratic operative Anthony DeFiglio. Former trial mate Michael LoPorto was retried and acquitted. By reaching a verdict – something the jury in McDonough’s first trial was unable to do when one juror reportedly refused to convict – on Friday, the jurors were able to “start the holiday weekend early” as requested. Merry Christmas to all.
From New York, a verdict at last: “A Rensselaer County Court jury found Democratic Elections Commissioner Edward McDonough not guilty Friday on 61 counts in his second ballot-fraud trial that started six weeks ago… He originally was charged with 74 felony counts for allegedly participating in a scheme by some Troy Democrats to steal the 2009 Working Families Party primary for City Council by casting forged absentee ballots.”