Ex-Congressman Gets HIS Cocaine Bust EXPUNGED

[Segami]

...Someone needs to look into this.....smells dirty to the hill.....



Former Rep. Trey Radel (R-FL), who resigned earlier this year after getting busted for cocaine, has had his record expunged, NBC Washington reported Friday.

Radel had been told that if he successfully completed probation the charge against him would be dismissed and he could apply to have his record expunged.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia said Friday that Radel completed all the conditions of his probation and was granted an early termination of his probation in July. The spokesman, William Miller, said Radel then asked to have his case dismissed and his record expunged, and prosecutors agreed with the request.

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Former-Fla-Congressman-has-record-expunged-Trey-Radel-281122432.html

It was one year ago when Radel was caught trying to purchase cocaine in an undercover federal sting. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of cocaine possession in November 2013.


http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/trey-radel-cocaine-congressman-record-expunged

[Turbineguy]

1. How cool is that?

Now nobody knows who did it. Not even those who are reading this!

[TheNutcracker]

2. Does anyone understand what goes into getting a record expunged?

Can we discuss this?

[Ed Suspicious]

8. In my case the judge offered it as a condition of my sentence. If I paid my fines,

restitution, and successfully completed my probation he had the felony conviction expunged from my record. I only had to complete my sentence and then it just happened without me needing to apply. I was just a very young adult when convicted, im thinking that had something to do with the offer.

I am white. Fyi.

I think everyone - red, white, black, green, yellow, or brown - should be offered a second chance like I got.

[tazkcmo]

28. Same here

Misdemeanor, first time offense. It's pretty common. We have bigger problems than this former Rep being treated just like the other first time offenders in misdemeanor cases.

[Lochloosa]

3. It's called pre-trail intervention in FL.

It is for first time offenders. There really is nothing here.

http://sao17.state.fl.us/PreTrialInterventionPTI/FELONY_PTI.htm

[MontyPow]

6. Any statistics on how even handedly this statute is applied?

My guess is not very.

[Lochloosa]

9. Actually, for a first time drug offense, it's the perferred option for the prosecuturer.

Drug rehab, random testing, fines and no court time.

[MontyPow]

20. For minorities as well? I find that hard to believe.

But you may be right.

[msanthrope]

11. Pretty evenly, for a first time mis., in my experience. It's when you have larger weight,

issues of guns or violence, prior convictions, injury to victims, that it may not apply.

[MontyPow]

18. I find the even application hard to believe.

But I have no facts I back that

[GGJohn]

22. So if you have no facts to back it up,

why are you doubting it?

[Major Nikon]

7. It was in DC and a federal misdemeanor charge

But it sounds like the program is basically the same.

Shouldn't be a crime to begin with.

[Segami]

4. Well,..

my question is why did the 'prosecutors' agreed to his request to have his case 'dismissed and record expunged'..?

How many times have these prosecutors agreed to other requests dealing with the 'same' charges?

Smells bad.

[msanthrope]

12. It's a condition of pre-trial. The offices would have stats on it. nt

[Segami]

15. Thanks.

[Baitball Blogger]

5. White privilege?

[msanthrope]

10. No--pre-trial diversion which is offered to pretty much everyone with a mis. drug charge. nt

[Baitball Blogger]

13. I wonder what the stats are based on race.

[Eleanors38]

17. Thought all that shit was white.

[yellowcanine]

14. So what. It lives forever on the internets!

[Eleanors38]

16. Don't worry, Cocaine'll make you into a New Man!....

Trouble is, new man wants a line, too.

[Rex]

19. Wait...so he won't be a convicted felon?

Gee...do all...HAHAHAHAHA NM, I kid I know the answer already.

[Live and Learn]

21. Anyone can apply to have their record expunged,

at least in CA. It is up to a judge to grant it and is usually based on post conviction behavior.

Expungement allows people to get jobs. Law enforcement will still know about the record and it won't help anyone trying to pass a background investigation for a security position but it does allow ex-convicts to get gainful employment and reduces recidivism rates.

We should be applauding this part of the system and asking that it be expanded.

[Rex]

23. I think this story is more about getting expunged based on privilege.

It will help him get re-elected.

[Live and Learn]

24. I realize that but I don't think it was necessarily based on privilege

although I don't know the specifics of Florida's expungement process.

We should be demanding that it be expanded for all. These days a criminal conviction is a life sentence even if one is not incarcerated and it hurts society has a whole.

[Rex]

25. I agree that it should be impartial and not based on favor or notoriety.

Felons cannot own guns or vote. That is a pretty big burden to carry, after supposedly doing your 'time'. Sounds like double punishment to me.

[Live and Learn]

26. Agreed, especially the voting part. I can't believe that is even allowed.

Thankfully in CA, felons can vote after they are freed but I think even the incarcerated should be allowed to vote. Their lives, after all, are completely dependent on lawmakers.

[Rex]

27. It is illegal in Texas for a felon to vote - which is wrong imo.

If we believe in "they did their time" then why not let them get back to being part of the civilian workforce? How can they assimilate back into 'the world' if they cannot vote or own a gun? Might as well ban them from eating apple pie and baseball.