Some observations on the Jeff Mazon trial in Peoria, Illinois

I spent a few days in Peoria covering the federal prosecution of Jeff Mazon. This is the second trial. The first ended last April in a deadlocked jury. Clearly the evidence was unconvincing in that trial. And as I sat through the beginning of this second trial trying to understand the evidence, it seemed clear that is no real evidence. Just a lot of circumstance.

Clearly a mistake was made in the awarding of a contract. But was it intentional as the prosecution and Bush Administration contend, or, was it the result of an error caused in the mass confusion of the weeks before the U.S. invasion of Iraq in March 2003.

Mazon used an Excel spreadsheet that was created five years earlier. The creator of the spreadsheet was one of his former bosses at Halliburton. The spreadsheet is important because is presenting bids for approval, they must be converted from the Kuwaiti Dinars that they were submitted in -- much of the work was done in Kuwait and the contracts there bid using their local monetary system. One Kuwaiti Dinar (KD) is equal to 3.3 U.S. Dollars. But, the spread sheet used to prepare the bids -- from three companies -- had a mathematical flaw in it. Two of the bids were multiplied incorrectly and listed first in Kuwaiti Dinars and then multiplied by 3.3 as if the amounts were dollars. Two of the bids were listed incorrectly. A third bid was rejected for lack of qualification but was listed correctly.

Was this done intentionally?

All of Mazon's supervisors received the bids in paper form and in electronic Excel Spreadsheet form. They had ample opportunity to review the bids and even raise questions about the bids by simply clicking the "cell" in the spreadsheet to determine if there was something wrong, like an inaccurate calculation.

Mazon's superiors demanded that all the bids be submitted to them for review in Dollars. These bids were submitted in combination with the dollars listed. None of Mazon's supervisors bothered to check.

The prosecution's strongest witnesses were presented in the opening days of the trial this past week. I listened to them all. But it was clear to me that no evidence exists or has been presented so far that proves convincingly that Mazon intentionally inflated the numbers. It was more likely the numbers were accidentally inflated by the erroneous spreadsheet prepared by his supervisor.

I have yet to hear or see evidence that he is guilty and that makes me wonder why this case is being prosecuted a second time.

Mazon clearly is being tarnished not by evidence but by the culture of corruption that accompanied the opening of the illegal war in Iraq. The Bush Administration should be looking at Halliburton, not someone whom some insist is a whistle-blower. Mazon's challenge is to show his innosense in the backdrop of so much questionable conduct by others around him. His attorney, J. Scott Arthur is a very capable attorney who happens to be from Orland Park, Illinois. Very smart. Very bright. Arthur has been pouncing on the apparent lack of evidence, despite having his hands tied by the judge in the case, Federal U.S. District Court Judge Joe Billy McDade. McDade has denied Arthur the ability to fully explore the larger issues that would prove his client innocent.

Despite that, I think Mazon will be found innocent. The evidence just doesn't exist. There is no smoking gun.

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

Click here to read my most recent news/analysis of the trial.

Evening with the Oak Lawn Firefighters Oct 9 6:30-8PM

An Evening with Your Oak Lawn Firefighters

Date: Thursday October 9th, 2008

Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Place: Fire Station #2 & Training Facility 6451 W. 93rd Place

Event: An Exhibition of Firefighting techniques and the use of a thermal imaging camera in LIVE fire conditions, Vehicle Extrication demonstration, Hazardous Materials response simulation, Emergency Medical skills, Technical Rescue equipment & rappelling, and demonstration of a room protected by a fire sprinkler system and one without. Plus an open house of your fire station and associated vehicles and equipment, Fire prevention education and giveaways for the kids, in correlation with Fire Prevention Week 2008!

Parking available at Simmons School enter off of Ridgeland Ave. and 94th street also parking on the street on 93rd place.

Reporting on a Halliburton abuse case -- local Orland Park lawyer heads defense

I'm in Peoria reporting on the Bush administration's prosecution of a former Halliburton-KBR contractor who is accused of inflating a contract in exchange for a bribe taking place in the Peoria Federal Court room of Judge Joe Billy McDade. The judge and J. Scott Arthur, the attorney for the defendant Jeff Mazon, got into an argument over how far Arthur could go in defending Mazon, excluding a discussion about the merits of the Iraq War, other instances of corruption related to Halliburton and KBR contracts in Iraq and more. You can read the first report at the Southwest News-Herald newspaper online at www.SWNewsHerald.com or at my Middle East writing sites including the Arab American Writers Group Syndication at www.ArabWritersGroup.com.

Arthur is from Orland Park. Mazon is from Country Club Hills.

Since I will be doing remotes often on Mornings with Ray Hanania, this week is a test to see how we can work out some kinks in the direct internet link connection from Peoria to the station iN berkeley at WJJG 1530 AM Radio.

This morning's topic includes the Halliburton case, but focuses mainly on the current economic crisis in America and the opinions of listeners on how they feel about the $700 billion bailout package and what they think needs to be done.

Call the station at 708-493-1530 or listen to the program online at www.RadioChicagoland.com. There is a link to the online stream feed at the upper righthand corner of the web page.

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

Radio show live from Peoria where Halliburton trial is continuing

I'm in Peoria reporting on the Bush administration's prosecution of a former Halliburton-KBR contractor who is accused of inflating a contract in exchange for a bribe taking place in the Peoria Federal Court room of Judge Joe Billy McDade. The judge and J. Scott Arthur, the attorney for the defendant Jeff Mazon, got into an argument over how far Arthur could go in defending Mazon, excluding a discussion about the merits of the Iraq War, other instances of corruption related to Halliburton and KBR contracts in Iraq and more. You can read the first report at the Southwest News-Herald newspaper online at www.SWNewsHerald.com or at my Middle East writing sites including the Arab American Writers Group Syndication at www.ArabWritersGroup.com.

Since I will be doing remotes often on Mornings with Ray Hanania, this week is a test to see how we can work out some kinks in the direct internet link connection from Peoria to the station iN berkeley at WJJG 1530 AM Radio.

This morning's topic includes the Halliburton case, but focuses mainly on the current economic crisis in America and the opinions of listeners on how they feel about the $700 billion bailout package and what they think needs to be done.

Call the station at 708-493-1530 or listen to the program online at www.RadioChicagoland.com. There is a link to the online stream feed at the upper righthand corner of the web page.

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

Cab drivers to protest Daley and city demanding "fare reforms"

WHAT: Cabdrivers gather to demand “fare” reforms, meeting with Daley
WHERE: City Hall, 5th floor (In front of Daley’s office)
WHEN: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1ST – Cabdrivers Media Statement AT 11:30 AM
ATTN PHOTO EDITORS: ROLLING OUT 40 FOOT CARPET OF PETITIONS – “DALEY, DON’T TREAD ON CABDRIVERS”


For Immediate Release Contact: Prateek Sampat, AFSC – 847-340-1658 (cell)
Facing long hours & low wages, Taxi Drivers threaten strike over “fare” reforms
Drivers submit petitions to City Council for 16% fare increase & demand Mayor Daley meet cabdrivers to negotiate on key reforms in the taxi industry

CHICAGO- With skyrocketing fuel costs, costs of living, and maintenance costs, taxi drivers are demanding a 16% fare increase, amongst other reforms. The cabdrivers will be announcing the possibility of a strike at the press conference, if Mayor Daley refuses to meet over the proposed reforms. They will be also be submitting petitions representing more than a thousand cabdrivers, on Wednesday, initiating a legally-binding process that will lead to hearings at City Hall within 60 days. (MCC 9-112-510(c))

“The taxi industry needs to be reformed from the bottom up- and nobody knows about the taxi business more than the cabdrivers,” says UTCC’s Chair Fayez Khozindar. “If the mayor will not give us the opportunity to be partners, then we will call the strike.”

Drivers say that the current Daley-backed gas surcharge of $1, which has been in effect since May, has done little to provide relief. “It does not sufficiently address our needs- what we face is not just the gas prices- our everyday cost of living is skyrocketing,” says Ron Florence, spokesman of UTCC.

Drivers favor a solution they believe adequately addresses their concerns- a permanent fare increase. Driver group United Taxidrivers Community Council (UTCC) favors a more comprehensive approach to the fare problem. The group calls on a permanent 16% fare increase that would provide some income for the cash-shorted drivers.

“We’re fed up with the working conditions we face which are making us work 12-16 hour days to make the same money we are making 3.5 years ago when we got our last increase,” says Peter Enger, another member of UTCC. It has been documented by UTCC that cabdriver income averages a $5.77 an hour, well below minimum wage, and the average shift is 12 hours and 20 minutes.

Florence insists that the Mayor Daley can stop a potential strike: “The decision maker, here, is the city- the city should provide a seat at the table for the taxi drivers to negotiate about matters affecting their jobs.“

Another key reform drivers are demanding is a biennial (every two years) review of rates of fare, based upon cost of living and cost of driving, and incremental fare increases on the basis of the findings. Other key reforms are a freeze of their lease rates & investigation of illegal leasing practices, restoration of meter & half rates to Skokie, Burbank & Elk Grove Village.
CABDRIVERS AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW
Fayez Khozindar – Chairperson, UTCC – 312-343-5831; Peter Enger – Member, UTCC – 773-550-7921;
Ron Florence – Spokesperson, UTCC – 773-682-0265

WHAT: Cabdrivers gather to demand “fare” reforms, meeting with Daley
WHERE: City Hall, 5th floor (In front of Daley’s office)
WHEN: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1ST – Cabdrivers Media Statement AT 11:30 AM
ATTN PHOTO EDITORS: ROLLING OUT 40 FOOT CARPET OF PETITIONS – “DALEY, DON’T TREAD ON CABDRIVERS”

Who voted how from Illinois

From the Peoria Journal-Star this morning:

Who voted how on the $700 Billion bailout Monday in the U.S. House of Representatives? Here is a breakdown of the vote on the measure:

Democrats voting YES:

Melissa Bean
Bill Foster
Luis Gutierrez
Phile Hare
Danny Davis
Rahm Emanuel
Jan Schakowsky

Republicans voting YES:

Mark Kirk
Ray LaHood

Democrats voting NO:

Jerry Costello
Jesse Jackson Jr
Dan Lipinski
Bobby Rush

Republicans voting NO:

Judy Biggert
Don Manzullo
Peter Roskum
John Shimkus
Tim Johnson

Republican NOT VOTING:

Jerry Weller

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

"Mornings with Ray Hanania" Broadcasting from Peoria

I'm in Peoria broadcasting my radios how this morning as I prepare to cover parts of the U.S. Justice Department prosecution -- the second attempt -- of Jeff Mazon, a Country Club Hills former contractor with Halliburton who is accused of taking a bribe. But the big issue is that the government doesn't want anyone to discuss the issues about Halliburton itself, the pattern of corruption that has plagued Halliburton's contracts in Iraq ... or the role of the Bush administration or Halliburton "former" CEO vice president Dick Cheney ...

No one is covering the trial and I think the government is trying to bury this case so Halliburton doesn't become the bigger issue than an alleged corruption case that a jury already tossed last April 2008 during the first trial because of concerns over the evidence.

I'll post updates and we can discuss this and the $700 billion bailout and President Bush's speech this morning on TV, the drop in the stock market that represented more than a trillion dollars in loses.

The online broadcast of the radio show sounds great from Peoria ...

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com