What You Should Know
By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
32nd Senatorial District, Bronx County, New York  
ESPADA WINS EVEN IF HE LOSES


You should know that when Andrew Cuomo was the New York State Attorney General he used his power, influence, title, and office of the Attorney General to go after Senator Pedro Espada accusing him of stealing $14 million dollars.

During the weeks that followed Andrew Cuomo’s announcement, newspapers (including Hispanic ones), television media (including Hispanic ones) and almost every reporter (including Hispanic ones) went after Pedro Espada.

They would stakeout his house, his office, and his business.  They even went where he was dining.  They had a field day with Pedro Espada.  They called him crooked. They called him a thief.  They tried their best to convince the community that Senator Pedro Espada stole $14 million dollars – because the Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said so.

You should know that Gustavo Rivera, who ran against Pedro Espada, used the $14 million dollar issue throughout his campaign calling Pedro Espada a crook.  He defeated Pedro Espada by campaigning about the $14 million dollars that our former Attorney General Andrew Cuomo accused him of stealing.

After weeks and weeks of persecution and mockery, Pedro Espada was accused of only stealing half a million dollars.  Not one single news reporter or media organization, not even Hispanic ones, had the courage or the decency to question Andrew Cuomo’s integrity and motive about what happened to the $14 million dollars.

“I am pretty sure that if it were another individual from another race, things would have been different.”

You should know that this gets even better.  After weeks and weeks of a jury trial, the New York media, especially the New York Post, have been trying to influence the jury by publicizing only what the prosecutor stressed, and never indicating any rebuke of the defense.  By doing this, they are trying to make sure that the jury will finally condemn Senator Espada.  But in spite of all this, even the jury can’t seem to get it together and make a final decision about Pedro Espada.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is an indication that there is doubt in peoples’ minds.  The community is questioning Andrew Cuomo’s motive and integrity in accusing Pedro Espada of stealing $14 million dollars.

Please understand that members of the community know that Pedro Espada has been the victim of a political witch hunt and political vengeance for his participation in the 2009 Senate coup.
I believe that even if the jury now finds Pedro Espada guilty, he has already won in the eyes of his community.

I am Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz and this is what you should know.  
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Ex Espada Press Aide: Govt. Has A Double Standard

This came to us from Mr. Frank LaBoy, who was an ex-Press Aide to former Senator Pedro Espada Jr.

 

   A former press aide to ex New York state senator Pedro Espada, Jr asserts the government is using a double standard against the indicted former senator, and his son.

   Frank LaBoy, a former press secretary who broke ties with Espada in October, 2010 believes the government is relying too much on faulty bookkeeping, and press leaks in the news media tinged with racism, to bury the Espadas in their federal trial.

   The erstwhile press aide who became a political foe of Espada's says: " I dislike sushi (raw fish) big time, and I drive a simple car that's not a Mercedes, but frankly, if someone likes sushi, enjoys driving a premium auto mobile, talks stridently, that does not make them a criminal. Mr. Espada, and his son have done nothing wrong except exercise their freedom of choice rights as free American men in a capitalist society. Why is it okay for a major presidential candidate to have personal funds in offshore accounts which are legally questionable for someone running for president of the United States- but it is somehow wrong to celebrate your grandson's birthday especially if you're savvy, capitalist, and happen to be Hispanic? Hispanics have no right to be successful like Mitt Romney without fear of being criminalized? You have to be kidding!"

   LaBoy suspects the Espada's are victims of a protracted government witch hunt that resembles the persectution inflicted on the late Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. in eh latter part of the 1950s and 1960s, and the horrific prosecution and jailing of an innocent French general, Alfred Dreyfus during the late 19th Century.

   " In the prosecution of these two historic figures (Powell and Dreyfus), wanton, flagrant bigotry played a huge role in their persecution by the government.
   This is no different from the prosecution of the Espada's in this day and age, where they are held to up to constant ridicule, scorn, and disparaging dismissive condescension that masks what is really racism by the news media who appear obsessed with destroying people of color by criminalizing their behavior even when they practice the same standards of fiscal chicanery-capitalism that the media hides behind, but they peddle the drivel, and nonsense of celluloid "hollywood (with small letters) personalities" who contribute nothing to the American landscape except self destructive behavior that is really worrisome to the fabric of society in general."
  Pedro Espada is undergoing criminal prosecution for being no-nonsense, for daring to be successful, for doing what the white boys' club has always done here in America, except that Espada is Latino, and criminalizing him is the cruel way the government feels it can put him, and other successful Latinos like Espada, in their place ...on the plantation of protracted government persecution for promoting capitalism in a Nation that has a very hard time defining right from wrong these days, but is obsessed with constantly criminalizing the community of Americans Males who are people of color, especially if they wear business suits, and are successful capitalists, business people, or deign to be successful, and use the same rules of business enterprise that Anglo- White businesses use every day", said LaBoy.

   "If you are a Man and you happen to be Black, Latino, or from any group of racial minorities, you are likely to be racially-profiled for criminal prosecution, especially if you are a businessman, and enjoy a degree of notoriety. The New York state senate, and the Congress is rife with no-show jobs, and nepotism! Pedro Espada did not invent corruption. Politicians in Albany, and in Washington, D.C. hire relatives all the time, even girlfriends and boy friends, they do this every day, and have done so for over 200 years, and no one criminalizes them !
   LaBoy believes the Espada's are being subjected to a double standard of prosecution and hypocrisy. "Do the Espada's have offshore, or Swiss bank accounts? No. But a major presidential candidate does, and that's okay. Nobody is convening a federal Grand Jury to inquire how a successful multi -millionaire with millions of dollars in wealth can run for President of the United States, keep funds in off shore banks, away from the long arm of the federal government, the IRS, and the Law, and not face any kind of scrutiny. That is a glaring double standard of justice if you ask me." concluded LaBoy.

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