Giuliani has long claimed that he dreamed up the idea of using the federal RICO law to target mafia families when he was a federal prosecutor.
Before RICO was on the books, it was considered unfair and prejudicial for a prosecutor to say a defendant was a member of the mafia or some other criminal organization when they were prosecuting them for a singular crime, McDonald said.
For years after the national statute's inception, the Justice Department was very cautious in authorizing the use of the statute because it was such an incredibly powerful weapon for prosecutors, McDonald said. By 1977, when McDonald started working at the DOJ, RICO was being proposed as a useful tool for prosecutions against Mafia figures, he said.
Many of the RICO cases brought in the Southern District of New York were started by Giuliani's predecessor in that office, John S. Martin Jr., said Walter Mack, the assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1974 to 1990. Mack was also the chief of the office's Strike Force Against Organized Crime from 1981-1984.calling Giuliani out for his claim to have turned around the Manhattan United States attorney's office after he left.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Rudy Gobert, France eliminated from World CupUtah Jazz stars Jordan Clarkson, Lauri Markkanen had strong showings in defeat.
Read more »
Trump, other defendants set to be arraigned Sept. 6 in Georgia election caseDonald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, and others are accused of conspiring to illegally reverse the 2020 election victory of President Joe Biden in Georgia.
Read more »
Serbia vs. Puerto Rico: Free live stream, TV, how to watch FIBA World CupSerbia vs. Puerto Rico in the FIBA Basketball World Cup on Monday, August 28, 2023 (8/28/23) at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines.
Read more »
Mark Meadows court hearing is first big test for Fani Willis's Trump RICO caseMark Meadows, the onetime chief of staff for former President Donald Trump, will be the first to make the case to a judge on Monday that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis's charges against him in Georgia should be removed from state to federal court.
Read more »
Mark Meadows testifies for hours Monday in Georgia RICO caseMark Meadows, a co-defendant in the case against former President Donald Trump in Georgia, spent hours on the witness stand Monday, becoming the first to argue to a federal judge that the case should be removed from state to federal court.
Read more »
Trump indictment in Georgia: Mark Meadows testifies; asks to move his case to federal levelMeadows is charged with the violation of the Georgia RICO Act and solicitation of violation of oath by public officer.
Read more »