Fred Thompson Adviser Has Criminal Rap Sheet

[IronGhost]

Thompson Unaware of Adviser's Past

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Fred Thompson said Sunday he was unaware of the criminal past of an adviser to his presidential campaign, but that he wouldn't "throw my friend under the bus" for decades-old indiscretions.

Thompson has flown around the country in a private jet borrowed from businessman Philip Martin, a co-chairman of Thompson's campaign who also has a criminal record for drug dealing, The Washington Post reported Sunday.

Martin pleaded guilty to the sale of 11 pounds of marijuana in 1979, but the court withheld judgment pending completion of his probation. In 1983, he was charged with violating probation and multiple counts of bookmaking, cocaine trafficking and conspiracy. He pleaded no contest to the cocaine-trafficking and conspiracy charges, and was continued on probation, the newspaper said.

Thompson said he learned about Martin's past on Saturday, and understood that the crimes were committed when he was in his 20s and living in Florida, before Martin moved to Tennessee and the two became friends.

"Nobody's made any accusations that he's done anything illegal with regard to our campaign," said Thompson, questioned about it on NBC's "Meet the Press."

"I know Phil is a good man. He is my friend. He is going to remain my friend. He didn't go to jail, he got probation, he's paid his debt to society and turned himself around and become a good, productive, successful citizen," Thompson said.

He said he would talk to Martin and figure out "what the right thing is," but that "I'm not going to throw my friend under the bus for something he did, you know, 25 years ago if he's OK now."

He left the door open just a bit by not giving a direct answer when asked whether Martin would continue with the campaign.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jFLXJXb..._ekz8AD8SN1PV00

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Oh well -- it hardly matters. Thompson's campaign seems to be Dead On Arrival anyway. His biggest problem is not an advisor with a scummy past -- Thompson's biggest problem is that he is painfully boring. He's "The Sandman" of politics. Listen to him for 5 minutes and you're fast asleep.

[ships-cat]

Never heard of him.

Did he use to play for Nottingham County ?

Meow Purr.

[Bob26003]

Martin pleaded guilty to the sale of 11 pounds of marijuana in 1979, but the court withheld judgment pending completion of his probation. In 1983, he was charged with violating probation and multiple counts of bookmaking, cocaine trafficking and conspiracy. He pleaded no contest to the cocaine-trafficking and conspiracy charges, and was continued on probation, the newspaper said.

That ain't right. This guy was either a snitch or his rich parents saved his a*** or something.

Either way, typical Republican stuff.

[ships-cat]

He pleaded "no contest" ?

What the heck is that ?

Meow Purr.

[Bob26003]

He pleaded "no contest" ?

What the heck is that ?

Meow Purr.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolo_contendere

Nolo contendere, in criminal trials, in some common law jurisdictions, is a plea where the defendant neither admits nor disputes a charge, serving as an alternative to a pleading of guilty or not guilty. Its literal translation from Latin means, "I do not contest," and is also referred to as a plea of no contest, to stand mute, or, more informally, a nolo plea. Nolo contendere, while not technically a guilty plea, has the same effect as a guilty plea, and is often offered as a part of a plea bargain.[1]

[ships-cat]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolo_contendere

Nolo contendere, in criminal trials, in some common law jurisdictions, is a plea where the defendant neither admits nor disputes a charge, serving as an alternative to a pleading of guilty or not guilty. Its literal translation from Latin means, "I do not contest," and is also referred to as a plea of no contest, to stand mute, or, more informally, a nolo plea. Nolo contendere, while not technically a guilty plea, has the same effect as a guilty plea, and is often offered as a part of a plea bargain.[1]

I'm rolling on the floor here.

"How do you plead ? "

"Your honour, I dither. I fail to understand the concept of 'guilty' or 'innocent' .. it was all society's fault"

How liberal.

Pffft.

I can't even bother to go

Meow Purr.

[IronGhost]

Never heard of him.

Did he use to play for Nottingham County ?

Meow Purr.

He a former Republican U.S. Senator from Tenn. But he's more famous for being a TV and movie star. After a brief tenure in the Senate, Thompson announced he was resigning, mostly because he said he "was bored." He has since had a very successful career on American television playing, I think the a District Attorney in New York on the show "Law and Order."

He fancies himself a Reagan-like guy, and like his mentor, is an actor. He's very conservative, by all measures, and now wants to be Prexy of the U.S., which I assume is a job he won't find "boring."

I think in his youth he played golie for Essex, but I'm not sure about the latter.

[bathory]

hopefully his friend resigns, thompson has enough on his plate

That ain't right. This guy was either a snitch or his rich parents saved his a*** or something.

Either way, typical Republican stuff.

Hsu?