This story is part of an ongoing series.
The chronological order of my stories is listed in WifeWatchman's biography. Stories after Ethical Dilemmas are:
We'll Always Have Paris.
Feedback and
constructive
criticism is very much appreciated, and I encourage feedback for ideas.
This story contains graphic scenes, language and actions that might be extremely offensive to some people. These scenes, words and actions are used only for the literary purposes of this story. The author does not condone murder, racial language, violence, rape or violence against women, and any depictions of any of these in this story should not be construed as acceptance of the above.
Part 11 - Anger and Retribution (continued)
"This is Bettina Wurtzburg, KXTC Fox Two News!" shouted the redheaded reporterette at 7:00am, Monday, September 10th, from in front of the Courthouse complex. "In a huge victory for the Media over the abusive tactics of Police Commander Donald Troy, our reporter Amber Harris has reached a plea deal with District Attorney Gil Krasney!"
"In the agreement," Bettina said, a huge smile on her face, "the charges of assaulting police officers have been dropped, and the domestic violence and disturbing the peace charges are reduced to one misdemeanor count each. D.A. Krasney also is asking for a suspended sentence and a fine of $10,000, which her insurance or KXTC could pay on her behalf. D.A. Krasney explained his rationale for the plea deal. Roll tape."
Tape rolled, showing Krasney grinning happily as he said "It really came down to Commander Donald Troy being at the scene. Just think about it: the TCPD's second-highest-ranking Police Officer, after the Chief,
personally
responded to a domestic disturbance call, which is more than unusual. And considering Commander Troy's incredibly hostile actions against the Press, his presence at
reporter
Amber Harris's home was a lightning rod in a storm. If Troy had not been there, I believe this domestic dispute would've been resolved with charges only against Mrs. Harris's husband. The charges against him remain in place; clearly he was the one at fault in the domestic disturbance."
"However," said Bettina as she came back on live, "Judge Rodney K. Watts did not agree. Upon hearing of the plea deal for Mrs. Harris, and in an audacious display of disrespect of women's rights and the plight of abused women in domestic incidents, Judge Watts completely dropped all charges against Mr. Harris
with prejudice
, meaning they cannot be re-filed. In a statement issued by his lawyer, Mr. Harris said he will be continuing his lawsuit against his wife and against KXTC reporter Nick Eastwood. D.A. Krasney said that Judge Watts's actions were 'reprehensible', but he would not appeal the decision."
"And in State News," Bettina went on, "Legislators over the weekend did work out a compromise bill for electing our next Lieutenant Governor. The idea of Party caucuses is part of the package, and those will be held on October 9th. They will be run and paid for by the Parties, who must register their desire to have candidates on the November ballot by close-of-business Friday, October 5th. There will also be no requirement for a runoff; a simple plurality can determine the winner, or multiple ballots may be held at the caucus meetings."
"Some Social Justice groups have complained that because the Parties are counting the ballots, the process could be rampant with fraud and abuse, with no legal recourse." Bettina went on. "State Senator Jimmy Cerone, one of the 'Gang of Eight' and a major architect of the bill, says the caucus will run fairly, just as the Iowa caucuses for Presidential elections have always run."
Bettina continued: "Republicans are furious with the compromise bill, and Representative Wilson Hammonds, Chairman of the powerful State House Ways & Means Committee, has vowed to defeat it. Mr. Hammonds and other Republicans also viciously attacked Governor Val Jared for proposing the caucus idea, calling the Governor a 'traitor to his Party'. And some Democrats expressed reservations in accepting
any
plan or idea of Governor Jared, not wanting to give him any victory at all going into the November elections."
"Also in State news," said Bettina, "the Special Grand Jury has heard the testimony of former aides to Governor Jared, Steven Fuqua and Alan Davidson. Political
experts
call their testimony 'damning', and say that what they reveal could lead to the impeachment of Governor Jared next year, when
experts
say that it's increasingly likely the Democrats will control both Legislative houses and the Lieutenant Governor's seat."
"In national news," said Bettina, "U.S. Senator Samuel Russell returned to Washington as the U.S. Senate reconvened following their August break. The City D.A. had asked Senator Russell to remain in the State while the allegations of rape against the Senator were processed. However, Senator Russell refused, and according to the U.S. Constitution, he could not be stopped from going to Washington to discharge his Senatorial duties."
"And he and other Senators will have plenty to deal with at the Nation's Capitol." Bettina went on. "Several Republican Senators, including our State's Senator Bill Nunn, are demanding that the CIA Director testify to answer allegations that CIA Agents attacked and wounded a Russian national outside the Russian Embassy in Paris, France last week."
"Russian President Putin summoned the U.S. Ambassador to Russia to the Kremlin, to protest the action in what was described as 'the strongest possible terms short of breaking diplomatic relations'." said Bettina. "The CIA has denied any involvement in the attack, which they said they have not confirmed as actually having happened. The CIA Director himself said that the Russians should look at Israel as the nation behind any such attacks, which drew a furious complaint from the Israeli Government.s"
"However," said Bettina, "this is not expected to be a problem for the International Goodwill Hockey Tournament being played at the newly renovated City Arena this weekend. Eight nations, including Canada and Russia, are sending high-school-aged youth teams to participate. The event is being sponsored by international hostess Lilly Wargrave, widow of the late business magnate Henry R. Wargrave, and is one of a series of projects by the Global Peace Initiative and City University's Rodham Institute for Political and Social Change..."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Can someone tell me," said Detective Julia Rodriguez as they drank coffee and watched in MCD, "what the difference between a caucus and a convention is? Seems they're just about the same thing."
"Almost." said Roy McGhillie. "I asked Commander Troy the other day. He says the difference is the same as the difference between a Democracy and a Republic."
"Aren't
those
the same thing?" asked Teddy Parker.
"Not quite." said McGhillie. "Commander Troy says the False News Media has bastardized the terms. In a real Democracy, such as the Athenian Democracy was in ancient history, every citizen votes on every single issue. In a Republic, such as what Britain and America have today, we elect representatives to do that voting on our behalves."