Unfertilized egg purchases, plans for private nation among unusual facts that surface in bribery trial
>> SUCH A DIFFICULT SITUATION,
AND CUMBERLAND COUNTY, THANKS
BRIAN.
>> THE STATES MOST POLITICAL
DONOR WAS SENTENCED TO SEVEN
YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR HIS
ROLE IN A SCHEME TO BRIBE
NORTHGLENN INSURANCE
COMMISSIONER.
GREG LINDBERGH IS SURE TO
APPEAL BUT THE SENTENCING
CLOSES THIS AND A MASSIVE
SCANDAL.
FORMER CONGRESSMAN WAS A PART
OF THE SCHEME HE GOT OFF WITH
PROBATION, WITH FEDERAL
PROSECUTORS SAYING HE HELPED IN
THE PROSECUTION.
FEDERAL COURTROOMS BUT TRY THE
SAME IN CHARLOTTE YESTERDAY FOR
THE PROCEEDINGS AND HE JOINS US
NOW.
TRAVIS, WHY SO MUCH TIME FOR
LINDBERGH BUT NOT FOR HAYES WHO
FACED MORE CHARGES, DID HIS
HEALTH CARRY THAT MUCH WEIGHT
IN THIS CASE.
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION AND
ALL WE REALLY KNOW IS WHAT
PROSECUTORS WILL TELL US THAT
HE'S COOPERATED WITH THEM TO
DESPITE LYING TO FEDERAL
INVESTIGATORS ABOUT THE SCHEME.
THAT SCHEME IN A NUTSHELL WAS
TO FOLLOW CAMPAIGN DONATIONS,
REELECTION CAMPAIGN.
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN
EXCHANGE FOR A LIGHTER TOUCH
FROM REGULATORS ON LINDBERGH'S
INSURANCE COMPANIES.
HAYES CAME IN BECAUSE HE WAS
CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE
REPUBLICAN PARTY AND $250,000
OUT OF WHAT WAS ULTIMATELY A $2
MILLION PROMISE, 250 GRAND
FLOATED THROUGH THE STATE PARTY
TO GET AROUND CAMPAIGN GIVING
RULES.
HE'S NEVER TESTIFIED IN THE
TRIAL AND MOST OF THE EVIDENCE
AGAINST LINDBERGH CAME FROM
WIRETAPS BECAUSE CALLS RECORDED
THEIR MEETINGS AND PHONE CALLS
FOR THE FBI.
THE JUDGE MADE IT CLEAR LAST
NIGHT THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT,
LINDBERGH INSISTS HE WAS
ENTRAPPED HERE AND HE DID NOT
BREAK THE LAW.
>> LINDBERGH IS A WEALTHY MAN
WITH CONNECTIONS ALL AROUND THE
WORLD, IS ARE CONCERNS THAT HE
IS A FLIGHT RISK?
>> THERE ARE.
SOME OF THE REASONING FROM
PROSECUTORS ON THAT IS PRETTY
INCREDIBLE.
APPARENTLY, ONE OF THE EMAILS
THEY SEIZED FROM HIS COMPUTERS
IS HIM USING ABOUT BUYING LAND
ON A RUSSIAN PENINSULA AND
SETTING UP WHAT AMOUNTS TO HIS
OWN COUNTRY.
HE HAS A PRIVATE JET, A YACHT.
HE HAS BANK ACCOUNTS,
PROSECUTOR SAID IN 18 COUNTRIES
, SENDING MONEY FOR YEARS TO
RUSSIA AND CAUSE EXTEND WHICH
IS NEAR RUSSIA, APPARENTLY TO
BUY UNFERTILIZED EGGS FROM
WOMEN OVER THERE.
PROSECUTORS SUGGESTED LAST
NIGHT THAT THIS MIGHT BE A FRONT
TO SCROLL MONEY AWAY OVERSEAS,
OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS,
HE'S HAD ONE CHILD FROM AN EGG
HE PURCHASED FROM A CALIFORNIA
MODEL AND THE BABY WAS CARRIED
BY SURROGATE MOTHER.
AT ANY RATE, THE JUDGE
ACKNOWLEDGED THE FLIGHT RISK
LAST NIGHT WAS SAID TO
LINDBERGH CAN STAY IN THE
FEDERAL BUREAU PRISON UNTIL