« DID MADOFF’S MILLIONS FUND ANTI-COLEMAN ATTACK ADS? | Home | MDE ON WCCO-TV ON BLOGGER ACCESS AT THE STATE CAPITOL »
MUST READ FROM THE STAR TRIBUNE: “PAWLENTY TELLS CALIFORNIA: KEEP SARA JANE OLSON”
By Michael B. Brodkorb | March 16, 2009
“Gov. Tim Pawlenty this afternoon asked his California counterpart to not send to Minnesota soon-to-be ex-con Sara Jane Olson, who is scheduled to be released Tuesday after serving seven years for trying to bomb a Los Angeles police car and for participating in a murderous bank robbery near Sacramento in the 1970s.
‘We ask that you make the determination to require that Soliah [Olson's birth surname] serve her parole in your state,’ read the letter to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Olson, 62, is scheduled to be released from a central California prison Tuesday morning. Minnesota corrections officials have approved her request to serve her parole in St. Paul, where she lived for years as a wife, mother, actress and DFL activist until her arrest a decade ago. California is still reviewing the request, but a corrections official there said last week that he anticipates an OK from his state.
Olson went on the run for more than two decades after being a member of the leftist Symbionese Liberation Army. Her actions with the militants included attempting to blow up a Los Angeles police car and helping rob a Sacramento-area bank that led to an SLA cohort murdering a customer.
Meanwhile in the Minnesota Legislature, two Republicans unsuccessfully pushed a resolution expressing the same sentiment as Pawlenty. Neither the House nor the Senate debated the merits of the resolution to keep Olson from returning to St. Paul, but voted against considering it on the floor on procedural grounds.
Rep. Laura Brod, R-New Prague, who introduced it in the House, said she would urge legislators to write to California Gov. Schwarzenegger in support of the proposal.
In the Senate, where the resolution was presented by Bill Ingebrigtsen, R-Alexandria, Minority Leader Dave Senjem spoke in support of fast-tracking the proposal.” Source: Star Tribune, March 16, 2009
Click here for the complete story
###
This is a reminder that I work for the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus. Minnesota Democrats Exposed is my personal blog and it is not created, endorsed, sponsored, or authorized by any political party, candidate, or candidate’s committee.
Topics: Uncategorized | 28 Comments »
28 Responses to “MUST READ FROM THE STAR TRIBUNE: “PAWLENTY TELLS CALIFORNIA: KEEP SARA JANE OLSON””
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
March 16th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Funny. When the democrats are not producing their budget proposal within moments of the forecast being released, they are wasting time.
When three republican politicians use the release of a geriatric former radical to tie up the House, Senate and Governor’s office for a day, Michael announces the need for medals and parades for all those involved.
March 16th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Does anybody know what the law is regarding where a person must serve their parole? Are the laws different in Minnesota and California?
March 16th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
I have absolutely no problem with Sara Jane being returned to Minnesota … as long as she is closely monitored and the moment she violates her parole, she is sent back to California (or even kept her in her adopted state) to serve the rest of her term! [Does anyone really think that someone who has thumbed her nose at the rules of society her entire life won't mess it up?]
March 16th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Leroy seems to love terrorists. Personally I would just as soon see her spend the rest of her life in prison.
I am pleased to see that conservatives are making sure this gets the publicity it deserves. We need to keep an eye on this terrorist because as George says she will mess up.
Leroy, why do people of your ilk want to cover this up?
March 16th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Pete..
Aren’t you ashamed to support the conservative policies that screwed everything up in the United States? I mean, come on!!!
March 16th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Chile-
Why do you support the legislature wasting time on stuff like this?
March 16th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
I would be inclined to sentence her to stay with Andy Dawkins. Or is that cruel and unusual ?
March 16th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
In the grand scheme of things, who cares where she goes. I’m glad out elected leaders in St. Paul felt this issue deserved so much attention today. Lord knows there aren’t any other pressing matters to attend to.
I could care less about her and I imagine that most of the state feels the same. Just a hunch.
March 16th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
danbrome,
You keep talking about conservative policies screwing everything up in the United States. Yet, you’ve never cited a single conservative policy let alone explaining how it’s screwed everything up in the United States. Of course, it’s funny that someone who claims to be a moderate doesn’t mention a single liberal policy (like running up $3.2 trillion in debt in just 20 months) to blame. Could it be dan that you’re a kool aid drinker and not a moderate?
As for Kathleen Ann Soliah, I support the L.A. police union, which wants Soliah to be supervised in California — where, by the way, she tried to kill two of their own. Incidentally, I’m so sick of people calling Soliah by her assumed name Sara Jane Olson.
March 16th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
I for one don’t think trying to keep convicted murders and terrorists out of Minnesota is a waste of time.
Yes, it might take a few minutes away from democrats trying to cut back on children’s education. But, unlike democrats, I think it’s ok to spend time fighting terrorists.
I guess it’s kind of quaint calling a murdering terrorist a “geriatric former radical” instead of the murdering terrorist that she is.
What do we call Charlie Manson? … serial killer? …. or just a “geriatric former hippie”?
Oh well, I guess the DFL just wants one of their own back.
March 16th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Lest we forget, Soliah/Olson used the valuable resources of the Berkeley, CA council for a resolution.
This is the html version of the file http://www.cityofberkeley.info/Commissions/peaceandjustice/2000peaceandjustice/pdf/060500S30.PDF.
Google automatically generates html versions of documents as we crawl the web.
Peace and Justice CommissionNorth Berkeley Senior CenterRegular MeetingJune 5, 2000MINUTESThe meeting convened at 7:10 p.m. with Michael Sherman, Chairperson, presiding.ROLL CALLPresent:Elliot Cohen, Mark McDonald, Alan Moore, Michael Sherman, Anne WagleySteven GlattAbsent:Zachary Brown, Jossie FurlowCOMMENTS FROM THE PUBLICThe following speakers addressed the Commission regarding the trial of Sara Jane Olson: • Barbara Sava • Diana Block, California Coalition for Women Prisoners • Pam Fadem, California Coalition for Women Prisoners • Rev. Dann ShieldsThe following speakers addressed the Commission regarding the trial of Kahlil Jacobs-Fantauzzi: • Monique Koller • Joyce Keller • Soula CulverACTION ON MINUTESM/S/C (Cohen, Wagley) to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of May 1, 2000. Ayes:Unanimous; Absent: Brown, Furlow.ACTIONS TAKENA. M/S/C (Cohen, McDonald) that Council adopt the following Resolution:WHEREAS, Berkeley Municipal Code (BMC) section 3.68.070A mandates that the Peace and JusticeCommission advise the City Council “on all matters relating to the City of Berkeley’s role in issues ofpeace and social justice…â€, BMC section 3.68.070C further authorizes this Commission to “helpdevelop proposals for the city council and the school board for actions i
Page 2
MINUTESJune 5, 2000 1 furtherance of the goals of peace and justice, and [to] help publicize such actions in the communityâ€, andBMC section 3.68.070J states that this Commission should “provide information to other municipalitiesand school districts onthe work of the commission”; andWHEREAS, BMC section 3.68.070H mandates that this Commission act as a liaison betweencommunity groups organizing around issues of peace and justice and city government ; andWHEREAS, several community members and residents of the City of Berkeley appeared before thisCommission, and a letter from Steven Soliah, a long time resident of Berkeley, was submitted to thisCommission urging that the City of Berkeley take action by calling for all charges to be dropped againstformer Berkeley resident Kathleen Ann Soliah (who has since changed her name to Sara Jane Olson);andWHEREAS, Sara Jane Olson (aka Kathleen Ann Soliah) was arrested June16, 1999 in St. Paul,Minnesota on a 23-year-old California warrant alleging she tried to bomb police cars in retribution forthe shoot-out and incineration which led to the death of six members of the Symbionese LiberationArmy (SLA); and
WHEREAS, no bombs went off, no one was ever injured, and Sara Jane Olson (aka Kathleen Ann
Soliah) has pled not guilty; andWHEREAS, over the past 23 years Sara Jane Olson (aka Kathleen Ann Soliah) has married, raisedthree daughters, and become a productive, civic minded member of her community, all of which is beingdisrupted by the resurrection of these decades old charges; andWHEREAS, lacking legal evidence upon which to prove the 23-year-old case, the prosecution intendsto try Ms. Olson for conspiracy; andWHEREAS, Judge James Ideman will permit the prosecution to include the entire SLA history, therebyimplicating Sara Jane Olson (aka Kathleen Ann Soliah) in over 22 major felonies, ma ny of whichoccurred before she allegedly had anything to do with the SLA; andWHEREAS, this action could sway the jury to convict Sara Jane Olsen based upon guilt by association,thereby effectively lowering the constitutional burden of proof and increasing the likelihood that she willbe unfairly convicted; andWHEREAS, in addition to the danger that guilt by association will result in an unfair trial and incorrectverdict, the prosecution is planning on using Patricia Hearst, who was convicted of federal bank robberyin San Francisco, as a witness; andWHEREAS, Ms. Hearst has a powerful incentive to support the Los Angeles District Attorney’scontentions as she has been seeking a Presidential pardon for over a decade, which could be favorablyaffected by a prosecution recommendation; and
Page 3
MINUTES
June 5, 2000 2 WHEREAS, in addition to endangering the Constitutional right to a fair trial this case has already had anegative impact on the defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to a public trial and First Amendment Rightto Freedom of Press in that the judge has silenced the defense from speaking out about this case byimposing a sweeping gag order which prevents all people connected with the case from discussing it inany way; andWHEREAS, the unequal enforcement of this gag order is evident from the fact that Judge Ideman took
no action when Los Angeles District Attorney Gil Garcetti proclaimed Sara Jane Olson’s guilt duringstatements made on National Public Radio, nor did the Court take action when Patty Hearst gave anextensive interview about the case to “Talk” magazine, a publication of the Hearst magazine chain,claiming Olson is guilty and that it’s her turn to “pay the piper”; andWHEREAS, the defense has been forced to attempt to end this one sided pre-trial publicity by filing amotion seeking the court to find both Patty Hearst and Los Angeles District Attorney Gil Garcetti guiltyof contempt for making these prejudicial statements to the media at a time when Ms. Olson is preventedby court order from publicizing her sid e of the story; andWHEREAS, in addition to the danger that a conspiracy charge could lead to an unfair conviction basedon guilt by association charges of conspiracy for political crimes are damaging to civil liberties and canhave a chilling effect on First Amendment activity because conspiracy trials are often used to convictpersons for their political beliefs, rather then for the criminal activities alleged; andWHEREAS, by using conspiracy law to claim, that as a “member” of the SLA, Sara Jane Olson (akaKathleen Ann Soliah) should be held responsible for all crimes other SLA members may havecommitted is the same manner in which such laws have been used to convict and executed Albert Spies,Louis Lingg, and others for the Haymarket “riot” in Chicago in 1886, and how Sacco and Vanzetti wereconvicted and executed in Boston in 1926; andWHEREAS, during the 1960’s and 1970’s the charge of “conspiracy” was oftenused in political trialssuch as that of Dr. Spock, and Rev. Sloan Coffin, the Chicago 8, (involving Black Panther Partymember Bobby Seale and 7 anti-war activist), the Panther 21 (which resulted in acquittal), theGainesville 8 (involving anti-war protest by the Vietnam Veterans Against the War), and many othercases across the country aimed at breaking the spirit and will of the anti-war and black liberationmovements, through the arrest, prosecution and imprisonment of their leadership; andWHEREAS, it is important that we not allow Sara Jane Olson (aka Kathleen Ann Soliah) to take theplace in the history books that the Los Angeles District Attorney has in mind for her, since, her losswould encourage the further use of conspiracy laws to punish political ideas.THEREFORE, the City of Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission recommends:1) That the City of Berkeley hereby call upon the Los Angeles District Attorney to drop allcharges, for Judge James Ideman to dismiss all charges, and thereby end this vindictiveprosecution; and
Page 4
MINUTESJune 5, 2000 3 2) That the City of Berkeley call upon Governor Gray Davis to pardon her for al l crimes allegedlyresulting from or connected with Sara Jane Olson (aka Kathleen Ann Soliah) during her periodof alleged activities with and on behalf of the Symbionese Liberation Army, so that this turbulentperiod can finally be put to rest.Ayes: Unanimous; Absent: Brown, Furlow.B. M/S/C (Cohen, Moore) that Council adopt the following Resolution:WHEREAS, the Peace and Justice Commission has an obligation to take public testimony and discussissues of justice in the City of Berkeley; andWHEREAS, the Peace and Justice Commission is concerned that the City Council asked the AlamedaCounty District Attorney to drop the prosecution of Kahlil Jacobs-Fantauzzi, yet the case proceededfor several months, and Kahlil Jacobs-Fantauzzi was acquitted; andWHEREAS, Sgt. Randolph Files recently testified in the matter of People v. Kahlil Jacobs-Fantauzzi;andWHEREAS, Sgt. Randolph Files’ testimony was contradicted by some of his own statements, bystatements of arresting Officer Kevin Scofield, and by videotapes admitted into evidence, in summary: • Sgt. Files testified there was no protest going on at the time of the arrest; Officer Scofieldsaid there was a protest; and • Sgt. Files said the entire time from when they started toward a tent Kahlil Jacobs-Fantauzziallegedly interfered with their approach to the time of his arrest was about a minute; OfficerScofield said it took 5 or 6 minutes; and • Sgt. Files was certain he had never discussed the case with Officer Scofield, but OfficerScofield wasn’t as sure, and admitted the case was widely discussed within the PoliceDepartment; and • Sgt. Files testified he never told Mr. Jacobs-Fantauzzi words to the effect of “if you get inour face you’ll be arrested,” but on videotape Sgt. Files can audibly be heard uttering wordsto this effect; and • Sgt. Files admitted they pushed Mr. Jacobs-Fantauzzi to the ground; Officer Scofield saidMr. Jacobs-Fantauzzi fell; and • Sgt. Files claimed he arrested Mr. Jacobs-Fantauzzi after an interaction of about 40seconds, where Mr. Jacobs-Fantauzzi was told to move, refused, and then was warned
Page 5
MINUTESJune 5, 2000 4 he’d be arrested if he didn’t move, failed to comply, and that Mr. Jacobs-Fantauzzi steppedin front of Sgt. Files when Sgt. Files tried to walk around Mr. Jacobs-Fantauzzi beforebeing arrested. This testimony was proven false by the videotape, which showed policegrabbing Mr. Jacobs-Fantauzzi and pushing him to the ground almost instantaneously, aversion of events that coincided with the testimony of defense eyewitnesses; andWHEREAS, by the end of the case, in his closing statements, even the Alameda County DistrictAttorney had come to doubt Sgt.20Files, and stated to the jury that if the case were to rely on thetestimony of Sgt. Files he agreed they should not convict, going on to state that they should convictbased on the fact that Mr. Jacobs-Fantauzzi’s passion for his cause was itself the best evidence of hisguilt; andWHEREAS, the jurors, who found Mr. Jacobs-Fantauzzi not guilty, stated that they might have foundhim guilty based on the testimony of Sgt. Files had the videotape not disproved such testimony; andWHEREAS, the Peace and Justice Commission Secretary has informed the Peace and JusticeCommission that under the City Charter, the City Council cannot take any disciplinary action against anemployee, that is the City Manager’s role; andWHEREAS, the Peace and Justice Commission is concerned that accountability may therefore belacking; andWHEREAS, the Peace and Justice Commission is extremely concerned with the relationship betweenCity employees, in particular members of the Police Department, and citizens of Berkeley.ACCORDINGLY, the Peace and Justice Commissionhereby recommends that the Council of the Cityof Berkeley approve the following actions:1. Authorize the City Manager to order copies of the trial transcript and videotapes admitted intoevidence in the case of People v. Kahlil Jacobs-Fantauzzi; and2. Direct that an investigation be conducted and a report determining and listing all discrepanciesbetween the testimony of Sgt. Randolph Files, the testimony of Officer Scofield, the videotapeevidence and the testimony of other witnesses, be prepared and made available to the publicwithin 60 days of the passage of this Resolution, and within a period timely enough so as toassure the statute of limitations for bringing charges of perjury does not expire; and3. Formally request that, before the time period to bring criminal charges for perjury expires, theAlameda County District Attorney conduct an independent review of the evidence to determineif Sgt. Randolph Files engaged in perjury, false arrest, assault, or any other criminal misconductin the case of People v. Kahlil Jacobs-Fantauzzi.Ayes: Unanimous; Absent: Brown, Furlow.
Page 6
MINUTESJune 5, 2000 5 Meeting was adjourned at 10:40 p.m.Respectfully submitted,Manuel Hector Jr., Secretary
http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:pzJXtAmZ8QMJ:www.cityofberkeley.info/Commissions/peaceandjustice/2000peaceandjustice/pdf/060500S30.PDF+Berkely+Resolution+“Sara+Jane+Olson”&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps!
March 16th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
I’d be okay her returning to Minneosta as long as she stay’s at th Shakopee Women’s Prison. She could bunk with Tubby Tommy.
March 17th, 2009 at 7:26 am
Leroy-the-jackass says”
“Chile-
Why do you support the legislature wasting time on stuff like this?”
What are referring to Leroy, you jackass?
Why does the DFL support terrorists? Why do you support terrorists?
March 17th, 2009 at 7:44 am
Pete says: Why does the DFL support terrorists? Why do you support terrorists?
And I reply, deciding where a paroled inmate is allowed to serve out his or her probation is a publicity stunt enacted by the republicans yesterday that tied up both bodies of the legislature. If you really think this ancient woman is a threat to the people of Minnesota, perhaps you should push for the suspension of the rule of law so that you can just keep her contained without charges indefinitely. It must really piss you off that the president has reacquainted the American people with the actual documents upon which this country was formed.
March 17th, 2009 at 7:57 am
……. 62 is “ancient”? …… I guess we know what dflers really think about our senior citizens.
March 17th, 2009 at 8:15 am
Pete,
You asked:
“Why does the DFL support terrorists? Why do you support terrorists?” …… and of course Leroy did not answer, but I think I can help.
I think the DFL supports this particular terrorist because she is a DFL terrorist ….
…. why they support other terrorists is however, still a mystery to me.
March 17th, 2009 at 8:16 am
Sixty two is ancient when it comes to radicals who were convicted of crimes committed more than 30 years ago.
March 17th, 2009 at 8:17 am
……. 62 is “ancient� …… I guess we know what dflers really think about our senior citizens.
March 17th, 2009 at 8:50 am
One sad thing is while she was hiding out for 25 years, she was able to vote for Democrats.
Was Sara Jane pro-choice? The bank teller who she kicked in the stomach, had a miscarriage and was denied the “choice.”
Leroy-you-jackass, the crime she was convicted of was murder.
I wouldn’t care if she was 102 and committed killed murder 60 years ago: SHE’S A MURDERER!
March 17th, 2009 at 9:00 am
Not only did she vote for the democrats that sheltered her …. she did “street theatre” for them…
… I really hope performing “street theatre” violates her parole.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:14 am
It was in the “theatre” that Sara Jane got hooked up with the SLA.
danbrome, weren’t you a theatre major?
March 17th, 2009 at 9:47 am
Sorry… Mathematics.
March 17th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
So, the republicans here are cool with letting a convicted child molester vote for Norm, and then having Norm’s lawyers remain silent on the fact?
Good to know republicans are pro-child molesting, but anti-murder.
March 17th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Who said anything about child molesters?
Leroy for Christsake sober up and stay on topic!!
March 17th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Yup, danbrome has a degree in arithmetic.
Leroy, shut up – we don’t really care who you voted for – surprised to hear you voted for Norm though.
March 18th, 2009 at 12:12 am
Wow, the liberals are really unhinged tonight.LOL
March 18th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Flounder has no problem with that skanky drunk Randi Rhodes encouraging the death of a sitting presidenty on Err Amercka though.
F’ing hypocrite!
March 18th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
puddles does seem to have a problem. Maybe he should just go back to posting as little pud, er I mean two puke.