What are the Odds on this?
Front page of the Inky, above the fold. More news about Scranton -- and the latest on the Scranton businessman who was awarded a gaming license for a casino in the Poconos, Louis DeNaples. For my earlier post on this, see The Electric Connection.
According the the Allentown Morning Call, State Supreme Court intervenes in DeNaples case:
The state Supreme Court has intervened in a Dauphin County grand jury investigation at the request of Louis DeNaples, who plans to open a slot machine casino later this month and is a focus of the probe.See also, High court in Pa. steps into grand jury probe.
Supreme Court Justice Ronald Castille issued a confidential order Tuesday that temporarily suspends at least one decision by a county judge who is overseeing the grand jury investigation, according to two people familiar with the document. Both people spoke on condition of anonymity because of the official secrecy of grand jury investigations.
Castille's order was in response to an appeal by attorneys for DeNaples, a wealthy northeastern Pennsylvania businessman who plans to open the Mount Airy Casino Resort in the Poconos. It remains in effect until the full Supreme Court can decide the appeal.
So, what's it all about (besides giving Dick Sprague some work to do now that he's no longer representing Vince Fumo)? According to the Inquirer article, The legal case against casino probe:
Lawyers for a Scranton multimillionaire are trying to convince the state Supreme Court that a county prosecutor lacks the legal standing to investigate the way the businessman won his casino license.Money quote, from Sprague:In sealed filings, lawyer Richard A. Sprague asks the high court to shut down the probe by the Dauphin County prosecutor on the grounds that it is politically inspired and represents little more than a fishing expedition, several sources said.
It is unclear whether he will be ultimately successful, but for the moment Sprague has succeeded in blocking several key witnesses from testifying. On Tuesday, state Supreme Court Justice Ronald D. Castille issued a stay blocking their testimony until the full court can consider the status of the probe.
One key issue is the right of Dauphin County District Attorney Edward M. Marsico Jr. to launch an investigation into the decision by the Gaming Control Board to award Louis A. DeNaples a license to operate a $412 million casino in the Poconos.
In a brief interview, Sprague declined to talk about the case. He told a reporter, in part: "I think it is outrageous for you or your paper to ask any questions about a matter that you believe is under seal."I guess it's the George Bush school of free press. No questions asked, never mind answered.
Oh, and as mentioned in my previous post on this issue, US Attorney Tom Marino did end up resigning his position. Marino raised some eyebrows when it was disclosed that he was a reference for DeNaples when he applied for his slots license. No word on his future plans -- other than to spend more time with his family, of course. What's in Tom Marino's future?.
Another interesting tidbit on this story. As mentioned, the article was a front pager in the Saturday edition of the Inquirer. On the opposite page of the inside story in the Inquirer was a full page ad for the University of Scranton.
The same University of Scranton that DeNaples has served on the board.
The same University of Scranton which is just completing its new campus center: The Patrick and Margaret DeNaples Center, a 118,000-square-foot, $35 million building that will provide dining, lounge and office space, is expected to open by January. The building will be named in honor of Dunmore businessman Louis DeNaples’ parents. The University of Scranton - Campus Center Project.
As the Scranton Times noted: “The University of Scranton has no greater friend than Mr. Louis DeNaples,” the Rev. Pilarz said. See Welcome to DeNaples Center.
That University of Scranton.
Right. Oh and one more thing. Except for the above John Cole editorial cartoon, the Scranton Times -- nary a mention of the latest DeNaples doings in the case.
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