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Subscribe to RSSThe wife of a disgraced Chinese politician has been given a suspended death sentence for her role in the death of British businessman, Neil Heywood. ITV's Angus Walker reports.
Updated at 2:30 a.m. ET: BEIJING — The wife of Bo Xilai, the former high-flying Chinese politician, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve after being found guilty Monday of murdering a British businessman, marking the swift descent of a man who was once one of China's most powerful figures.
The sentence means Gu Kailai is likely to face life in prison, provided she does not commit offenses in the next two years, Reuters reported.
Zhang Xiaojun, a Bo family aide who admitted to helping Gu with the murder, received a nine-year jail sentence, a witness to the hearing said. Non-official media were not allowed in the courtroom.
Witnesses said that neither would appeal the decision.
Gu's prosecution in the killing of Neil Heywood was the first step in Beijing's efforts to resolve the biggest political scandal to hit China in decades. Bo, the former party secretary for the southwestern metropolis of Chongqing, had been a controversial figure in Chinese politics with his embrace of Marxist policies and his liberal use of local police to silence critics.
After wife's conviction, what next for Bo Xilai?
The high-profile case shed unwanted light on high-level government corruption and murder by Chinese Communist Party elite. With party leaders already highly sensitive to the public perception of instability and corruption within their ranks, the scandal broke as Beijing prepared for a once-a-decade leadership change.
The conviction of Gu, 53, was all but ensured when the murder charges were released by state media with reassurances from unnamed investigators that there was ample evidence to convict.
Alexander F. Yuan / AP file
Former Chinese Commerce Minister Bo Xilai, right, and his wife, Gu Kailai, at a government ceremony in Beijing in 2007.
Scandal sends China's netizens into a feeding frenzy
"The facts of the two defendants' crime are clear," the investigator told China's official state news agency, Xinhua, late last month. "The evidence is irrefutable and substantial."
What remained to be seen, though, was how the Communist Party would punish one of its own — the wife of a man many experts once considered a serious candidate for China's all-powerful nine-person standing committee.
The answer was hinted at in the carefully composed narrative that has come out in the Chinese media about the case. During the one-day trial Aug. 9, the premeditated way Gu Kailai planned and carried out the murder of her former business partner was clearly evidenced, but it was steeped in justifications and rationalizations — so much so that by the end of Xinhua's account, Gu came off as a protective mother pushed to the edge.
Business dispute?
Heywood, 41, allegedly had become embroiled in a business dispute over a deal he entered into with Gu's son, Bo Guagua. When that business venture fell apart, Heywood allegedly sent a menacing email saying he would "destroy" Gu unless he was paid the tens of millions of dollars he believed he was owed from the deal.
China's most politically explosive trial rapped in a matter of hours when Gu Kailai, the wife of Chinese politician Bo Xilai, did not object to murder charges against her. ITV's Angus Walker reports.
He then allegedly locked the 24-year old in a house in Britain.
"The few days last November, when I learned my son's life was at death's door, my mind indeed collapsed," Gu said, according to Xinhua. It was then, suffering from "chronic insomnia, anxiety and depression, and paranoia," according to an expert panel, that Gu decided she had to kill Heywood to protect her son.
"To me, that [Heywood's email] was more than a threat. It was real action that was taking place," Gu testified, "I must fight to my death to stop the craziness of Neil Heywood."
Allegedly enlisting the help of Zhang, her former family employee and an ex-soldier, Gu lured Heywood to Chongqing with the intention of poisoning him. On Nov. 13, Gu and Heywood had dinner before driving back to the villa he was staying at in the Nanshan Lijing resort.
China puts cops on trial for 'bending the law' to help wife of ousted politician
There, the two drank whisky and tea until Heywood became drunk and vomited. Zhang then entered the room and helped Heywood to his bed while also allegedly slipping two vials — one filled with a cyanide compound and another of a different drug — of poison to Gu that she had procured earlier. When Heywood asked for water, Gu allegedly poured the poison into his mouth.
Stringer / China / Reuters
A combination of two photographs shows British businessman Neil Heywood and Gu Kailai.
The next day, Gu told Wang Lijun, Chongqing's police chief and a trusted ally of Bo Xilai, of the killing.
Wang secretly recorded the conversation but also helped to cover up the murder. In response to inquiries by the British government and the Heywood family, Chongqing police reported the death as an accident due to alcohol poisoning.
Gu may have gotten away with murder, but she couldn't anticipate what came next: a falling-out between Wang and Bo Xilai that led the police chief to flee in March to the U.S. consulate in Chengdu, where he sought asylum. There, with U.S. officials present, Wang dropped the bombshell about Gu's involvement in Heywood's murder.
Wang's explosive accusation and his taped evidence forced the Ministry of Public Security to reopen the case and may have sealed his own fate. Xinhua's account ominously noted that his entry to the U.S. consulate was "without authorization."
Wang's trial is expected soon.
Corruption may be widespread in China, but one official crossed a line when he wiretapped President Hu Jin Tau. Now that official's wife is a murder suspect. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
City divided by disgraced Communist leader's legacy
More questions than answers
Those who knew Heywood well have raised serious questions about the chain of events laid out by the Chinese courts. Could Heywood, who has been described as a gentleman and generally not violent, have really threatened Gu's son? Did Gu Kailai truly have a mental breakdown? Or was this a convenient way for the Communist Party to distance itself?
Officials: Chinese serial killer shot dead after massive manhunt
More important, what does the sentence bode for Bo? He's under house arrest while under investigation. Does his wife's show trial signal the end of the public phase of this scandal? Will Bo be disciplined internally by the Communist Party? Or will he also get his day in court?
The fact that Bo's name doesn't come up in Xinhua's account bodes well for his chances of riding out this storm. But in the opaque world of Chinese Communist Party politics, it will likely be a fruitless endeavor reconciling the official party narrative with what actually happened.
Top China politician's wife named as murder suspect
Professor Jerome Cohen, a leading authority on Chinese law at New York University, called the court decision a "typical Chinese compromise."
"It was a show trial that raised more questions than it answered. The sentence given was anticipated because to execute her immediately would have alienated more numbers of people who still support Bo Xilai or who don't think the trial was telling us the whole story or fair," he told NBC News in a telephone interview.
"This trial demonstrated the need for genuine due process of law in China because this case did not have it, it doesn't show us the involvement of her husband, there are many missing links in the puzzle," he added.
He Weifang, a prominent professor of law at Peking Universitgy, concurs that the court verdict was "absolutely a political decision, not a judicial one." "If the crime were committed by ordinary people, the outcome would have been different," he told NBC News.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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"Gu Kailai is likely to face life in prison, provided she does not commit offences in the next two years"
NBC News, you really need to explain this sentence better.
Will she go to prison immediately? If she doesn't have an offense in prison during the first two years, then she only gets life in prison? If she gets life in prison, is she eligible for parole? If yes, after how many years?
Will she stay out of prison for two years? If yes, why? If she doesn't have an offense out of prison during the first two years, then she goes to prison for life?
When a sentence is so convoluted, especially in China, I start to smell a rat....
Steal food to feed your starving family = a bullet to the back of the head.
Getting away with planned premeditaded murder= "maybe" a life sentence.
Guess that even China is seeing the great things of being a top 1%'er too.
Business corruption in China....nooo, it couldn't be. :)
Let me give you some stock symbols to check out:
PUDA, CSR, CHNG, CAGC, CGA, SUTR, ZSTN, NEP, DGW, HOGS.
There is so much corruption in China, I will no longer invest in Chinese companies. The most common thing among Chinese executives is that they think company funds can be diverted for personal use. Chinese regulators never catch them. The SEC and the American markets catch most of the improprieties.
Does it shock me that a foriegn business partner was killed over a business deal??? F NO!
Their own corruption in government and business will be their undoing...just like Russia. There are no Communist ideals at the top in China....just greed.
Tom obviously your ignorant to the fact of American corruption as well
TheTruth, death with 2 years reprieve is a standard capital sentence in China. Gu will be sent to a maximum security women's prison immediately, not allowed to go free. She will remain there for two years of highly supervised close imprisonment. If she shows remorse and follows prison rules, her sentence will be commuted to life (20 years). It is up to the court at the time of the commutation whether she will be allowed parole (typically, Chinese prisoners serve two thirds of their sentence, in prison - with further reductions possible if they earn merit points for things like providing literacy instruction to fellow prisoners, exceeding one's work quotas, being contrite and providing reparations to one's victims, etc., but parole is not automatic in capital cases.. where, I think, 20 years usually means 20). "Bad behavior" - which would result in confirmation of the death sentence - would involve things like trying to escape, assaulting other prisoners or guards, refusing to work, and other disciplinary infractions.
Basically, the two year suspended death sentence is the second more severe punishment possible in the Chinese justice system. The only worse one would be death without the two year reprieve, obviously, which, in China means that the sentence will usually be carried out between 6 months to 1 1/2 years of the sentence, depending on appeals (which are mandatory for capital cases, now).
There is always the chance that she could be pardoned and released earlier, of course, just like in the US, with an official pardon. But, frankly, I wouldn't expect that to happen in this case. She really has no friends left.
CaliforniaFirst, excellent explanation. Thanks.
"which are mandatory for capital cases, now"
The only part of the explanation that leaves a bad taste in my mouth because it implies a trend towards the--sorry to say--horrible American justice system. I'm an expat who lives in a former Communist country. Not everything about Communism was bad, and when I see the baby getting thrown out with the dirty bath water here, it **really** bothers me.
Example: Previously, the university system here consisted of only a few schools; they were excellent and free. Now, many garbage public and private universities have sprung up during the past decade, and the government wants to start charging tuition...certainly because they need to fund the new garbage schools.
Now, Execute Obama and Bush for Killing Hundreds of innocent people with their war crimes.
Truth and Nothing but.....
Have you ever heard of Paris Hilton, Martha Stewart, Bernie Madhof, Wesley Snipes and numerous other people who have been convicted of a crime and were given a reprieve, only to surrender themselves at a later date to start their sentence?
This murderous bitch has two years of freedom before she starts her sentence. A reprieve is not a pardon but it is an opportunity to show you're worthy of a lighter sentence. Contrary to popular belief, it's pretty common in China to actually get a second chance to proove yourself. In her case it is because of who she is. She will probably die before she serves any time anyway.
Thats the worst you can get in the US, even the death row prisoners are dying from old age.. So im not sure why everyone is making a big deal about it, over here she would have probably received a pardon already..
Reprieve means she will be free for 2 years. She will most likely be confined to her home. If she commits a crime in that 2 year period she will be executed. If she is a good girl in those 2 years she will then go to prision for life, unless they give her a lesser sentence, which I doubt. This has been done here in the US in many cases. If I were her, I would off myself.
Many "experts" have given several conflicting explanations. She is either released to live in her home for two years or she goes directly to a maximum security women's prison immediately! Which is it folks? Which of you is the "correct" expert?
My question is, "Will Bo have frequent visitation and conjugal rights with Gu?" Is a man's marital rights withdrawn because his wife commits a crime? Or is he automatically given a divorce if he seeks one? Why does the man have to undergo punishment while his wife is being punished? She murdered for her precious son, but he will also be punished by being separated from his mother's apron strings. How do we reconcile all of these considerations?
F6Zman, you're just begging for a visit from the Secret Service, aren't you?
It amazes me that a major news outlet cannot afford spell-check!
"He Weifang, a prominent professor of law at Peking Universitgy,"
Casts the credibility of the entire article in doubt.
I'm glad my assumption that some tool would wander in and add Obama into this was proven correct. Rtards just can't help themselves. You went for witty and clever and came out looking stupid and childish instead. Well done sir.
No njo, it's 2 yrs + commutation to 20 (2+18), not 2 and reprieve. Again, this is very common sentence in China and how it works isn't in question. Of course, it is always possible she will be released earlier.. in two years plus, but that would require for the case or sentence to be overturned or a pardon granted. There is nothing in the mechanics of her sentence that would allow for such early release.. at least that early, since she could theoretically still be eligible for parole after 2/3rds of 18 is served or she could be eligible for other forms of sentence reduction (from, say, showing remorse or winning "model inmate" status).
she didn't send thousands off to war...she didn't say she would stop a war to get people to vote for her...i ain't saying she's a good person...but dam...there's worse that never go to trial here in our own country...now get'n back on topic Bo knows...
Hang the evil biatch...
E K Kadiddlehopper: Here is the Webster Dictionary definition of reprieve:
re·prieve r.v.
re·prieved, re·priev·ing, re·prieves
1.To postpone or cancel the punishment of.
2.To bring relief to.
n.1. a. Postponement or cancellation of a punishment.
b.A warrant for such an action.
Temporary relief, as from danger or pain.
2.
Just what I said above. Hope that helps you out. BTW, I like your handle! Red Skelton was a comedian I grew up with. He was funny as h3ll!
Sorry, don't know why IE posted my cut and paste like it did. Looked it up on the net!
Ominous power and affluence tend to create sense of invinciblity and justify immoral, unethical, illegal, and even criminal behaviors. Government officials and their family members are supposed to exemplify obeyance and respect to humanity and laws to maintain order and loyalty of the people they serve. When a political figure or someone akin to them commits a nefarious crime, then he/she should be punished accordingly. No matter the status, he/she should be subject to same discipline or punishment or conviction the Court would impose upon a citizen who commits a similar offense or crime. Consistency in judgment and conviction further increases and better ensures the populace's trust in the system, but also encourages people to be good members of society regardless of national origin. Bo Xilai's wife is guilty of murder and must go through the trial and receive appropriate conviction.
@Californiafirst - Thank you for your post, I really did feel like another poster who felt the article failed to answer some of the most basic questions. I appreciate the time you spent filling in the blanks.
The reprieve refers to the death sentence, not the prison term. She was sentenced to death,
but under Chinese law, they can give the person a two year stay before the
execution. During those two years WHILE SHE IS IN PRISON, she gets to show if
she has been reformed. If so, her death sentence could be commuted to life in
prison.
's_Republic_of_China
's_Republic_of_China
This link explains how the reprieve system works in China. The reprieve refers to the death sentence. It does not mean she is free for the first two years.
http://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penal_system_in_the_People's_Republic_of_China
The word "reprieve" is not the exact translation of the Chinese words. In Chinese words, Guo's death sentence will be delayed to carry out by two years. During those two years she will be put in a maximum security jail. If she shows remorse and good behaviour, after the two years her sentence may be commuted to life imprison. Anyone suggests Guo will get first 2 years freedom is totally ignorant of Chinese judicial system.
CaliforniaFirst is correct in his comment.
o
This article shouldn't be considered newsworthy, but even in the U.S. the reported news isn't newsworthy. Politicians in the U.S. have pardoned murderers, rapists, drug dealers, and one another for years, and you never read or hear about it in the news. Just review the past presidential pardon lists, and if you can spare a minute, review your own states pardon lists that your governors have used and abused.
In this country, not unlike China, corruption runs rampant, those is power make the rules, and those who control the power and wealth are above the laws they create. It is interesting that you hardly read anything about the Christians being crucified in Egypt, and our own government is now openly supporting the new muslim brotherhood regime, which advocates killing Christians and wiping Israel off the face of the earth, rather than advocating love and compassion for all people, as God intended.
The world is full of hypocrites and people of great evil. One day God will fulfill his promise and destroy both the heavens and the earth and will make all things new. It will be a sad day for mankind but a wonderful day for those who honor, respect, and obey God's Word, which is the only Truth that will stand for eternity.
Power corrupts folks. Doesn't matter who, where or when.
Being rich works every where.
Maybe, but in the American justice system, the insanity plea seems to work for everyone. Just ask Jared Loughner.
the dollar bills fit...you must acquit...he went to Jared's...
Here we have the..."I don't remember anything plea" I guess they think if they say this that someone will just tell them "OK if you don't remember" We have to second one trying it now in Colorado! Jared Loughner and this Holmes guy both say this now. Loughner said he's sorry now and he'll get life! I really think both are a lot smarter than we all think. Murders are all a little crazy, they would have to be to some degree to think they will get away with it.....just how crazy? Crazy Smart!
I hope obozos suppoerters won't be so angry when he loses
sad fact = the Chinese dictatorship is very similar tot the republican party
Remember it was Michelle Bachman who argued during a debate that the good of China was they having no minimum wage, no unemployment benefits and other social welfare programs like food stamps. She suggested American workers would be better off if we be like China.
The danger of merging libertarian economics with conservative Darwinist Socialism, lead by a Mormon cultist and a pseudo-Catholic Ayn Randist.
Please, do not put sugar in your Tea when you Party......
bad for your health---- can trigger bad breath and diabetes
" the Chinese dictatorship is very similar tot the republican party"
Yeah, there are so many Communist Republicans, LOL.
China has a statutory minimum wage. It differs by geographic area, based on cost of living, and it currently ranges from a low of 530 rmb/month ($0.55/hr) in Gansu (an impoverished backwater province) to a high of 1280 rmb/month ($1.33 a hour) in Shanghai.
Once again, Bachmann exposes her own ignorance of nearly all things..
Republican Senators and Congressmen ARE Communists, in a sense. They lack one independent thought from their own party. They may not be Communists when it comes to the economy, but when it comes to their Political Party they are Commies. "Republicans of the world Unite, you have nothing to lose but your individuality." I Blame Reagan for this limp state of being. "Never say anything negative about another Republican" evolved to "Never disagree with another Republican", so now we have this whole group of people who obey a person who talks on the radio because nobody wants to disagree with him. He barks the order at them to say "NO" to everything for 4 years and they fell in line and paid him their union dues.
Damn Republican Communists. AKA Conservatives
Greg_S = Joe Biden's NBCnews name
Tell us another one, Joe.
Random pennsylvanian
--they took those US government bail outs in a heartbeat. People today are all Republicans when it comes to giving what is theirs, they're communist when it is a matter of taking what belongs to someone else. Goes the same for liberals and republicans from top to bottom.
Someone needs to trot out Sarah Palin, this election has gotten bogged down in unfunny stuff, where is the humor????? You have to admit she had the nations pulse to get a laugh, yes it was all an act!
I wounder how many notches are on her murdering belt?
Obama and his minion admire the control that the Commies have.
sad fact = the Chinese dictatorship is very similar tot the republican party
The democratic party isn't any different, try to tell me Nancy nutjob and saint Obama would do anything different with a straight face.
When one group of people are forced to say the same thing as one another in that group or they will get ostracized, then the concept of "2 heads is better than 1" goes right out the window. The "Party of No" is a Party of Marxism. All democrats admire the control of the Republican Party but they all just find it very Un-American.
So....China: all the justice you can buy?
Let's be clear, death with two year's reprieve is a fairly common sentence for murder in China, especially for women. It is not, in and of itself, evidence of special treatment, and life imprisonment in a Chinese maximum security prison, with a possible execution hanging over your head for two years, is not something one would wish on one's worst enemy.
I'm not saying she'll stay there. If she's as well-connected as some of you seem to assume, her family could always lobby for a pardon or pull strings with a higher court to get the sentence overturned (I frankly don't believe she really has that kind of pull, but we'll see), but the sentence she's been given is not some kind of holiday. It's real time and it could still lead to her execution.
Also, remember, the president, premier and future premier of China all hate her husband's guts. That's not going to help her.
So you are saying she may well be punished because of her husband, rather than him being punished because of her?
I'm saying that she shouldn't expect much public or elite sympathy because of her husband and, as we all know, sympathy can make a big difference for somebody in her predicament anywhere.
just take her out to the field and open up with a AK47
and just what is that going to solve? If she truly has to live with a death sentance hanging over her head, isn't that more appropriate justice than your suggestion?
not much differance between the tea party and the upper levels of govenment of china...both want to control every thing you do under the mask of freedom and whats good for the country...
Oh yeah ... and Obama and his cronnies don't. Didn't he just sign a law to let the FBI monitor what we do on the internet under the name of "security."
You are exactly right! But the Democrats want to do everything FOR you and tell you what is good for you. So which is the lesser of two evils? It is like deciding between the chair or the needle.
Neither one unfortuately :( In the end they pretty much do the same thing, help themselves and nobody else.
America is no different. Corrupt corporations and politicians. Everyone knows this don't kid yourself kids.
Wow, just like in Orwell's novel "1984."
Really????? No, she will serve for 2 or 3 years. Then, her rich family, will find someone in the villages, and hire them to go to prison instead of her. Her husband will give a villager ___$__— money. Some villager will take her wife's place in prison, when the media circus dies off. 6 months from now, this story will not be in the news. Remember, any rich and powerful in any country don't serve time.
Here in California, a Governmental official Rep's nephew murdered a college kid in San Diego campus. He served 6 years, then when Arnold Schwanegger was about to retire, He PARDON, the kid who murdered, cuz his uncle was a republican governmental official. Even here in America rich and well connected don't serve time, let alone nations like China.
Ted Kennedy.
.........and his nephews committing rape and murder - covered-up - by the Senator - for DECADES -
until one of the goofball nephews boasted about it in a bar one night - stating the family name and his uncle helped him to get away with murder.
The bar patrons were horrified and reported it the next day to law enforcement authorities. the senator still was not held accountable for his scheming activities to conceal a Twenty-Five year old MURDER - of the daughter of the family friend, who was blungeoned to death w a golf club - for refusing his sexual advances.
The Chinese government will fall just like Russia did from the inside out they will cause there own destruction.
You know this woman admits that she is guilty,, so let the punishment begin,, Money and power are the two things that will warp a man or a woman,, in most cases.. I think nothing after that!!!
Those nasty little commies, Looks like business as usual.
Wonder if one of Romney's financial supporter of 35 plus millions is making money on his Casino in China? Gamble!!! Gamble Chinese people,Romney needs more money.
Obama's favorite company GE -(that owns NBC) - received US taxpayer money to close down TWO manufacturing entities in The USA = "sudden" LOSS of JOBS in The USA -
only for Obama's GE to resurrect the same two manufacturing entities in COMMUNIST China.
When GE made $12 BILLION in profits, GE did not pay one red cent in TAXES to The USA.
*
ALL of Obama's merchandise to raise money for his re-election is made in COMMUNIST China. The Obamas are selling nail polish, hair extensions, dog bowls w Obama's symbol, cat collars w "Meow for Michelle" printed on it. (true story = sad and pathetic)
does it matter greed in China greed in america greed throughout the world democrats republicans does it really matter
An open society where people can say what they think does help.
Don't let the corporations buy ours. It will be no different than China if they are allowed to control our society.
Let's keep checks and balances.
Sooooo ... under communsim everbody is equal and coom by ya, PHYCH!!
We are being asked to believe a made-up story here. My experience is that we won't ever know the truth, but that whatever makes the Chinese look best will reign, all determined behind closed doors, no sunshine law in place there.
Bo, the former party secretary for the southwestern metropolis of Chongqing, had been a controversial figure in Chinese politics with his embrace of Marxist policies and his liberal use of local police to silence critics.
****
wow - what would be the sentence - if "leaders" are caught looting the treasury - such as The US Treasury?
The Chinese do have their favorites when it comes to clandestine subterfuge. Poisoning seems to be their time honored traditional favorite method of eliminating enemies. They have been sending toxic products to this country for a very long time. Those toxic Happy meal trinkets and other toys as well as household items found to be loaded with poisonous levels of lead paint and other heavy metals. Yet, every time they get caught importing another toxic product the manufacturers and Chinese government swear it to be an accident. Some how I don't buy that.
Do you think this entire episode could have been planned and implemented by the higher ups in government to get rid of Bo? Gu would, of course, be the fall girl!
Wouldn't that make her the Scape Gu....
This is what confuses me about China. They execute people all the time over a few thousand dollars, and yet a murder conviction they immediately commute to a life sentence?
The only reason this woman was spared the death penalty is because of her fame and previous popularity. No doubt about that.
The only other thing I wonder about is if she is really guilty. The whole trial was performed behind closed doors. These people are political targets too.
The British family of the so called murder victim believed that he died by natural causes too and did not believe these Chinese diplomats people should be prosecuted.
And... America does business and has sold America to a communist country where it is legal to murder British.
China is not afraid to jail their higher ups for murder it seems. When will America follow suit and Jail Hillary for all of hers?
It is all for show
To the NBC News editor - Your grammar in the opening paragraph is just plain wrong. Many people don't get past the opening paragraph. Would it be terrible to use two sentences, with actual names, in the opening paragraph?
No kidding though, China executes people who embezzle a few thousand dollars all the time. I think it comes from that philosphy that the country is overpopulated and they just try to reduce that problem.
I am not convinced that all the truth is known about this case. But is unprecendented to be sentenced to death in China and then have it commuted to life on a murder conviction.
This does not smell right to me. My feeling is that these people could be innocent or some how a victim of a political machine.