Mandel Conviction Vacated

A federal judge today vacated all the convictions against former Gov. Marvin Mandel and five co-defendants found guilty more than 10 years ago of a kickback scheme.

A federal jury convicted Mandel and the others on Aug. 23, 1977, of mail fraud and racketeering in a scam to buy Mandel’s influence over race track legislation with gifts and bribes. Mandel was governor when he was convicted and was forced to resign. Mandel’s appeal cited a U.S. Supreme Court decision in June that federal mail fraud statutes protect only rights in money and property and cannot be used to prosecute public officials for defrauding citizens of their “intangible rights” to honest government.