Going through the morning gruel this morning, we couldn’t help but notice a curious item in an otherwise kinda bullshit story about how Erie Steel is now accusing Rick Mariano of not only taking bribes but also stealing from them outright. (Oh, what a wicked web we weave, right?) That’s just sour grapes, it seems, but get a load of this:

Mariano surprised his trial lawyer, Nino V. Tinari, and federal authorities when, three weeks after the verdict, he appeared at the offices of the FBI and offered to cooperate. [...] The councilman was not in court yesterday. But Tinari, who no longer represents Mariano, was in the gallery, serving as a consultant to the Philip Chartock defense team. Tinari’s request to withdraw as Mariano’s lawyer was granted Monday. Tinari said he does not represent clients who cooperate with federal officials.

Lordy. We don’t know whether to hug this guy (pictured here with your favorite Permanent Midnight re-enactor and mine, Neil Stein) or give him a great big wet kiss, as if to say, “THAT’S-A MY PHILADELPHIA!”
Inky: Snitches Get Stitches, But Nino Gets All The Bitches

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 26th, 2006 at 8:04 am.