Mistrial Declared In Corruption Trial Of Former Nassau County Exec Ed Mangano
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The judge has declared a mistrial in in the trial of former Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano and his wife, Linda.
The mistrial declaration comes a day after the jury told the judge they were deadlocked.
Mangano is accused of taking bribes from a restaurant mogul, which allegedly included a no-show job for his wife, in exchange for county contracts and guaranteed loans.
Linda Mangano is accused of lying to the FBI.
The case was supposed to take eight weeks. It went on for 12.
Web Extra: Ed Mangano Reacts To Mistrial
It was snowing when the Manganos first arrived at court last March, and now we have summer heat and storms, and a stormy, volatile. jury room, CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff reported. At least one complained of a toxic environment.
Edward and Linda Mangano were tense and tearful in the courtroom when the judge told them that after nine days the jury failed to come to a consensus on their innocence or guilt and they would be retried for their alleged crimes.
"I said before, this is so difficult to go through with your family, and I just want to say thank you to everybody," said Linda Mangano. "I feel so blessed to have so many people who have stood by our sides and supported us."
Web Extra: Linda Mangano Reacts To Mistrial
It has been a week of whirlwinds. One juror replaced another who was dismissed for illness. She told the judge there was cursing and name calling in the jury room.
"It is truly a sentence in and of itself, a trial. It is emotionally draining, it is physically hurtful. I don't know how to describe it, other than it's something I don't wish it on someone who doesn't deserve it," Ed Mangano said.
The seven women and five men were united in one pronouncement, acquitting co-defendant John Venditto, the former Oyster Bay town supervisor, of all 27 charges against him.
"It was heated, intelligent discussions. No more than I would expect from any other jury anywhere," one juror told CBS2's Jennifer McLogan.
Web Extra: Mangano Juror On Mistrial
Another told McLogan the decision was "too close."
"To me, they were best friends of 30 years. And if I'm friends with somebody for 30 years, and I'm rich and I want to give my friend a present, to me it's just a gift," another said.
It was a very emotional scene outside court, Gusoff reported. Linda and Ed Mangano cried Thursday as they thanked the jury foreman for his service shortly after the judge declared a mistrial in the federal extortion case.
In the final note to the judge, the foreman said he was a not guilty vote and that the other jurors were "not following the rules."
The Manganos will return to court to set a new trial date on June 28.
