Mr. Rajaratnam, enjoy your last weekend at home. Watch some football, enjoy your favorite foods and make sure to hug your kids. Because come Monday it’s federal prison in Massachusetts – ouchhh.
Despite the arguments of your eloquent and powerful attorney, Patricia Millett, the trial judge and a panel of judges from the second circuit court of appeals feared you would opt for your native Sri Lanka (presumably fleeing surreptitiously in the baggage hold of someone’s private jet – since surely your passport has been seized) instead of lovely western Massachusetts.
But fear not Raj fans, I would not be shocked if on appeal his conviction is overturned. As I’ve written before, the prosecution team obtained its evidence using tactics that were aggressive and arguably crossed the line. Raj and his team argue that prosecutors conveniently failed to disclose key facts from prior SEC investigations when applying for wiretap warrants. Judge Howell was surely troubled but decided it was prudent to allow the case to proceed to the jury.
Now on appeal, Raj has put his fate in Patricia Millett, a rising star in the rarified world of Supreme Court Attorneys. As an attorney in the Solicitor General’s Office she argued 25 times before the Supreme Court. She is known as a persuasive oral advocate and strong writer. Unlike Raj’s trial counsel (John Dowd), she is in the prime of her career. Overturning this conviction would catapult her to the highest level of appellate lawyers and who knows, the Attorney General’s Office or maybe even a black robe, driver and a key to the Supreme Court’s basketball court. You can be sure she is motivated to do well in this very high profile matter.
Prosecutors cannot breathe a sigh of relief just yet. They will have their work cut out defending this conviction.
Raj, you won’t be home for Christmas, but maybe next year.