A mistrial was declared in the Don King insurance fraud
trial on Friday after lawyers for the government withdrew a
request to have an appeals court prevent the U.S. district judge
from discharging jurors. Later, U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White said
the government had the "present intention to seek a prompt
retrial" (William Gildea, WASHINGTON POST, 11/18). ESPN's Jimmy
Roberts reported attorneys for both sides will meet with Judge
Lawrence McKenna on November 28 "to decide what's next"
("SportsCenter," ESPN, 11/17). Peter Fleming, King's attorney,
on the courthouse steps next to a silent King: "He has fought
this battle, and if there is another battle he will fight that
one" ("Sports View," CNBC, 11/17). HYPING THE REMATCH:
PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS' Bill Conlin, on Don King: "He'll beat a
re-trial as well. Not one of King's fighters has his
escapability" ("Sports Reporters," ESPN, 11/19). ESPN's Jimmy
Roberts, on a re-trial: "One problem, if Judge McKenna is to re-
try this case, it won't be for a while because he has a big case
coming up in January." Roberts said McKenna could get back to
the King case in the spring. Caruso, asked what the argument
would be for no re-trial: "The government has to take into
account that the case obviously was not so persuasive" ("Up
Close," ESPN, 11/17). Promoter Lou Duva: "I can't see where
they can say boxing is bad. The judicial system is bad, the
judges are bad, the jurors are bad. I mean, [King] just come up
with the right answers and the right representation" ("Sports
Tonight," CNN, 11/17). The mistrial was front page in
Saturday's N.Y. POST under the header: "Teflon Don" (N.Y. POST,
11/18). In Philadelphia, Bill Lyon writes, "Once again, not a
legal glove has been laid on him" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 11/18).
In Boston, ROn Borges writes King will have the "upper hand" in
any re-trial as the defense will know the prosecution's strategy
and won't let King testify "since he nearly hung himself this
time" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/19).
