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Michael O. Billington is an activist in the LaRouche Movement, Asia editor for the ''Executive Intelligence Review'', and author of ''Reflections of an American Political Prisoner: the Repression and Promise of the LaRouche Movement''. Billington graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut in 1967. He then joined the Peace Corps, where he taught Mathematics and Music, first in Guyana, then in Thailand. Upon returning to the U.S. he joined the LaRouche movement in 1972, in the early stages of the movement's history. His wife, Gail, and his brother, Joe, and his sister, Margaret Greenspan, were also members of the movement.〔"Convicted LaRouche aide won't renounce his leader" THOMAS J. BRAZAITIS, PLAIN DEALER REPORTER. The Plain Dealer. Cleveland, Ohio: Jul 5, 1991〕 Billington's book provides an "insider" look at the history of this highly controversial movement. Billington ran on the U.S. Labor Party platform for County Executive of Westchester County, New York in 1977, and for New York's 24th congressional district in 1978.〔(Our Campaigns - Candidate - Michael O'Mara Billington )〕 ==Trials== In the latter part of the 1980s, there were numerous criminal trials of LaRouche movement leaders (see LaRouche criminal trials) that were alleged by LaRouche supporters to be political show trials. Billington was tried and convicted twice, first in Federal court, then in Virginia state court. He served two years of a three-year sentence in the first case, and was then re-tried in the state of Virginia and sentenced to 77 years, of which he served 10 before being paroled. Billington was charged with four counts of conspiracy to commit mail fraud in federal court and was convicted along with six associates. The case was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which let stand the convictions of Billington and his associates. He served two years of a three-year sentence. Billington was charged in Virginia State court with nine felony counts of "conspiracy to be an unregistered securities broker". Prosecutors charged that Billington solicited 131 loans from 85 people that totaled $1.24 million even though he knew the money would not be repaid.〔"JURY CONVICTS TOP LAROUCHE FUND-RAISER OF SECURITIES FRAUD" The Associated Press. ''Daily Press''. Newport News, Va.: Oct 25, 1989. pg. B.5〕 Billington asserted his innocence and refused a plea bargain that would have resulted in being sentenced to the time already served in federal prison. LaRouche reportedly told his followers to become martyrs and promised that "honorable deeds shall be legendary in the tales told to future generations."〔 Brian Gettings, his lawyer (who had previously defended LaRouche associate William Wertz in the 1988 Federal trial involving LaRouche, Wertz, Billington, and four others),〔 http://ftp.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F2/896/896.F2d.815.89-5518.html〕 told the court that he believed Billington to be incompetent to make decisions on his own, but a court-appointed psychiatrist deemed him competent. The judge requested a second evaluation but Billington refused.〔 Billington tried to have his attorney replaced, and Gettings himself asked to be removed, but the judge refused permission.〔〔"START ORDERED IN TRIAL OF AIDE OF LAROUCHE" United Press International. ''Richmond Times - Dispatch''. Richmond, Va.: Sep 27, 1989. pg. 22〕 According to Barbara Boyd, Billington's attorney had not prepared a defense, assuming that Billington would "cop a plea," and the judge refused to permit Billington to substitute a different attorney, despite the fact that one stood ready.〔Boyd, Barbara, ("The Human Rights Issues in the Virginia LaRouche Cases," ) ''American Almanac'' website〕 At the state trial, held in Roanoke, the prosecutor said that Billington was "ruthless" in his fundraising from old people who "look upon him in such a close and trusting fashion that they would do whatever he asked." His mother testified that he "can talk you into or out of just about anything."〔 Billington reportedly offered high interest rates and promised lenders that the money would be safer than in a bank.〔"CLOSING ARGUMENTS MADE IN FRAUD CASE." United Press International. Richmond Times - Dispatch. Richmond, Va.: Oct 24, 1989. pg. B-3〕 The jury convicted Billington on all nine counts and recommended a sentence to 77 years. The judge accepted the jury's recommendation because he had warned he would do so if Billington insisted on a jury trial and because Billington showed no remorse. He served eight years of the sentence before being paroled.〔(EIR Releases Autobiography of American Political Prisoner Michael Billington )〕 In 1990, his bank accounts, along with those of Laurence Hecht and two LaRouche enterprises, were seized to fulfill a judgment related to $260,000 obtained from an 88-year-old man suffering from dementia under misrepresentations.〔"Elderly Seek Refunds From LaRouche"; Alison Howard. ''The Washington Post''. Washington, D.C.: May 23, 1990. pg. d.01〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Michael Billington (activist)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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