So pervasive is Lindner's influence on public officials that Hamilton County local prosecutor Joseph Deters recused himself from the criminal investigation of Gallagher because he had received political contributions from Lindner. He appointed special prosecutor Perry Ancona in his stead. The judge presiding over the grand jury, however, failed to follow this example. Despite numerous political contributions from the Lindners, Judge Norbert Nadel used his position as presiding justice to remove the scheduled judge on the docket in favor of himself. Welcome to the Chiquita Center.
Bananas are everywhere.
On the side table. On the receptionist's console. A perfectly ripened bunch even sits on the edge of president Steve Warshaw's desk. Warshaw seems to have difficulty suppressing his glee these days, as he stares from his glass-enclosed corner office across the city to the Cincinnati Enquirer Building. From that building, Gallagher and McWhirter embarked upon their investigation of Chiquita in May 1997.