Opinion ID: 692299
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Prosecutorial Argument to the Jury

Text: 9
10 During the rebuttal portion of his closing argument, the Assistant U.S. Attorney, Stephen Kelly, stated three times to the jury that Waldemer had been subpoenaed for records related to the campaign expenses and that Waldemer had failed to produce them. Waldemer claims that, in mentioning these facts, Kelly improperly argued facts not in evidence and effectively accused Waldemer of obstructing justice, a crime with which he was not charged. 11 While prosecutors may not infuse their closing arguments with facts that the court has not admitted into evidence, they may argue reasonable inferences from the evidence that the jury has seen and heard. United States v. Martinez, 939 F.2d 412, 415 (7th Cir.1991). We will reverse Waldemer's conviction only if we find that the prosecutor's rhetoric invoked facts not in evidence and deprived Waldemer of a fair trial. Id. The remarks in question went as follows: 12 MR. KELLY: You will have the opportunity to read in the ... grand jury testimony exactly how he understood, as the Court will instruct you, that he understood in his mind--this goes to the question of intent and motive for you--that receiving campaign expenses would be improper and you heard in this case that Mr. Waldemer was subpoenaed for these types of records back in July and he did not produce them. He produced a number of invoices-- 13 MR. GOMRIC: Your Honor, we're going to object to that, Your Honor. 14 THE COURT: Overruled. 15 MR. KELLY: You heard evidence in this case that he was subpoenaed for these types of records and he did not produce them. He was interviewed and asked about these types of payments. There's no question when he was asked in his interview about these types of questions that he again denied them, denied ever receiving them, and again as you will read the grand jury transcript, he did it again under oath in front of the grand jury. 16