Former Judge Angus McGinty is a convicted felon after admitting in court that he accepted bribes from an attorney in exchange for judicial favors.  How does McGinty make his way in the world now that he has the scarlet letter of being a judge who took a bribe.  Also, find out how you can read the still sealed secret FBI and court records used in this podcast.

Investigative Reporter Brian Collister confronts Judge Sid Harle about allegations he took bribes while on the bench.  Harle takes aim at his accusers and says former Judge Angus McGinty was “stupid” and should have fought the bribery charges against him.

There simply is no judge in San Antonio who has served longer, or is more respected than Sid Harle within the legal community.  Harle was appointed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott to serves as the Presiding Judge of the 4th Administrative Judicial Region where he oversee all of the other judges in San Antonio and surrounding areas.  But Harle’s name is repeatedly mentioned in the secret FBI files from the bribery case of former judge Angus McGinty.  The allegations aimed at the high ranking judge range from accepting cash to bribes disguised as campaign contributions from attorney Al Acevedo in exchange for favorable court rulings.  

In this episode, investigative reporter Brian Collister continues his conversation with Judge Bert Richardson about the allegation contained in the FBI files that he accepted a bribe.  A claim the judge vehemently denies.  Richardson describes what his relationship was like with the man at the center of the bribery scandal, attorney al Acevedo, and judge Richardson wants to know how the investigative reporter got the secret files.

In this episode, Investigative Reporter Brian Collister talks to judge Bert Richardson who now sits on the highest criminal court in the State of Texas.  Inside the still sealed records from the FBI’s bribery investigation in 2013, an allegation that Richardson took $5,000 when he served as a District Judge in Bexar County.  The money supposedly given by attorney Al Acevedo in exchange for the judge handing one of his clients probation instead of prison.  You’ll hear Richardson explain how he handled the case and his response to the bribery claim.  

In this episode, Investigative Reporter Brian Collister reveals more details inside the still sealed government records from the FBI’s corruption investigation into San Antonio judges.  These records show Chief U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia was responsible for warning state judges at the Bexar County Courthouse of the FBI undercover sting.  But agents had already documented incriminating evidence against several judges, including now retired Magistrate Judge Michael Ugarte, using wiretaps and witnesses.  But many of those judges implicated in the investigation are still on the bench.  Some have even risen to higher positions within the court system.  One of those judges, Bert Richardson, now sits on the highest criminal court in the State of Texas.

In this episode, Investigative Reporter Brian Collister asks the former FBI agent who led the investigation into corruption at the Bexar County Courthouse why he didn’t record his interviews with former judge Angus McGinty and if he thinks attorney Al Acevedo was completely truthful in what he told the FBI about his corrupt influence over judges in San Antonio.  Also, you’ll hear the surprising answer from agent Carlisle when asked if he thinks the same bribery he uncovered nearly ten year ago, is still going on today. 

This episode focuses on how sealed government records, obtained by investigative reporter Brian Collister, reveal how word of the FBI’s investigation into judicial corruption at the Bexar County Courthouse was leaked to the very judges it was targeting.  Envelopes of cash, gifts and free car repairs are handed out by lawyers in exchange for favorable court rulings.  In this episode, the names of those (including a Federal Judge) who warned the State District Court Judges, and how what they did effectively put an end to the investigation into widespread corruption by other judges besides Angus McGinty.