BUFFALO, N.Y. — There's been a new development in the case of former DEA Agent Joseph Bongiovanni, who was recently convicted of using his position to interfere with investigations of drug dealers with alleged ties to the mafia.
One month after he moved to fire the attorneys who defended him over the course of two lengthy trials he told a judge on Friday that he wants them back.
On Oct. 22, when Bongiovanni said he wanted to replace his attorneys Parker MacKay and Robert Singer, federal court Judge Lawrence Vilardo said he was "stunned," calling the work by MacKay and Singer to defend Bongiovanni "superb." Even the prosecutors who often butted heads with MacKay and Singer said Bongiovanni couldn't have had better lawyers.
But the differences between Bongiovanni and his legal team, characterized just a month ago by both irreconcilable, now appear to have been repaired.
While in court Bongiovanni was asked by Judge Vilardo, "Are you now entirely comfortable to proceed with Mr. Singer and Mr. MacKay?"
"I am you honor," Bongiovanni replied.
The judge probed further by asking, "Are you saying any issues with them were resolved?"
"Yes," Bongiovanni replied.
An air of mystery still shrouds what exactly happened between Bongiovanni and his lawyers after he was convicted of several counts for which he's to be sentenced in June, although it had been indicted in court that another attorney working with Singer and MacKay had somehow interfered in the case and may have been — in their minds — trying to poach Bongiovanni as a client.
Singer last month referred to that other attorney as a "fox in the henhouse."
The defense also moved to withdraw another motion which was made by Bongiovanni following his trial, which might shed more light on the situation.
However, that motion is currently under seal and Bongiovanni's lawyers seek for it to remain that way.
"I don't feel it's necessary to air this dirty laundry any more than it has been," Singer said in court.
The government argued the motion should be made public even though lead prosecutor Joseph Tripi indicated in court that it contains allegations unfavorable to him, such as accusations of prosecutorial misconduct.
The judge indicated he was inclined to make those court papers public, but might only do so if certain parts of them are redacted.