McFadden-Weaver is on trial for mortgage fraud. In 2005, she took out a $400,000 loan on a home in Lee’s Summit that a bank foreclosed upon because of unmade payments.
During this morning’s testimony, jurors got a glimpse of two Saundras, Vulnerable Saundra and Powerful Saundra.
Vulnerable Saundra said she agreed to sign the loan documents in an effort to help a contractor, Emanuel Kind, who agreed to fix up her residence in the Third District. McFadden-Weaver says Kind asked her to borrow the money for the Lee’s Summit house because she had better credit than he did. “He was getting ready to be homeless if someone didn’t help him,” she testified.
Vulnerable Saunda said she didn’t read the mortgage documents -- which misstated her her intention to live in the house, among other fictions -- when she signed them. She said she relied on the assurances of a mortgage broker, Ricky Hamilton, who was present when the $400,000 loan was closed. “I respect people’s expertise in their area,” she said in court. (Kind and Hamilton were also charged and have entered plea agreements.)
Powerful Saundra, in contrast, travels to Africa to preach and speaks out for women’s rights. Powerful Saundra fights for minority contractors. Powerful Saundra rushes through mortgage documents because she needs to report back to City Hall to negotiate a $1 million contract.
McFadden-Weaver’s testimony about the city contract drew a snigger in the side of the courtroom where government investigators were sitting. The laughter said, So you’re smart enough to do $1 million deals but you’re stupid enough to borrow money for a house you’ve never even seen with some guys you barely know?
The case is likely to go the jury some time this afternoon. If I could speak to the jurors, I would say this: The one time I saw her preach, McFadden-Weaver wasn’t wearing a detachable collar. – David Martin
The other McFadden-Weaver, speaking before the Citizens Association:
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