Democrat donor Ed Buck was convicted last year for a series of drug and prostitution related crimes after two black men died when they consumed large amounts of methamphetamine during sexual encounters in which they were lured to Buck’s apartment with either promises of money or promises of sex and drugs.
Filing to have his conviction overturned, Buck’s lawyers now claim that the wealthy Democrat was “kink shamed” for his sexual attraction to younger black men who are dangerously close to overdosing on meth.
His defense attorney, Mark J. Werksman, wrote in a legal filing that efforts to convict his client “included concerted effort to kink-shame Mr. Buck by presenting graphic images and videos of his sexual fetishes.”
Buck, through his lawyer, claims that videos and images from his sex toy and drug filled apartment were “so damaging that on day four of the nine-day trial, it prompted the Court to suggest that as a result of the `ongoing psychological impact’ this evidence may have on the jury,” counseling may be made available to the jurors.
MyNewsLA reports that while the possibility was discussed, it was never offered.
Now, Buck says the testimony of other victims should not be believed, his lawyer described their participation in the trial as “the testimony of a parade of financially motivated houseless individuals” and drug addicts.
Buck was convicted in 2021 after two black men, Gemmel Moore and Timothy Dean, died after consuming drugs in his apartment.
The prosecution presented evidence that Buck regularly enticed men to his apartment for “party and play” events that would involve meth. He solicited his victims using social media, dating or escort websites, or from referrals from previous victims. He would apparently pay a “finder’s fee” to previous victims if they successfully recruited a replacement.
The former Democrat donor was convicted of two counts of distribution of methamphetamine resulting in death, four counts of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, and two counts of enticement to travel in interstate commerce for prostitution.
If the conviction sticks, Buck faces up to 20 years in prison. He is currently 67.
Before his conviction, Buck was a political power player in California and the Democrat Party.
He donated more than $500,000 to largely Democrat causes and served as one of California’s electoral college members in 2016, casting his vote for Hillary Clinton.
Buck’s donations went to top California Democrats including Gov. Gavin Newsom and U.S. Reps. Ted Lieu and Adam Schiff.
Some returned the money.
