Election Fraud Case Declared a Mistrial as Jury Deadlocks

A mistrial was declared today in the election fraud case against businessman Michael Goland, who was accused of trying to exert illegal influence on the 1986 U.S. Senate race between Sen. Alan Cranston and then-Rep. Ed Zschau.

Jurors in federal District Court in Los Angeles deadlocked over whether Goland, 42, acted illegally in trying to manipulate the outcome of the race. Goland, an outspoken advocate of Israel, wanted to assure Cranston’s reelection because the Democratic senator is a strong supporter of Israel.

Assistant U.S. Atty. George Newhouse said it “is not a foregone conclusion” that Goland will be prosecuted a second time.

Goland, who owns a Chatsworth storage company, was charged with two counts of making false statements and one count each of conspiring to defraud the Federal Elections Commission, making campaign contributions in the name of another and making excessive campaign contributions.

Goland tried to help Cranston beat his Republican rival, Zschau, by increasing support for ultra-conservative Ed Vallen, a candidate from the American Independent Party. Cranston was unaware of the effort.

Goland allegedly recruited 56 people to donate a total of $120,000 to make a television commercial for Vallen, hoping to lure right-wing Republicans away from Zschau and into the Vallen camp. He then reimbursed the donors.