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 Conrad Black arrives at his ocean side mansion in Palm Beach, Florida from prison July 21, 2010. (Reuters) |
PALM BEACH, Florida - Sleep well, David Radler. Lord Conrad Black, who you helped put in jail, is free five years earlier than expected.
More on payback, or should that be his desired comeback, later.
The legendary Lord Black of Crossharbour spent his first night of freedom in his spectacular, oceanfront Palm Beach estate, which, like so many other aspects of Black's life, is also on some pretty shaky turf thanks to a marathon legal battle with the U.S government.
But the massive, gated luxurious estate on posh Ocean Blvd. in fashionable Palm Beach -- which he may not be able to stay in next month thanks to financial ruin -- is certainly an enormous upgrade in lodging from the confines of the Federal Correctional Complex at Coleman, north of Orlando, where he spent the last 28 months locked up.
This is a different kind of gated community.
Witnesses say that Black left the prison at about 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday when he was picked up by an SUV. He slipped out a rear service exit to avoid the sweaty, 30-member media circus of Canadian, American and British journalists camped out at the main entrance in 38C temperatures.
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From there, he travelled three hours to the home he shares with his wife, Lady Barbara Amiel, who was there waiting for him after flying in from Toronto earlier in the day.
The vehicle pulled into the estate before 6 p.m., just in time for the first home cooking and comfort he's had in more than 2 1/2 years.
A warm breeze blew as the palm trees swayed next to the mansion in which Black spent the evening, politely declining requests for interviews from a second front of media, stationed across the street next to the beach.
It was Lord Black's first taste of freedom since being convicted by a 12-member Chicago jury in the Hollinger fraud case back in July, 2007. That freedom still needs to be ratified Friday before the same judge in Chicago where he was found guilty of mail fraud and obstruction of justice.
U.S. District Court Judge Amy St. Eve demanded that Black appear before her once more, to be admonished for his wrongdoings prior to granting recognition of the $2-million bail deal that has set him free, pending an appeal of his convictions.
Black, who has no properly dated official identification other than a letter of travel provided by correctional services, is to appear in court at 12:30 p.m. Friday where St. Eve will decide what happens next.
Meanwhile, sources say when Black left the institution he was seen shaking hands with several people before climbing into the getaway vehicle.
He was said to be carrying note pads and several boxes were loaded into the vehicle.
"What he did in there was admirable," said Alix Jean, a Floridian whose cousin is also an inmate at Coleman. "My cousin told me of somebody brilliant in there who helped people but I am not sure it was him but I think it was."
Either way, he said, Black made the effort to teach and help less privileged inmates.
Jean, who says he is "100% sure" he witnessed Black being released, said his cousin told him many inmates had high regard for Black, who spent a lot of energy to assist other prisoners with their studies.
"The man is very interesting " said Millard Ives, a reporter for the nearby Leesburg newspaper, The Daily Commercial.
The joke around the prison is Coleman just lost its favourite history teacher since his lectures were even attended by prison staff and command.
One thing for sure, it appears that Conrad Black served his time well. His much-publicized enjoyment in directing his talent and intelligence to help further others' potential may prove to be his redemption -- and a far grander achievement than hobnobbing with royalty and becoming a powerful media baron. The humbling experience of dropping from the heights of nobility to the bottom of the U.S. federal penitentiary system was clearly an education for him, too.
But none of this will help his old friend David Radler sleep any better. Radler's evidence against his business partner resulted in Black's demise, while granting Radler a lighter punishment in a deal he made with the prosecution.
Before a Conrad Black "comeback" chapter can be written in this fascinating saga, there are still monumental legal battles to be fought -- and perhaps paid for as his once huge fortune has been significantly reduced.
Still, many feel that his prison time likely has been served and he will not spend another night in prison. Being free does not come cheap when you are dealing with high-end lawyers.
The usually defiant Black, so far, at least, has kept his emotions in check, his mouth shut and did not give anybody the finger. After all he has been through, he must have plenty to say about all this. But since he still has to go before a judge, he may just keep his thoughts to himself a while longer -- not wanting to spoil his new found freedom.
In declining requests for interviews, someone sounding like him said over his intercom said politely to several media "you folks have a wonderful night"
But Lord Black is on his way back.
Knowing Black, he'll be chomping at the bit to tell his story through his own National Post column or in the autobiography he is expected to release.
His old pal that helped lock him up will likely not be receiving a complementary copy.
Conrad Black had perhaps his first night of peaceful sleep last night in years.
It would be interesting to know how David Radler slept.