103 - The Public Suicide of Budd Dwyer and the Tragic Events That Led Up To It

Timesuck with Dan Cummins

Dan Cummins

True Crime, Society & Culture, Religion, Conspiracies, History, Biographies, Education, Adult Humor, Comedy, Dark Humor, Conspiracy, Cults

4.7 • 21.6K Ratings

🗓️ 3 September 2018

⏱️ 104 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

On January 22nd, 1987, forty-seven year-old R. Budd Dwyer, Republican State Treasurer of Pennsylvania, held a press conference in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to address his recent conviction on eleven counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, perjury, and interstate transportation in the aid of racketeering. The married father of two faced up to fifty-five years in prison and a $300,000 fine. He was scheduled to be sentenced the very next day, January 23rd, by a judge who he knew intended to make an example of him to deter other politicians from taking bribes in the future. The journalists gathered expected Budd to resign from his office. Instead, he took out a .357 magnum, put the gun in his mouth, pulled the trigger, and resigned from life. What very specific events led to this tragic decision? Find out, today, on Timesuck! National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 Call it if you need it! Timesuck is brought to you today by the fantastic hit true crime and paranormal podcast, And That's We Drink! Listen wherever you listen to podcasts or click HERE to visit their website! Timesuck is also brought to you by Leesa! Go to www.Leesa.com/timesuck to get $235 off a kick-ass mattress during their incredible Labor Day sale!!! Merch - https://badmagicmerch.com/ Want to try out Discord!?! https://discord.gg/tqzH89v Want to join the Cult of the Curious private Facebook Group? Go directly to Facebook and search for "Cult of the Curious" in order to locate whatever current page hasn't been put in FB Jail :) For all merch related questions: https://badmagicmerch.com/pages/contact Please rate and subscribe on iTunes and elsewhere and follow the suck on social media!! @timesuckpodcast on IG, @timesuckpodcast on Twitter, and www.facebook.com/timesuckpodcast Wanna be a Space Lizard? We're over 3000 strong! Click here: https://www.patreon.com/timesuckpodcast Sign up through Patreon and for $5 a month you get to listen to the Secret Suck, which will drop Thursdays at Noon, PST. You'll also get 20% off of all regular Timesuck merch PLUS access to exclusive Space Lizard merch. You get to vote on two Monday topics each month via the app. And you get the download link for my new comedy album, Feel the Heat. Check the Patreon posts to find out how to download the new album and take advantage of other benefits. And, thank you for supporting the show by doing your Amazon shopping after clicking on my Amazon link at www.timesuckpodcast.com

Transcript

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0:00.0	On January 22nd, 1987, 47 year old are Bud Dwyer.
0:05.2	Republican State Treasurer, Pennsylvania, held a press conference in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania,
0:09.6	to address his recent conviction on 11 counts of conspiracy, male fraud, perjury, and interstate
0:15.7	transportation in the aid of racketeering.
0:18.4	The married father of two faced up to 55 years in prison and a $300,000 fine.
0:23.8	He was scheduled to be sentenced the very next day, January 23rd, by a judge who he knew
0:28.8	intended to make an example of him to deter other politicians from taking bribes in the future.
0:34.6	It was expected by everyone in attendance, an audience comprised mainly of the top journalists
0:39.4	in the state that Bud Dwyer was going to resign from his elected position after years of accusations,
0:45.2	a highly publicized trial, and a nasty fall from grace.
0:48.7	No one expected what actually happened.
0:51.4	In a long rambling speech, Dwyer criticized the American Justice System, the reporters
0:55.8	in the room who he felt had unfairly tainted the public's perception of him during the events
1:00.4	leading up to during after the trial.
1:03.3	And he accused other Pennsylvania politicians of being the ones who were truly corrupt.
1:07.9	He thanked his family for their support and thank God for a good life.
1:11.3	And then on live television, he took a Manila envelope out of his briefcase and pulled
1:15.8	out of that envelope, a fully loaded Smith and Wesson Model 27357 Magnum revolver.
1:22.6	The reporters present gasped, screamed, and backed away from Bud.
1:27.2	Voices rang out, pleaded with him not to do whatever he was planning to do.
1:31.5	Only Dwyer himself remained eerily calm.
1:34.2	He quickly told his terrified and riveted audience, please, please leave this room with
	...

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