Hagen acted with perfect timing in snaring Sen. Geary in the brothel: just soon enough so that the drugged Geary realized he was in big trouble; but well before he was able to think clearly and figure out that he’d fallen into a Corleone trap. Geary leaped at Hagen’s reassurance—“it’ll be as if she never existed”—and when he agreed to spend the night at Michael’s home in Tahoe, his coglioni were in Michael’s pocket. But, if he’d had his wits about him, he could have made an early and overpowering counterattack:
Geary had two big advantages over Michael. First, Geary was a major pezzanovante, and was far better connected with state and federal law enforcement, politicians and judges than Michael. Because of his “legitimate” front, I’m guessing that Michael didn’t think he needed anything like the police/political protection his father needed because Vito’s illegitimate businesses were out on the street and constantly vulnerable. Second, Geary was a Nevada native, which counted for a lot among Nevada pezzanovanti and voters, who looked down on outsiders and new arrivals (we saw a perfect example in the scene between Ace Rothstein and County Commissioner Webb in “Casino”). It’s what emboldened Geary to demand a huge, dirty bribe from Michael while denouncing “the way you come into this clean country, with your oily hair, silk suits…”
So, if Geary had been able to think clearly, he could have gone to the Nevada State Police and the FBI hierarchy with a story that he’d been grabbed by a couple of men as he got into his car, and drugged—awakening in a brothel with a dead hooker next to him. Oh, and that brothel was operated by Fredo Corleone. Seems Geary had been at his brother’s estate not long before, in his official capacity, to accept an endowment for the State University. Afterward, Michael importuned him to improperly use his influence to help force Klingman out of the Tropigala Hotel and have Klingman’s license transferred to Michael or his associates. Of course Geary, ever the honest politician, refused. And so, wasn't there a strong connection between Geary’s refusal of Michael’s demand, and his waking up drugged and set up in Fredo Corleone’s brothel?
Far-fetched as the story might sound, Geary would use it to stimulate the Staties and FBI to investigate Michael's Mob background and continued ties to NY Mafia, and to leak it to news media. At minimum, it’d create just enough doubts about Geary’s guilt for him to duck a murder indictment. And, while the incident might temporarily cost Geary votes, Michael’s background would be exposed publicly. Even if he, Neri or Hagen weren’t charged with the hooker’s murder, Michael’s “legitimate” cover would be blown forever. Geary might even get the Gaming Commission to revoke Michael’s licenses due to his “failure to disclose criminal connections."
Of course Geary wasn’t in any shape to think so clearly that night. But, he attempted revenge several weeks later at the Senate hearings:
As a member of the subcommittee that was investigating Michael, Geary had to know that Pentangeli had survived, and that they were holding him in secret as a witness against Michael. So, when Geary asked Cicci a question seemingly helpful to Michael—“Did you ever get a direct order from him [Michael], or was there always a buffer?” and Cicci replied, “No, I never talked to him,” Michael relaxed. He was lulled into thinking that Cicci was the top-ranking witness against him. And, since Cicci testified that he never got a direct order from Michael, it was ok for him to lie under oath. Geary played the key role in tricking Michael into committing perjury five times. It almost succeeded.
Your thoughts?
