All of the members of the Senate Committee, including Geary, knew that Frank Pentangeli was alive and had turned informant. Michael and Tom didn't know that. So, when Geary asked Cicci if he ever got a direct order from Michael, and Cicci said he hadn't, it seemed as if Geary was being helpful to Michael. But the effect was to make Michael relax--since Cicci apparently was the top-ranking witness, and since (thanks to Geary's seemingly "helpful" question)Cicci said he never got a direct order from Michael, he thought he could get away with lying under oath about his involvement in organized crime. Then, bada- bing! , the committee sprang Frankie on him, and he was open to five counts of perjury.

Geary's two-faced speech also was a subtle blow against Michael. When he said, "these hearings on the Mafia are not a reflection on the Italian-American people," who was he referring to as "Mafia" if not Michael? And, when he said, "it would be a shame if a few rotten apples were permitted to spoil the whole bunch," who was he referring to if not Michael?