In the scene where Tom goes to the Brothel to "help" Senator Geary. Did the Corleones kill the girl themselves so that they could set up Geary and then save him from a career ending scandal, and a jail sentence for murder. Then they would have Geary right where they wanted him for the future help that they would most certainly need at some point.

Exactly. It was Michael's way of responding to the disrespect that Geary showed him in their initial meeting, getting Geary to get those Casino licenses for him, and basically his way of telling Geary that he would now be under his control.

But most of all, in my opinion, It was Michael's answer to :

"Because I intend to squeeze you. I don't like your kind of people. I don't like to see you come out to this clean country in your oily hair -- dressed up in those silk suits - and try to pass yourselves off as decent Americans. I'll do business with you, but the fact is, I despise your masquerade -- the dishonest way you pose yourself. Yourself, and your whole fucking family."

It was a "Do you really know who you are f**king with, Senator?" response from Michael.

Yes, indeed. But, IMO, it wasn't the end of the contest:

As a member of the Senate subcommittee grilling Michael, Geary had to know that the FBI was holding Pentangeli in secret, and that the subcommittee would drop him on Michael. But he didn't tell Michael or Tom.

I also believe Geary helped set up Michael during Cicci's testimony. He asks Cicci: "Did you ever get an order directly from Michael Corleone? Or was there always a buffer?" While this seemed helpful to Michael, I believe it was a setup: Since Michael thought Pentangeli was dead, he thought Cicci was the highest-ranking witness the subcommittee could call. And since Cicci, thanks to Geary's prompting, said he never talked to Michael, he thought it was safe for him to perjure himself.

Finally, that little speech Geary made about Italian Americans being "the salt of the earth," could have been two-faced. When he said "...these hearings on the Mafia," who did he mean if not the biggest Mafioso sitting in the witness chair? And when he said "It'd be a shame, Mr. Chairman, for a few rotten apples to spoil the whole bunch," who did he mean if not the rotten apple in the witness chair?

I don't knw if Cicci was committing perjury. The question put to him was whether or not he ever received a direct order from Michael to kill anyone, and Cicci answered, at Geary's prompting that the Family had a lot of buffas. The buffa in this case was Pentangeli, who Geary had to know was alive.

Agreed on the rotten apples comment, except to say that Geary was pontificating about how many of his new constituents in Nevada were Italians and how wonderful they were. That's a far cry from his saying he disliked them coming out to this "clean country" posing as "real Americans" with their oily hair and silk suits.

I didn't mean to imply that Cicci committed perjury. I was saying that, because Cicci testified that he never talked to Michael, and because Michael believed Cicci was the highest level witness they had against him, Michael concluded it was safe for him to commit perjury.

Thats correct, and I agree with Geary double dealing Micahel...or of not Geary then Turnbull, who after all is a good man.

Geary setting up Michael is possible but highly debatable.

The assumption that Geary knew that the FBI was holding Pentangeli for a perjury trap is somewhat tenuous. It is not likely that such a secret, high-stakes operation would be shared with all the members of the subcommittee, especially when the intended victim clearly has political connections.

Furthermore, it is likely that Roth knew that Geary was in Michael's pocket, especially if you believe Fredo was feeding Roth information (which I don't, but many on the boards do). In either case, Roth certainly knew about Geary's sudden about face regarding the casino license and probably figured out what was up. Via Questadt, he would have ensured that Geary was out of the loop regarding Pentangeli.

That would have been a safer course of action than trying to convince Geary to switch sides. Even if convicted, Michael would have been able to arrange the destruction of Geary's career, if not a murder prosecution.

LW with all respect I think it is possible that Questadt knew Geary was compromised by Michael, and through Turnbull could have approached him by saying, "We know you have done favors for Michael Corleone, but we have a way for you to get out from under his thumb. When Willie Cicci testified ask him if the family had buffers to make it appear someone other than Michael was ordering the murders of people. We have a witness who will refute this.

Geary through Turnbull would then work out a deal by which Geary would ask that one question and then be allowed to excuse himself from the proceedings to make it appear he had no part in what was being done to Michael, while al the while being the person setting him up. If Michael had been indicted for perjury, then Geary could be in a position to be on Roth's payroll, and have the Michael blackmail behind him.

LW, everything in your thoughtful post is possible and logical. But I'm siding with dt here. Questadt could have told Geary (as dt said) that he'd have a swell opportunity to get out from under Michael's thumb, and avenge the brothel humiliation at the same time. Or, he may have threatened him: "Go along or the brothel murder will be exposed."

Some people here have objected to my theory about Geary setting up Michael by noting that it'd be suicidal for him to cross Michael. Perhaps. But people bent on revenge seldom think logically (just ask Carlo). Another point: If Michael had retaliated by releasing the brothel murder story, Geary might have been able to deny it by claiming, "Look who's accusing me--a convicted perjurer. Who're you gonna believe--him or me?"