EXPERTS: Hannity Could Be Required To Testify About His Conversation With George Zimmerman

[babylonsister]

EXPERTS: Hannity Could Be Required To Testify About His Conversation With George Zimmerman

By Judd Legum on Apr 11, 2012 at 2:20 pm


According to several experts in Florida law, Sean Hannity could be compelled to testify about his conversations with George Zimmerman. Tamara Lave, a professor of criminal law at the Universtiy of Miami who also practiced as a public defender for 10 years, told ThinkProgress it’s a “no brainer.”

Under Florida Law, there is a “qualified privilege” for journalists that protects their conversations with sources. But this privilege can be overcome, per Florida Evidence Code 90.5015:

A party seeking to overcome this privilege must make a clear and specific showing that:

(a) The information is relevant and material to unresolved issues that have been raised in the proceeding for which the information is sought;
(b) The information cannot be obtained from alternative sources; and
(c) A compelling interest exists for requiring disclosure of the information.

Here’s how Hannity described his conversation with George Zimmerman:

Now yesterday I was contacted by an individual that we in fact believe was George Zimmerman. He reached out to me, we spoke on the phone about his case, and I agreed not to report on the contents of that conversation.

Lave said that, in her opinion, the qualified privilege could “easily” be overcome under Florida law because Zimmerman’s statements about the incident are “relevant and material to unresolved issues.” Further, there are no “alternative sources” for his statements to Hannity and there is a compelling interest for disclosure in a potential manslaughter case.

more...

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/04/11/462513/experts-hannity-testify-conversation-with-george-zimmerman/

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Wouldn't Hannity also have to prove he's actually a journalist

instead of just a right-wing talking head with a cable TV show?

He doesn't investigate and he doesn't report; he just bloviates and repeats talking points fed to him by the GOP. So how is he a journalist?

[RebelOne]

4. At one time, he stated on his radio program that he was not a journalist. n't

[EC]

8. And Fox has gone out of their way

to say that these guys on at night are part of their "entertainment" programing and that is why they don't have to be truthful with the news...

[Initech]

2. Now this could make it really interesting.

Why did Zimmerman give Hannity an exclusive interview in the first place? And why Hannity of all talk show hosts?

[Cali_Democrat]

15. This is why:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002544933

[KansDem]

3. First, we need a trial to determine if Hannity is indeed a "journalist"

I wouldn't think "qualified privilege" would extend to any media clown who spews horseshit into a camera.

This whole ordeal could take some time...

[Ganja Ninja]

5. Shemp Hannity the criminal's friend.

Maybe Zimmerman wanted a few pointers on how to lie and keep a straight face.

[snooper2]

6. I would love to see that pencil dick on the stand

[peace frog]

7. Oh, and wouldn't he just love the attention it would bring him

He would rage on and on for days about the unfairness of the judicial system and how a poor, maligned, innocent guy like Zimmerman just can't get an even break while the Trayvon Martins of the world get alllll the breaks handed to them on a silver platter. Hannity and his sychophants would eat that sh!t up with a spoon.

[Ikonoklast]

11. It doesn't work that way.

You try that in a court of law as a witness concerning a criminal case like this and you will promptly find out just how powertful that judge is inside the walls of that courthouse.

The judge warns you ONCE.

The deputies get to have you as their guest after that.

[peace frog]

16. Of course not, you misread my intent

I mean his inevitable diatribe regarding the "travesty" about the trial, not that he would create a brouhaha at the trial.

[FSogol]

9. Accessory after the fact!

[mucifer]

10. How does anyone know it was really zimmerman he was talking to?

Couldn't any wingnut call him and say he is zimmerman?

That's the part I don't understand.

[HooptieWagon]

12. GZs former attorneys confirmed the ph #

So unless someone else got a hold of GZs ph, it was him.

[HopeHoops]

13. It'll never work. Hannity would have to swear to tell the truth and EVERYONE knows he can't do that

[11 Bravo]

14. STOP THAT! (If my wife finds me sitting at the computer with a hard-on, she might get the idea ...

that DU is not just the progressive political message board that I have described to her!)