Cheney Not Likely to Testify on 'Assault'

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

Cheney not likely to testify on 'assault'

The Associated Press
April 16, 2008 - 12:00 am

Vice President Dick Cheney does not have to testify as an eyewitness in a civil lawsuit filed against Secret Service agents by a man who says he was wrongfully arrested for criticizing the vice president, U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Craig Shaffer ruled yesterday.

But the judge left open the possibility he may change his mind if Steven Howards can prove that Cheney has information that others cannot provide about the 2006 encounter in the Colorado ski resort town of Beaver Creek.

Howards, a 55-year-old environmental consultant, approached Cheney while he was on a walk in town and said he told the vice president, "Your policies in Iraq are disgusting." Howards said he also lightly touched Cheney on the shoulder, then walked away.

A Secret Service agent later caught up to Howards, and when Howards refused to talk, arrested him on suspicion of assault.

Read more: http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080416/NEWS03/804160328/1013