"A clear attempt to influence the (Libby) jury"

[Caro]

The excerpt below is posted with the full permission, even encouragement, of the author, who wants his essays to be read by as many people as possible.

From No Quarter, by Larry Johnson

Dear Editor, Washington Post

From Brent Budowsky
February 18, 2007
To: Robert Kaiser, Washington Post

Mr. Kaiser, I am forwarding below the note I wrote to Messrs. Graham and Hiatt about Outlook's Victoria Toensing piece today.

With all due respect, I have long admired your work, but that piece today was the most egregious attempt at jury tampering that I have ever seen in this or any other town.

I spent six years at the core of the group writing the CIA Identities Law with its original sponsor, Senator Lloyd Bentsen. Setting aside my great differences with both Editorial and Op Ed pages at the Post on this case and Iraq in general, this piece was different. It was a clear attempt to influence the jury, after the defense rested and before the jury is given the case…

This is the functional equivalent of the Post editorial board and the Libby defense team standing outside the jury room, handing the jurors leaflets, ignoring the judges instructions, and handing the jurors inadmissable evidence and telling them to vote not guilty…

Sincerely,
Brent Budowsky, Former Legislative Assistant to Senator Lloyd Bentsen. Member of the Advisory Council of the Intelligence Summit.

Click the letter title, above, to read more.

Carolyn Kay
MakeThemAccountable.com

[spanone]

1. K&R

[Kagemusha]

2. Like they'll care.

They'll point to the 1st amendment and stick their tongues out.

[Buzz Clik]

3. Writing an OpEd is equivalent to jury tampering?

I confess that I don't get it.

[emulatorloo]

4. Jurors aren't supposed to read it --- however had a big ugly illustration that was hard to miss

http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/02/18/barbara-comstock-named-washington-post-editor/

<snip>

In the print version, the Washington Post chose to highlight the column with a half page graphic depicting Patrick Fitzgerald, Joe Wilson, "The Media," Ari Fleischer, Richard Armitage and the" Department of Justice" in mocked up mug shots. In case any readers lacked the stomach to get through Toensing's flying fecal word fog, the Post no doubt wanted to be sure everyone took the point, even those merely scanning past the Sunday Outlook section. The graphic itself is defamatory, above and beyond the insubstantial right wing rantings of the column itself.

<snip>

Personally I think the editorial is more about this -- Comstock.Toensing, etc are expecting a BIG FAT GUILTY VERDICT and this editorial was to rally the Republican Flying Monkeys and confuse things as Scooter begins the appeal process. Also once a verdict is in, I am assuming the media will actually report on the trial. . .So they are trying to get this No Crime Committed nonsense out and about before that happens.

[Caro]

5. The jury isn't sequestered.

If they see the Toensing piece, they could be swayed.

Carolyn Kay
MakeThemAccountable.com

[Buzz Clik]

6. Yeah, ok, but they're given clear instructions to avoid media coverage of the case.

Does anyone have a link to the piece?

[emulatorloo]

7. See my description of the picture above. Fitzgerald & Wilson "mugshots". Ok - links and rebuttal:

as to links to the piece:

Trial in Error
If You're Going to Charge Scooter, Then What About These Guys?
Victoria Toensing
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/16/AR2007021601705_pf.html

-------------------------------------------
Larry Johnson Rebuttal:
Washington Post Enables Toensing's Delusions
http://noquarter.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/02/delusional_rede.html#more

Be sure and read the firedoglake piece I linked in post 4 above:

Barbara Comstock Named Washington Post Editor?
http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/02/18/barbara-comstock-named-washington-post-editor/


ON EDIT FORMAT

[Caro]

9. Instructions. Uh huh.

Carolyn Kay
MakeThemAccountable.com

[Caro]

8. I thought I had replied to this ...

... but now I don't see the comment.

The jury isn't sequestered. If they see the article, they could be influenced just by the headline.

Carolyn Kay
MakeThemAccountable.com

[FourScore]

10. K&R

Thanks for posting this!

And welcome to DU, Caro!:hi:

[Caro]

12. Thanks for the welcome,

Carolyn Kay
MakeThemAccountable.com

[DURHAM D]

11. How do these rabid animals keep on living? Victoria and

her lovely husband Joe should have passed on long ago - they have been foaming at the mouth for well over a decade.

I mean really, I don't understand this kind of human being. Do they retain a social position inside the beltway because they are entertaining? Surely even their so-called friends laugh at them behind their backs.

I have noticed that these two don't make it on tv much any more - I guess even the cable shows got sick of their shit.

[Caro]

13. Yes, they are both just despicable.

They will faithfully spout Karl Rove's talking points to whoever will give them ink or a microphone.

Carolyn Kay
MakeThemAccountable.com