[LANMaster]

Representative Jim McDermott, (D-Wash) found guilty of illegal wiretapping

Appeals Court rules against McDermott in taped call dispute

By Matthew Daly
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A federal appeals court ruled today that Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., violated federal law by turning over an illegally taped telephone call to reporters nearly a decade ago.

In a 2-1 opinion, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that McDermott violated the rights of House Majority Leader John Boehner, who was heard on the 1996 call involving former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

The court ordered McDermott to pay Boehner more than $700,000 for leaking the taped conversation. The figure includes $60,000 in damages and more than $600,000 in legal costs.

McDermott leaked a tape of a 1996 cell phone call involving former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to The New York Times and other news organizations.

The call included discussion by Gingrich, R-Ga., and other House GOP leaders about a House ethics committee investigation of Gingrich. Boehner, R-Ohio, was a Gingrich lieutenant at the time and is now House majority leader.

A lawyer for McDermott had argued that his actions were allowed under the First Amendment, and said a ruling against him would have "a huge chilling effect" on reporters and newsmakers alike.

Lawyers for 18 news organizations — including ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, The Associated Press, The New York Times and The Washington Post — filed a brief backing McDermott.

But Boehner's lawyers said McDermott's actions were clearly illegal.

By leaking the tape McDermott "chilled the free speech of others," namely Boehner and Gingrich, lawyer Michael Carvin said following a court hearing in November.

A spokesman for McDermott said today the congressman had just received the ruling and was studying it. A spokesman for Boehner could not be reached immediately.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ht...cdermott28.html

[bassetman]

Good, now get Bush!

[bill.aam]

Originally Posted by bassetman

Good, now get Bush!

Bassetman Read This

[TooBad]

Originally Posted by bassetman

Good, now get Bush!

For what? He did not leak any wiretapped material. He simply did what any reasonable president would do, he tapped terrorist phone calls to their contacts in the US. Sounds like if he didn't, he should be skewered for not protecting the American people.

[LANMaster]

bump

[bassetman]

Originally Posted by bill.aam

Bassetman Read This

Read this!

[Rep]

Warrentless wiretapping is never appropriate for U.S. citizens to be fearful of.

I am not certain when the democratic representative performed the wiretap. If he was in power at that time, it may have gone to his head and he crossed the line.

Certainly those that hold power must obey the law of the land. It is important for the American justice system, and the the American people to keep an eye on those that use power to an abusive level.

[bill.aam]

Originally Posted by Rep

Warrentless wiretapping is never appropriate for U.S. citizens to be fearful of.

I am not certain when the democratic representative performed the wiretap. If he was in power at that time, it may have gone to his head and he crossed the line.

Certainly those that hold power must obey the law of the land. It is important for the American justice system, and the the American people to keep an eye on those that use power to an abusive level.

Congressman Jim McDermott's Biography

Federal Legislative Service

• U.S. House of Representatives, representing Washington's 7th Congressional District, 1988-Present

McDermott leaked a tape of a 1996 cell phone call involving former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to The New York Times and other news organizations.

[bassetman]

So much for the nobody would misuse a wiretap arguement!

[Rep]

TY Bill

Apparently Rep McDermott is still in office. If so, should he be impeached?

What is the process for impeaching a member of congress?

[bassetman]

I thought you just did a recall election?

[Rep]

Originally Posted by bassetman

I thought you just did a recall election?

I really do not know. I would think though that a recall would be from the people whereas an impeachment would be from the legislative body.

Where is a lawyer when you need one?

[bassetman]

Originally Posted by Rep

I really do not know. I would think though that a recall would be from the people whereas an impeachment would be from the legislative body.

Where is a lawyer when you need one?

Sounds right, but they wouldn't impeach him w/o the support of the people.

[Rep]

Originally Posted by Rep

I really do not know. I would think though that a recall would be from the people whereas an impeachment would be from the legislative body.

Where is a lawyer when you need one?

Of course the congress represents the people. Yet, the majority party controls everything. They have complete control and excercise that control even when the people do not side with them. Happens all the time.

President Clinton was impeached at a time when he was very popular with the people. But the GOP went ahead anyway and began the impeachment process.

[bassetman]

Originally Posted by Rep

Of course the congress represents the people. Yet, the majority party controls everything. They have complete control and excercise that control even when the people do not side with them. Happens all the time.

President Clinton was impeached at a time when he was very popular with the people. But the GOP went ahead anyway and began the impeachment process.

True, I wonder if they are all still in office?