Author Suspects GOP in Kerry FBI File Theft

NewsMax.com ^ | 4/04/04 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

Vietnam War historian Gerald Nicosia said Friday that burglars who broke into his house a week ago Thursday and removed thousands of documents from Sen. John Kerry's FBI files were most likely Republican operatives.

"I would say that the Republicans had the largest motivation because there definitely is . . . a heck of a lot of explosive stuff about Kerry in there," Nicosia told MSNBC's "Scarborough Country."

The author, who has unabashedly proclaimed his support for Kerry's presidential bid, obtained the FBI files while working on his 1999 book "Home to War," filing a Freedom of Information Act request that took eleven years to yield results.

Nicosia said he didn't think the top Democrat or his staff were worried about the 20,000 page stash of surveillance material he had on him.

"The Kerry camp had no reason to believe I would not cooperate with them," Nicosia insisted, explaining that he shared portions of the files with Kerry operatives a few days before their theft.

Still, after Nicosia used the files two weeks ago to disprove Kerry's denials that he attended a 1971 meeting of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War where a plot to assassinate pro-war politicians was discussed - some see the motivations of the file thieves differently.

"This almost sounds like a West Coast version of Watergate 2004," host Joe Scarborough told Nicosia and fellow guest Pat Buchanan. "Maybe it was an inside job by somebody in the Kerry campaign."

Indeed, if the Kerry camp was involved in the FBI file break-in, it wouldn't be the first time it had engaged in Watergate-style political sabotage.

As the New York Post reported just last month, during Kerry's 1972 bid for Congress, his younger brother, Cameron Kerry, was arrested for "breaking into . . . the headquarters of a Kerry opponent" in Lowell, Mass.

Kerry's brother and another campaign worker pleaded not guilty to charges of "breaking and entering with the intent to commit grand larceny."

After the arrests, candidate Kerry told the New York Times that the break-in was a preemptive strike in response to threats that phone lines to his campaign headquarters were about to be sabotaged.

Cameron Kerry is now a partner in a Boston-based law firm and has been a key financial backer of all of his brother's campaigns.

[kattracks]

"The Kerry camp had no reason to believe I would not cooperate with them," Nicosia insisted,

Still, after Nicosia used the files two weeks ago to disprove Kerry's denials that he attended a 1971 meeting of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War where a plot to assassinate pro-war politicians was discussed...

Yes, the Kerry camp had absolutely no reason to doubt Nicosia and steal these documents.

[GailA]

The GOP has no reason to steal his FOIA files. They can just order them up from the Feds, just like he did. DUH!

[R. Scott]

"I would say that the Republicans had the largest motivation because there definitely is . . . A heck of a lot of explosive stuff about Kerry in there," Nicosia told MSNBC's "Scarborough Country."

The author, who has unabashedly proclaimed his support for Kerry's presidential bid…

And he still supports Hanoi John?
There’s no understanding some people.

[Quilla]

So a bunch of Republicans stole files that can be obtained through the FOIA - files already out there and damaging to the Kerry campaign. I'm starting to think Nicosia conveniently misplaced them.

[Asclepius]

"I would say that the Republicans had the largest motivation because there definitely is . . . a heck of a lot of explosive stuff about Kerry in there," Nicosia told MSNBC's "Scarborough Country."

Dear Professor. Continue to play the role of good-natured dumbass-doofus-goofball and leave the stupid attempts at political smears to Senator Kerry's professionals.

[gunnedah]

You are correct. They could get them the same way. This is a Democrat ploy just like the Miranda deal. They start a smoke screen to cover up the truth.
The "Mainstream Media" is also complicit and use it also to cover for the lying,crooked Democrats.
The real interest is in the smoke,not what the truth is.
More partisan crap and when America explodes in terrorism we need to take aim at the media as well as the Democrats.

[Puddleglum]

I wonder if Nicosia filed a police report on the "theft," and I wonder if there has been an investigation into the circumstances surrounding it - any evidence of breaking and entering, etc? Call my a skeptic, but I am beginning to think it all might have been staged.

[codercpc]

If President Bush, and his campaign, did not have FOIA files on John Kerry a year ago (or more), I would think it was incompetent.

There is no way that an unknown author had this info, but the President's re-election staff didn't. There is no reason for them to have to steal something they already must have.

[Diogenesis]

did not this happen before with kerry? in lowell?

PAGING HOWIE CARR.... PAGING HOWIE CARR....

[mass55th]

After watching this guy on TV the other night and hearing that he's pro-Kerry, I'm of a mind that he masterminded the whole thing himself, or with the help of the Kerry Campaign, just to sell his book. Granted, there is the possibility that there actually was a break-in, but I'm always skeptical of these kinds of things, especially when money is a likely motive. What better way to sell a book than to pull a publicity stunt like this. The GOP wouldn't have to burglarize anybody's house to have access to these papers. The originals are at the FBI and since Mr. Nicosia was able to access them through the Freedom of Information Act, so can every other American citizen.

[cajungirl]

Ditto,,,they know that Bush team already knows and are trying to take a preemptive action just in case team Bush uses the info,,they can then scream "Watergate" "stolen files" and try to obscure the "explosive info". Or it is a publicity stunt for his book. Who knows, but it is a sure thing Bush Team knows whatever there is to know and probably more.

[billorites]

I wonder if Nicosia filed a police report on the "theft,"

I haven't seen one.

You haven't seen one...

I haven't seen a news report yet about this "theft" that even quotes a police officer.

[Fresh Wind]

Publicity stunt. Must be another book coming out soon...

[mass55th]

Author Suspects GOP in Kerry FBI File Theft. That headline is way too similar to this: "Joe Wilson Suspects the White House In Outing His CIA Wife's Identity. When in doubt or trying to create a political firestorm, always blame the Republicans.

[fhayek]

The author, who has unabashedly proclaimed his support for Kerry's presidential bid...

What bothers me is that this author, who apparently know about 'explosive' information about Kerry, still supports the guy. Yeah, I'm going to rush out and buy his books. I'll bet he gives a real, objective analysis of history.

[HighWheeler]

I'm sure the FBI can get another copy of Kerry's FBI file from Hillary, at least a copy that's good up to 1993. It may take a while to rifle through all 1100 files though, unless she still has them in alphabetical order.

[syriacus]

The GOP has no reason to steal his FOIA files. They can just order them up from the Feds, just like he did. DUH!

I agree.

[Diogenesis]

livingstone and hill might have stolen the files to maintain their relative perceived monopoly.

[demkicker]

Yep, this is another VRWC example.... < /not>

[gooleyman]

...explaining that he shared portions of the files with Kerry operatives a few days before their theft.

-----
Yes and they know how people become disenchanted quickly and turn on their candidate, so the "operatives" went in to learn where the papers were so they could come back and get them later. That's an old trick. How would Republicans know he had them, let alone exactly where they were in the office. It was a surgical strike by an eye witness to him removing them from their folders. What a bunch-a-nitwits.

Republicans remember Watergate. I don't think they'd want to risk another of those.