Posted on 05/19/2005 6:36:21 PM PDT by Libloather
Demos' hijinks may stay secret
Rule 'salacious' tape off-limits, judge urged
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
By Martha Carr Staff writer
LOS ANGELES -- A secretly recorded conversation laden with salacious details about the fast-and-loose lifestyles of big-name Democratic stalwarts could stay under wraps in the trial of Sen. Hillary Clinton's former national finance director, if the government has its way.
Prosecutors Tuesday asked a federal judge to declare the tape off-limits to defense attorneys on the basis that much of it is hearsay. They also vowed not to introduce it as part of their case when New Orleans media consultant Ray Reggie takes the stand today.
Reggie was wearing a wire when he invited his former fund-raising buddy David Rosen to dinner at Morton's steakhouse in Chicago on Sept. 4, 2002, more than two years after they worked together on a star-studded Hollywood gala held for Hillary Clinton's 2000 Senate campaign.
(Excerpt) Read more at nola.com ...
| A secretly recorded conversation laden with salacious details about the fast-and-loose lifestyles of big-name Democratic stalwarts could stay under wraps in the trial of Sen. Hillary Clinton's former national finance director, if the government has its way.
|
"Sounds strange ..."
I agree. Who are the prosecutors trying to protect - Hillary ..?? I mean .. the arrest was based on the taped interview .. I can't understand why it isn't relevant to hear it.
Ping
Gosh. I would hate to think the good liberals were caught snorting coke and porking prostitutes (I mean, aside from their usual illegal fundraising activities).
Well, I suppose not - if one assumes that the Democrat Party shouldn't be prosecuted under RICO.
"if the government has its way."
WAIT A MINUTE! *I* AM THE GOVERNMENT.
Signed, Govt. Of the People #62,200,001
Rosen, who is standing trial on charges that he underreported the cost of the gala, acknowledges on the tape that the fund-raiser probably cost more to produce than was reported on campaign forms, according to a partial transcript obtained by The Times-Picayune. Those taped statements could bolster the government's claims that Rosen concealed the event's lavish costs to prevent Clinton's Senate campaign from taking a financial hit.
But the tape also includes embarrassing gossip about top Clinton donors and Democratic officials, including speculation that a wealthy Clinton donor was using cocaine and sent call girls to the hotel rooms of two top Clinton insiders.
Reggie well-connected
Justice Department lawyer Peter Zeidenberg refused to elaborate on his reasons for asking that the tape be excluded. But a source close to the case said prosecutors fear the scandalous details, exchanged as the pair swapped stories about the fast-paced world of money and politics, could distract the jury.
Zeidenberg's statements in court Tuesday also indicate that prosecutors are worried that the conversation, which occurred over a bottle of Beringer wine, might not be deemed as credible as testimony from Reggie and others about the days leading up to the party.
"The conversation was recorded two years later, and the witness was present in the run-up to the gala," Zeidenberg told U.S. District Judge Howard Matz.
Reggie, a powerhouse Democratic fund-raiser in Louisiana and a close friend of the Clintons', met Rosen when he signed on to help raise money for Hillary Clinton's Senate bid. Rosen was Clinton's finance chief. Reggie, whose sister is married to Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy, was an experienced political operative with strong ties in the South.
Although the two worked together on several fund-raisers, including the Hollywood blowout, it's unclear what role Reggie's testimony will play in the case if tapped conversation is excluded. Both Reggie and his lawyer have refused to comment since news broke last month that he was a confidential informant in the case.
Rosen's attorney, Paul Sandler told the judge he had not yet decided whether he wanted to question Reggie about the content of the tape, and would reserve judgment until he saw the government's brief.
"I'm not convinced at this moment that I would seek to introduce the transcript," Sandler said in court. "The witness may convey the testimony that I seek."
Matz said no matter what his ruling, the jury will be allowed to hear that Reggie wore a wire and agreed to cooperate with the government in an effort to reduce his prison time on two unrelated bank fraud charges. In exchange for his cooperation and testimony at trial, the feds have recommended that Reggie receive no more than 5 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced in October.
Finagling a pardon
Three other key players in the gala, underwriter Peter Paul, charity fund-raiser Aaron Tonken and Chicago businessman and donor Jim Levin, have also been recently convicted of other federal crimes. Tonken, the gala's primary organizer, is serving a five-year prison sentence for fraud. Paul, who bankrolled the Hollywood bash, is awaiting sentencing on securities fraud charges. Neither is expected to testify.
Levin, however, did take the stand and testified that Rosen was keenly aware expenses were getting out of control. Levin turned government witness after cutting a plea deal on unrelated bribery and fraud charges. His testimony concluded on Tuesday.
Rosen is accused of repeatedly misleading the Federal Elections Commission about contributions received to stage the massive fund-raiser which was held at a 112-acre Brentwood estate and was stacked with celebrities, from Brad Pitt to John Travolta to Mohammed Ali.
The event, billed as a Hollywood tribute to departing President Clinton, was primarily underwritten by Paul, an Internet entrepreneur and three-time convicted felon.
Paul, who partnered with the creator of comic book superhero Spider-Man to create Stan Lee Media, filed a civil case shortly after the fund-raiser alleging that he gave $2 million to Hillary Clinton's Senate campaign based on a promise that President Clinton would join the company's board when he left office. He also said in a "20/20" segment aired in 2001 and broadcast for the jury Tuesday that he was attempting to influence the president in hopes of a pardon for his previous crimes.
I'm Govt. Of the People #62,200,007. Where were you born. In this country?
'twas a snide reference to 62 Million Bush voters 11/2004 ....
| I suppose not - if one assumes that the Democrat Party shouldn't be prosecuted under RICO.
In the real world, they'd call the men in the white coats to come get the prosecutor if he did that. |
I don't care if it is played in court. what is important is that it get leaked out onto the net for immortal public enlightenment
Besides which, building the case around the tape opens the door to counterclaims that "it's all about sex" -- a PR defense that the prosecution would no doubt prefer to avoid.
"In the real world, they'd call the men in the white coats to come get the prosecutor if he did that"
Probably true, since the Marxists have long been infiltrating the psychiatric and psychology fields....
I know that. The fact remains - I'm Govt. Of the People #62,200,007. Where were you born? In this country?
Strange thing is, she hasn't been Arkancided yet. She probably passed copies to 50 lawyers and a letter to Hill-da-Beast, that says they are to be opened if she shoots herself in the back and dies, and then show up miles away in a park somewhere.
"Besides, GOP is never gonna beat Hillary with scandals; the GOP will beat Hillary with Condi Rice!"
Can't we just beat her with a baseball bat? I don't want a hair on Condi's head to be harmed while battling The Beast! ;)
Well .. it's not over yet.
And .. when the Cisneros Report comes out in June - it's going to be filled with all sorts of nasty stuff (according to Tony Snow).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
I can't believe that the "salacious details" part of the tape was ever going to be played in court anyway. It's not relevant to the case.