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Larry Klayman sues Judicial Watch
WorldNetDaily.com ^ | 4/13/06

Posted on 04/14/2006 9:50:07 PM PDT by peggybac

Known for his seemingly perpetual litigation against the Clintons, Larry Klayman is turning his sights on the group he founded, charging in a lawsuit that his successor has "hijacked" the government-watchdog Judicial Watch for personal gain.

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton, Klayman charges, "sent out false and misleading fundraising letters, misused donor money, disparaged Klayman with supporters and the media, and took other actions which increased the damage to Judicial Watch, the donors and Klayman."

Fitton issued a statement to WND stating Klayman's "ridiculous lawsuit is full of lies and distortions which Judicial Watch will address in court. "

He called it a "tactical maneuver designed to distract attention away from the fact that Klayman owes more than a quarter of a million dollars to Judicial Watch."

"This lawsuit is without merit and is an attempt to smear Judicial Watch’s good name and the reputations of Judicial Watch’s fine employees," Fitton said.

Klayman, who has set up a website to present his case, is asking for more than $3.5 million in compensation plus punitive damages.

Fitton took over the Washington, D.C.-based group when Klayman left in the fall of 2003 to run, unsuccessfully, for a U.S. Senate seat in Florida.

"In the two and one half years since I left, Fitton, who is not a lawyer, has taken over Judicial Watch for himself, never filling my position as chairman with a distinguished lawyer to lead the organization," Klayman said. "And Fitton disparaged and harmed my reputation in an attempt to make sure that I, and others who are loyal to me, could never return to lead Judicial Watch."

Lawsuits also have been filed against Fitton in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by a Judicial Watch donor, Louise Benson, and a former director of the group's Miami district office, Sandy Cobas, who also names Judicial Watch in her suit.

Klayman emphasizes Judicial Watch was founded in 1994 as a watchdog to fight for ethics in government. Believing government could not police itself, he says his vision was for the group to be a "true independent counsel" for the people.

Judicial Watch's litigation under Klayman included challenges to President and Mrs. Clinton's Legal Defense Fund, uncovering the "Chinagate" campaign finance scandal, the theft of nuclear codes at Los Alamos Nuclear Laboratories, political abuse of the Internal Revenue Service, charges of misconduct and cover-up at the FBI – both before and after 9-11 – and Vice President Cheney's Energy Task Force.

Klayman criticizes Fitton for allowing Robert G. Mills to remain as head of Judicial Watch's fund-raising department, asserting Mills defrauded donors.

Fitton knew Mills had a "shady fund-raising past and was in bed with Congressman Tom DeLay," Klayman contends.

The complaint says that one month after Klayman left Judicial Watch, the organization sent out a fund-raising letter claiming Klayman still was chairman and general counsel, causing confusion among donors. Contributions were sent to the group, the complaint says, by donors who believed Klayman was still there, "using their donations for proper purposes."

In addition, Klayman contends Fitton and Mills have defrauded donors funds given on the condition they be spent to purchase Judicial Watch's headquarters at 501 School Street, S.W., in Washington. Money designated for the sale, the complaint says, was mingled with operating funds.

Also, contends the complaint, in breech of Klayman's severance agreement, Fitton and other Judicial Watch employees told callers inquiring about Klayman that they could not discuss the reasons for his departure, leaving the erroneous impression he was forced to leave.

Fitton ordered Judicial Watch employees not to speak with Klayman, the complaint asserts, and shortly after Klayman announced his candidacy for the Senate, made a "frivolous demand," to prohibit him from ever mentioning he was founder of Judicial Watch and threatening legal action if he didn't comply.

Klayman also asserts Fitton lied about his past, "passing himself off as a college graduate of George Washington University when Klayman hired him years earlier, when in fact he had not graduated from the school and did not have even an undergraduate college degree."

In a separate suit filed in Miami circuit court, the former director of Judicial Watch's Southern Regional Office, Cobas, alleges Fitton and others took part in disparaging her Cuban and Hispanic heritage, defamed her and took other actions to force her out of Judicial Watch because she was loyal to Klayman.

Klayman said he regrets having "to take strong legal action to preserve this national treasure for all Americans."

"Not even the current leadership of my former organization is above the law," he said. "It's time to set things straight for the future and return Judicial Watch to the millions of Americans who support it. In this renewed era of government scandal and secrecy, the country needs an honest, forceful and effective Judicial Watch."


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: awlarry; judicialwatch; jw; klayman; lawsuit; nationaltreasure; personalgain; peterpaul
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To: Howlin

Belly laughing here too! Absolutely delicious irony!


41 posted on 04/14/2006 10:15:11 PM PDT by Carolinamom (Daily legal immigrant to FreeRepublic.com)
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To: Nita Nupress

He really did that. I'll find the link.


42 posted on 04/14/2006 10:15:48 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: Paleo Conservative
He really LOVES that "Film noir" pose, doesn't he?

Reminds me of this one:


43 posted on 04/14/2006 10:18:55 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: Nita Nupress

http://www.politicalamazon.com/klaymanmom.html


44 posted on 04/14/2006 10:19:32 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: cajun-jack
Since Klayman has never won a case and neither has Judicial Watch...why don't they just have a duel...they will both lose in court!!!

Oh, my. Someone has to win in a court case, right? Oh, man. This'll be better than watching Roger Staubach beating the Dolphins in the '72 Super Bowl!

45 posted on 04/14/2006 10:20:29 PM PDT by Nita Nupress
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To: onyx

As they say, REAL LIFE is BETTER then fiction, LOL! We couldn't have thought up this one if we tried!


46 posted on 04/14/2006 10:20:53 PM PDT by TAdams8591 (Get the US out of the UN and the UN out of the US!)
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To: doug from upland

Only because he went back on a promise he made to her.


47 posted on 04/14/2006 10:21:16 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: peggybac

I'm waiting for the day Larry accidentally sues himself.


48 posted on 04/14/2006 10:21:49 PM PDT by Tall_Texan (I wish a political party would come along that thinks like I do.)
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To: Howlin
After suing his own mother, who else was left?

He could sue himself.

Nahhhh, he wouldn't ....

49 posted on 04/14/2006 10:21:54 PM PDT by Eagle9
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To: TAdams8591

Which talk show will get Larry's EXCUSIVE?
FOTFLOL!


50 posted on 04/14/2006 10:22:55 PM PDT by onyx (It's easier to indict a ham sandwich or Tom DeLay than it is to indict a Democrat.)
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To: Howlin
Judicial Whatch is a great concept. Never did we think that Larry was such a scumb bag.

Tom Fitton is trying to hold it together. It still has great potential

I just wish Tom Fitton would come on here and make some comments.

51 posted on 04/14/2006 10:23:02 PM PDT by AGreatPer
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To: peggybac

You reap what you sow.


52 posted on 04/14/2006 10:23:36 PM PDT by ChiefBoatswain
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To: Howlin

LOL! I KNEW I remembered that! Do you remember who won the case?


53 posted on 04/14/2006 10:24:07 PM PDT by Nita Nupress
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To: onyx
Klayman's reason for founding Judicial Watch (his words):

"The Department of Justice..."mostly just helped feather the nest of the Washington political and legal elites."

So Klayman set out to feather HIS nest w/unceasing appeals for money to file unsuccessful law suits, pay himself an exorbitant salary, and enlist fools to send him evn more money to keep on keeping on..

54 posted on 04/14/2006 10:24:55 PM PDT by Carolinamom (Daily legal immigrant to FreeRepublic.com)
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To: Howlin

Break out the popcorn already, this is funny now, but sure to get better.


55 posted on 04/14/2006 10:25:01 PM PDT by umgud (12 gauge, the original pepper spray)
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To: peggybac
Thank you for NOT excerpting this article. This is not a rhetorical question...

Does anybody know if JW has ever won a case where the perp received a significant fine and/or jail time?

Details?

56 posted on 04/14/2006 10:25:55 PM PDT by upchuck (Wikipedia.com - the most unbelievable web site in the world.)
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To: Carolinamom
Lined his pockets and thought it;d jump start his political career too.

He is a monstrous joke.

I can hardly await his first interview! LOL!

57 posted on 04/14/2006 10:27:35 PM PDT by onyx (It's easier to indict a ham sandwich or Tom DeLay than it is to indict a Democrat.)
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To: TAdams8591

Hi Terri, just saying hello to you and Don. Hope you are both well.


58 posted on 04/14/2006 10:27:44 PM PDT by AGreatPer (Hmmmm, Despite objections from Seattle, The Steelers are still the Super Bowl Champs. WaWaWaWa)
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To: onyx

I didn't know until I read the link above that Larry had owned a collection agency! He just changed its name to Judicial Watch. LOL


59 posted on 04/14/2006 10:31:13 PM PDT by Carolinamom (Daily legal immigrant to FreeRepublic.com)
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To: Carolinamom

ROTFLOL!
Rim shot, carolinamom, rim shot!


60 posted on 04/14/2006 10:31:55 PM PDT by onyx (It's easier to indict a ham sandwich or Tom DeLay than it is to indict a Democrat.)
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