Posted on 09/12/2006 8:34:00 AM PDT by DocFarmer
Folks,
I'm planning to send a letter to the DoJ as regards last week's attempt by five lib/dem/soc/commie senators to stop the ABC program, "The Path To 9/11". However, since I'm not a member of the legal profession, I'm not sure if I've worded this correctly. I'd appreciate any help or advice you'd be willing to provide. Many thanks.
Doc Farmer
*************************************************
The Honorable Alberto R. Gonzales
Attorney General of the United States
Department of Justice
Room 4400
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20530-0001
12 September 2006
Dear Mr. Attorney General,
I write today to request a formal investigation of five (5) United States Senators
Senator Harry Reid
Senator Dick Durbin
Senator Debbie Stabenow
Senator Charles Schumer
Senator Byron Dorgan
on the following charges:
(1) Violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America
(2) Violation of the Senate Oath of Office
(3) Abuse of Power
(4) Attempted Blackmail/Extortion
The specifics of the accusation are as such. On or about 07 September 2006, the above-mentioned Senators sent a letter to one Mr. Robert Iger, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Walt Disney Corporation (hereinafter referred to as Disney). In that letter, the Senators made specific threats of legal action against the corporation unless they removed or significantly edited a privately-funded and created television program, entitled “The Path To 9/11”. The Senators used the letter to threaten Disney and its program distributor, the American Broadcasting Corporation (hereinafter referred to as ABC) with sanctions (including but not limited to the revocation of broadcasting licenses of ABC affiliate stations) should their demands not be met.
In the matter (1) above, the action of these elected government officials is a clear violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, which provides all private citizens with the right to comment on government actions (past and present) without fear of reprisal or interference by the government. While Congress may create laws to regulate broadcast frequencies (as “public” airways), they have no business controlling political content, whether it be “positive” or “negative” coverage. To threaten a private corporation with sanctions simply because a certain political party or group may disagree with the message is a most fundamental and base violation of American rights.
In the matter (2) above, the action of the Senators shows a clear disregard of their Oath of Office, to wit:
I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.
The letter sent by the Senators shows a clear disregard of their oath to support and defend the Constitution (and all of its amendments), as well as their inability to bear true faith and allegiance to same.
In the matter (3) above, the actions of the Senators show, they have gone beyond the scope and authority of their good offices, and have indeed abused their position of power not only in the Senate, but as part of the Senate leadership. While no elected official should be tolerated in such a base manner, the fact that these five Senators are part of the Senate hierarchy makes their action all the more offensive.
In the matter (4) above, the actions of the Senators show, their actions are such that they tried to blackmail or extort actions (not funds) from Disney and ABC, if the demands in their letter were not met. The fact that Disney and ABC did not bow to that pressure does not excuse or ameliorate their attempt.
The letter from the Senators mentioned in specifications (1) through (4) (inclusive) is a matter of public record, and can be obtained by your office directly, from the Senate offices, or from the recipient of the threat (Mr. Robert Iger).
I would appreciate that swift action be taken to investigate this obscene action by duly elected officials of the United States Senate.
Many thanks.
Yours sincerely,
Doc Farmer
cc: Senator Harry Reid
Senator Dick Durbin
Senator Debbie Stabenow
Senator Charles Schumer
Senator Byron Dorgan
Senator Bill Frist
Mr. Robert Iger
President George W. Bush
I think you might think about making this (or something a little less wordy) an op-ed to a conservative leaning newspaper....
I thought about that, but since Slick Willie wasn't a signatory to the letter, and did not make an official "threat" of government action against Disney/ABC, I don't think the charges could be applied to him.
Already did, to an extent -
http://www.chronwatch.com/content/contentDisplay.asp?aid=23630
I thought she didn't work there anymore...
I think it's a great letter and you sound just like a lawyer (musta typed it from a Holiday Inn Express). Saying a prayer for positive results.
PS. I never send letters to the government, unless they write me first. I'd rather pretend I'm not here.
I agree with you. They are in violation. The letter sounds good to me and sure cannot hurt.
These are the same loons saying Bush is the one abusing his power and violating civil liberties?? God help us all. If they ever control Congress and the presidency again I truly fear free speech will be eroded and more basic rights will disappear.
BTW, for whatever reason, I am unable tor respond to several posts here but can to others.
That won't work, because the ACFLU is funded by taxpayers (us). They attack free speech, they don't defend it.
She doesn't, but she will be your Attorney General if the Dems win in 2008!
She doesn't, but she will be your Attorney General if the Dems win in 2008!
That thought is just too frightening to comprehend...
The DOJ definitely won't get involved, as there was no overt action taken and the attempted extortion charge would be so politically hot that they would fear a backlash. However, you should definitely send this or a similar letter to the Senate Ethics Committee chairman (George Voinovich) and request that each of these Senators be formally censured (expulsion is probably too much to expect).
I'll be sure to add the Ethics Committee chair to the cc list. Should I also include the President Pro Tempore and Sergeant at Arms?
"Second, given that the letter was made available to the public and given that Senators all have attorneys available, I doubt that there is any case to be made."
A threat, an attempt to extort actions from someone, is not determined to be valid or invalid simply because it was made in public and those making the threat have lawyers.
There may be other reasons for which Doc's course of action will not bear fruit. Your reasons are not among them.
You are not understanding my comment. I am not suggesting that your actions are illegal. You would be drawing the attention of the DOJ to potentially illegal actions. That is perfectly acceptable and is not a problem whether those actions are illegal or not.
I am suggesting a way to bolster your charge of "extortion" against the Senators. While their threats of Federal agency action are despicable, they are not illegal. However, if they suggested prosecution, then that could be viewed as either "prior restraint" or threatening prosecution, which is illegal.
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