Posted on 03/23/2007 10:24:06 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
LOS ANGELES - Anthony Pellicano, the jailed private eye under federal indictment in a Hollywood wiretaps case, married his former wife in a courtroom ceremony Friday.
While the couple sealed their union with a passionate kiss, prosecutors may suspect a less romantic reason for the wedding to keep Kat Pellicano from testifying in the case.
"What a birthday present," said Pellicano, who turned 63 a day earlier, and was wearing shackles for the brief ceremony. He pointed to them and joked to his family, "New jewelry."
Kat Pellicano, 50, wore a formfitting white sleeveless dress and brought a cream-colored silk shirt for the groom, who changed out of his prison uniform for the occasion. Their three daughters, Alana, 20, Tori, 17, and Josie, 16, served as bridesmaids, holding bouquets of red roses.
Federal Magistrate Judge Carla Woehrle, who performed ceremonies for Pellicano and two other prisoners, had the couples repeat traditional oaths to love and honor each other until death.
As soon as they were declared husband and wife, they kissed and sat holding hands as two other prisoners had ceremonies.
Prosecutors contend Anthony Pellicano illegally wiretapped the phones of such people as Sylvester Stallone and Keith Carradine and bribed police officers to run the names of more than 60 people, including comedians Garry Shandling and Kevin Nealon, through government databases. According to court documents, the information gathered was used to get dirt for threats, blackmail and in some cases to secure a tactical advantage in litigation.
He has pleaded not guilty to racketeering and wiretapping charges and is scheduled for trial in August.
The U.S. attorney's spokesman declined comment on the marriage. But Loyola Law School Professor Laurie Levenson, a former federal prosecutor, said prosecutors may suspect that the marriage is intended to "freeze out" Kat Pellicano as a witness for the prosecution.
"In federal court, the marital testimonial privilege belongs to her," said Levenson. "She decides if she wants to testify."
Anthony Pellicano's attorney, Steven Gruel, adamantly denied that was the reason. Kat Pellicano, who has talked publicly about their rocky 18-year marriage, divorced him in 2002 shortly before FBI agents raided his office.
Gruel said that Anthony Pellicano and his then ex-wife have been talking on the phone and the marriage will enable her to visit him in person. He is limited to visits from family and attorneys.
"They've had their ups and downs but they're getting back together," Gruel told The Associated Press in a phone interview. "I think it's a wonderful thing when a family reunites."
Outside the courtroom, Kat Pellicano told reporters: "I'm very happy, very excited. It's not often you get to marry the love of your life twice. We have always been in love with each other."
Levenson said prosecutors could argue at some point that the marriage was ploy to keep Kat Pellicano from testifying.
"I hardly think they were depending on her as a major witness," she added. "But this probably will put her off limits. The good news for the prosecution is he can't marry everyone on the witness list."
fyi
How romantic.
I hope they sell the wedding photos to National enquirer. :-)
if there are any, that is.
Posted on 02/06/2006 8:07:04 PM PST by doug from upland
(fairly long intro)
Hillary hired him to shut up Bill's women, Pellicano
Were there threats, oh, you bet...'cause you should never test Pellicano
He would break Sally Perdue's legs even if she begged
Only fools don't believe it
If you had Clinton evidence he would hop your fence
He'd go in and retrieve it
Hillary hired him to shut up Bill's women, Pellicano
When you mess with the Clintons, there is not a rule that applies
If you're posing a threat, you'll be facing him mano a ma-ano
He had worked for the mob and did Hillary's job, Pellicano
Hillary hired him to shut up Bill's women, Pellicano
Because power's her goal, she had sold out her soul, indeed
If you're posing a threat, you'll be facing him mano a ma-ano
He had worked for the mob and did Hillary's job, Pellicano
Pellicano...Pellicano
No mention of the fact that he was the Clintons' favorite thug.
No mention in the A/P article on the tie between Anthony Pellicano and the Clintons, but I guess that would be considered by the MSM an 'inconvenient truth'.
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