Liddy Facing $5.1M Defamation Suit

Associated Press ^ | June 24, 2002

[gcruse]

 

Liddy Facing $5.1M Defamation Suit
Watergate Conspirator G. Gordon Liddy Returns to Court to Face Defamation Claim

The Associated Press

B A L T I M O R E, June 24 — Watergate conspirator G. Gordon Liddy returned to court Monday to defend himself against a $5.1 million defamation lawsuit.

Ida "Maxie" Wells, 53, sued Liddy in 1997 after he publicly accused her of operating a call-girl ring while working as a secretary for the Democratic National Committee.

Jurors deadlocked on the claim last year and a new trial was ordered.

The lawsuit centers on Liddy's contention that burglars who broke into Democratic headquarters in 1972 were looking through Wells' desk for pictures of prostitutes including a photo of the future wife of John Dean, the former Nixon White House counsel.

Liddy, now a conservative radio talk-show host, also claimed Dean organized the burglary to retrieve the photos, and not to obtain political intelligence to help re-elect President Nixon.

In opening statements Monday, defense attorney John Williams said Liddy had thoroughly investigated the call-girl theory and was convinced it was true. But Wells' attorney, David Dorsen, told the jury his client will testify that it was false.

"You will hear ... how this upset Maxie Wells, how it humiliated her," he said.

John and Maureen Dean have repeatedly denied Liddy's theory.

Liddy, 71, a former assistant to Nixon, was sentenced in 1973 to more than 20 years in prison for his role in Watergate. He served fewer than five years before President Carter commuted his sentence.
 

[dts32041]

So they start once again.

This could get real fun if G Gordon is found not to have libeled the democrat procurer.

[Ford Fairlane]

I seem to remember that last year Liddy was crowing on his radio show about how he won this case. Did I miss something, (or did he miss something?)

[muawiyah]

The chief witness, Larry O'Brien, is dead. Liddy's gonna' beat this old gal 'cause she can't prove she wasn't a procurer for O'Brien.

I was thinking back through some of the folks who worked for O'Brien then, or just before that in the old Post Office Department. Several of them are still alive and probably could be brought to trial as witnesses to O'Brien's proclivities.

Tom Chadwick is still around doing stuff for the Episcopals in Northern Virginia. He'd know of others still alive.

[chaosagent]

The G-man won his case against Dean, as I recall. John Dean also sued him and lost.

[SCHROLL]

Is Wells deepthroat? Inquiring minds want to know!

[Kermit]

Could Liddy subpoena John and Mo Dean as witnesses?

Just for clarification, this is NOT "Liddy's theory". It's the theory based on the evidence published in the book "Silent Coup", must reading for Watergatephiles.

[Ken H]

What was Liddy convicted on?

[UbIwerks]

Could Liddy subpoena John and Mo Dean as witnesses? Just for clarification, this is NOT "Liddy's theory". It's the theory based on the evidence published in the book "Silent Coup", must reading for Watergatephiles.

An excellent book. I still wish I had my copy.

[ChadGore]

sheees, by the headline . .I thought this was Liddy Dole.

wheeew

[dts32041]

Basically for refusing to rat out anyone.

He didn't cooperate with the democrat inquistors and they put him in the slam.

[an amused spectator]

But Wells' attorney, David Dorsen, told the jury his client will testify that it was false.

And if you don't believe her, just ask her - she'll tell you. ;-)

[cajungirl]

Actually I think Liddy paid off John Dean. And Maxie Wells was slandered. She is not a procurer. Liddy sort of called her that on his radio show and that is how the suit got started.

[elbucko]

"Is Wells deepthroat?"

I don't think so. I watched the Watergate hearings while still in the Army and I felt then, and still do, that Mo Deane is "Deepthroat"!

[libertylover]

I think in order to win the case the plaintif would have to convince the jury that the allegation is false and that Liddy knew it to be false, which is a pretty high bar to cover.

Any lawyers know for sure?

[SkyPilot]

G. Gordon Liddy is a bit strange (holding his hand above flames until it blistered...see his book Will), but I admire him. He is a different type of man, a throwback to a bygone era. He had iron convictions, and he acts as big as he talks.

There is no "Deep Throat", by the way. They made it up.

How do I know? Chuck Colson. He said he finally read the miserable books by Woodward and Bernstein (as painful as that was to him).

There were 3 events referred to; and Colson knew that specific could only have come THREE DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS at the time. Chuck said, "I knew right there and then they fabricated this character. Now, Deep Throat is a cottage industry, and they can't get out of the lie."

[gcruse]

One can't help but admire Liddy's integrity. As for Deep Throat, I don't care. I did read Silent Coup, though, and believed it. Nothing else fit the facts so well, and AFAIK it has not been taken successfully to court for libel.