UN's Ritter faced sex rap

New York Daily News ^ | 1/19/03 | Joe Mahoney

[kattracks]

ALBANY - Former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter was secretly prosecuted in Albany County in 2001 after he was snared in an Internet sex sting operation, law enforcement sources told the Daily News.

Ritter, who lives in the Albany suburb of Delmar, is now a high-profile critic of President Bush's war preparations.

He was arrested by Colonie Police in June 2001 on a misdemeanor charge after he allegedly had a sexual discussion on the Internet with an undercover investigator he thought was an underage girl, law enforcement sources disclosed on condition of anonymity.

The case was sealed, and Colonie officials declined to release the arrest records, explaining the matter was adjourned in local court in contemplation of dismissal.

The Schenectady Daily Gazette reported yesterday that Albany District Attorney Paul Clyne fired veteran Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Preiser last week for failing to inform him of the case against Ritter.

Clyne said that as a "sensitive" case, it should have been brought to his attention.

Ritter, who has made frequent appearances on network television after speaking to the Iraq National Assembly last year, could not be reached for comment.

Joe Mahoney

[Howlin]

Well, log on the next time you see Scott Ritter on TV; you'll see a LOT of "hellcats" on that thread!

[mass55th]

"Ritter said he was a FIREFIGHTER in Delmar, NEW YORK."

Well, it will be interesting to find out if he was required under law, to report his arrest to them, and if he ever did.

[martin_fierro]

...and I am pretty sure it was WHILE Fox had him as a consultant.
I heard someone from Fox, I think Brit Hume, say that he was hired but then it became apparent that his views were way out there, so they let him go.

Yup, I heard Brit say that, too.

So now you can be VERY sure. <|:)~

[Howlin]

Perhaps this isn't the first time Ritter has been caught?

[Amelia]

Homeland Security probably got suspicious of Ritter's weird behavior

This seems to have happened in June 2001 - predates Homeland Security, I think.

[OKSooner]

"So, I ask, WHY was he there?

Maybe the question ought to be whether or not to start a betting pool on when something "happens" to him.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

"So, Mr. Ritter, is it true that your favorite pick-up line in chat rooms is, "Baby, let me be your inspector?""

"Your mommy said it was alright if I inspect you..."

[aristeides]

I take it what you're saying maintained Ritter's credibility was burying this story, up to now. But that doesn't explain who set him up, and why. And it doesn't explain who's leaking the story now, and why.

[Miss Marple]

I am PROUD to be a hellcat! We are in good company!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Something tells me Yep we'll be seeing him again .. I'm just wondering who on Fox will interview him this time .. LOL

Even Susan McDougal is still making the rounds.

[Amelia]

I want to go back to Ritter's comments that he had seen children prisoners. WHY would he have been shown that? As far as I know, there would be no reason for him to see child prisoners either in his role as a weapons inspector OR in his role as a propogandist.

Good catch! I hadn't heard that one.

[mass55th]

"William River Pitt, an ultra lefty. He and Ritter wrote a book (well, booklet) together last year."

[cake_crumb]

"In short, I believe Ritter is a profoundly compromised individual with (1) A weak character as evidenced in the sexual profligacy (this is a surprisingly common attribute of traitors)"

For (**some**) reason, it seems to be a common trait among UN officials too. Remember the UN/Bosnian sex slave ring scandal?

[TLBSHOW]

You've spoke about having seen the children's prisons in Iraq. Can you describe what you saw there?

The prison in question is at the General Security Services headquarters, which was inspected by my team in Jan. 1998. It appeared to be a prison for children — toddlers up to pre-adolescents — whose only crime was to be the offspring of those who have spoken out politically against the regime of Saddam Hussein. It was a horrific scene. Actually I'm not going to describe what I saw there because what I saw was so horrible that it can be used by those who would want to promote war with Iraq, and right now I'm waging peace.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,351165,00.html

[Squantos]

I think the "nice to see" of this issue is the Socialist Demonrat DA who shoved this under the rug . The residual "Ritter the Rug Rat Rapist" allegations as you state will be a ...just doing research thang.

Hope yer doing well 55th !

[Miss Marple]

Thank you, Todd. Now, here is the question: WHY were they inspecting a children's prison? They were WEAPONS inspectors, not searching for human rights abuses! WHY?

[cake_crumb]

"There are tons of internet stings which makes me wonder if pedophiles are also genetically stupid, either that or their illness overrides common sense"

Both. Luckily, a lot of them are stupid...and their prediliction does override common sense. In the case of the father being arrested for trying to sell his daughters, I can't help but believe that there was more at work in his mind than simple greed.

[rolling_stone]

Well weapons could be hidden anywhere, what would be interesting is to talk to other memers of his team and find out more about the trip to the prison and anything they know about Ritters off (or on) duty time...

[angkor]

In 1991, after his first marriage — to his college sweetheart — ended, he married a Russian woman he met while posted in the former U.S.S.R. Despite initial suspicions that the translating service she worked for was being used by the Soviets to gather intelligence through "attempted sexual compromise," he satisfied himself that "this did not appear to be the case." He dismisses as "a form of harassment" what he says is an ongoing FBI probe of his wife based on allegations that she was a KGB spy.

Time Magazine
Sep. 23, 2002/Vol. 160 No. 13

OK, it's sourced from Slime Magazine, but there you have it.

[Lancey Howard]

The cover up probably leads back to Hillary, somehow. Maybe she had Ritter's FBI file and knew about this predilection.

That's the first thing I thought when I saw Ritter was busted in New York and this story broke in the New York Daily News.

This is incredible.
Now that Ritter is exposed (so to speak) maybe he will come clean (so to speak). Unless there is plenty more dirt where this came from.