Delmar Weapons Inspector in Hot Water (Ritter)

NewsChannel 13 Albany ^ | 1/20/03 | NewsChannel 13 Albany

[jimbo123]

The spotlight is back on former UN Weapons Inspector and Delmar native, Scott Ritter. But it's not over Iraq instead its over charges he talked with an underage girl on the Internet.

The Daily Gazette broke the story over the weekend. The paper says Ritter was arrested in June of 2001 after having a sexual conversation on the Internet with someone he "thought" was an underage girl. The girl turned out to be an undercover investigator.

NEWS10 has learned some new information about the case. Turn to NEWS10 at 5 for the exclusive details.

[jimbo123]

More details on the way?

[Fred Mertz]

The case was dismissed and the records sealed, as I understand this story so far.

[The Great Satan]

Over the past two years, Mr. Ritter has taken $400,000 from Shakir Al-Khafaji, an Iraqi-American businessman with ties to Saddam, to produce a documentary called, "In Shifting Sands." Mr. Ritter concedes that Mr. Al-Khafaji is "openly sympathetic with the regime in Baghdad." And that may be an understatement. Mr. Al-Khafaji runs propaganda sessions for Saddam. Euphemistically known as "expatriate conferences," the biannual gatherings decry the "terrorism and genocide" the U.S. commits against the Iraqi people through U.N. sanctions.

Mr. Ritter claims Mr. Al-Khafaji had no editorial input on the film project, a claim he undermines by openly admitting that his benefactor is responsible for arranging Mr. Ritter's interviews with high-ranking Iraqi government officials, including chief propagandist, Tariq Aziz. Even before his project was completed, Mr. Ritter predicted at a press conference that "the U.S. will definitely not like this film." These contacts no doubt helped Mr. Ritter earlier this month, when he returned to Baghdad and became the first American to speak before the Iraqi National Assembly.

Ritter of Arabia: A former weapons inspector becomes Saddam's chief apologist

[donozark]

How about posting them here when/if released? That is, if you are from that area and have access to this station.

On another thread, it was stated that TV reporting he intended to "just have the young girl watch." Gee, I feel better about the guy already!

[Shermy]

Jimbo, I see you're last post was "01/19/2003 3:19 PM EST" :)

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

It looked like the libs were hoping this story would blow over. Doesn't appear to be quietly going away anytime soon.

[jimbo123]

More details here...

Both reports say that Ritter later struck a deal with Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Preiser that allowed the case to be dismissed and the records sealed. The reports also say Preiser was fired on Friday for failing to inform Albany County District Attorney Paul Clyne of the case.

However, NewsChannel 13 reported in June 2001 about an arrest of a 39-year-old William Ritter of Delmar on charges he tried to lure a 16-year-old girl he met on the Internet to a Burger King in Menands. According to police, the intent of that meeting was so that she could watch him perform sexual acts on himself.

[kinghorse]

"Both reports say that Ritter later struck a deal with Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Preiser that allowed the case to be dismissed and the records sealed."

We should all be able to wriggle out of trouble so easily.

1 and 1 does not add up to 2. I think there is more to this than meets the eye.

It's like the scene in Die Hard where the Feds arrive and inform the local LEO he's not in charge anymore. Did they collar Ritter so they could squeeze him harder than his Iraqo benefactors? This reads like the relationship between the Fed and Big P__sy in the Sopranos. Stay tuned.

[Spunky]

"Both reports say that Ritter later struck a deal with Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Preiser that allowed the case to be dismissed and the records sealed."

Hummmmm! Was it a deal she couldn't resist?

[malia]

I get a different feeling about this-----again I think the dems/Hillary is involved. We will have the file sealed and dismissed and you will--(fill in the blanks)---.

It also came out today about flight 800.

On thur. the big talk was Clinton in therapy.

[TLBSHOW]

you have freepmail for a really interesting twist on this story!

[NC Conservative]

His credibility is shot to hell....even further.

[woofie]

you have freepmail for a really interesting twist on this story!

We all want to know

[glowworm]

Maybe this explains his sudden shift from, where he was.., to the Left puppet.. I always expect Blackmail.. as Liberals tend to morally "neutralize" their opponents.. Why is it always a "Government Agency" mentioned and not the actors involved?? Does that somehow get individuals, and partys, off the hook?? Is "sealing" the "payoff for changing..??

Inquiring minds wanna know..

[Charles Martel]

According to police, the intent of that meeting was so that she could watch him perform sexual acts on himself.

LOL!! Pee-Wee Herman, U.N. "Weapons Inspector".

[woofie]

So where are the details?

[jimbo123]

"Sources tell NEWS10 that Ritter contacted what he thought was a teenage girl on the internet for the purpose of a sexual interlude not once, but twice within a three month period back in 2001. Ritter also underwent court-ordered sex offender counseling from an Albany psychologist."