Posted on 01/20/2003 4:37:19 PM PST by jimbo123
TV station claims film shows ex-U.N. inspector caught in sex sting
An attorney for Scott Ritter confirmed that the outspoken former U.N. weapons inspector, who says President Bush should be impeached for his Iraq policy, was arrested a year and a half ago.
Norah Murphy said Ritter was arrested in the upstate New York town of Colonie in June 2001, but she would not respond to allegations that he was charged with soliciting an underage girl on the Internet. Ritter lives in the Albany, N.Y., suburb of Delmar.
The Schenectady Daily Gazette and New York Daily News report Ritter allegedly had an online sexual discussion with someone he thought was an underage girl. The "girl," however, turned out to be an undercover police investigator, according to the Daily News, whose sources spoke on condition of anonymity.
Today, Colonie police Deputy Chief Steven Heider told WorldNetDaily that he cannot confirm the allegations, explaining that if they were true, the details would have been sealed by a court order.
"A sealing order is exactly what it says it is," he said. "We're not allowed to talk about anything under sealed court order, and I'm not saying that one exists."
However, WND has learned that NBC affiliate WNYT in Albany has news footage of Ritter being arrested. At the time the film was shot, the station was unaware the arrest was connected to Ritter, WNYT Executive Producer Beth Cohen told WND.
The station has a mug shot of Ritter along with the footage, said News Director Paul Conti.
"If it's not him, it's either his clone or a twin," said Conti.
The news director said the 16-year-old girl had been lured by Ritter to meet him at the Burger King restaurant in Menands, N.Y., in order "to have her watch him have sex with himself."
"Anyone who went to the Burger King that day could confirm the details of that event and report that a sting operation was underway that involved a decoy officer posing as a 16-year old girl," Conti said.
Conti told WorldNetDaily that WNYT plans to continue airing their information. Footage of the arrest will be included in this evening's newscast, because it was acquired prior to the sealing order, he said.
As WorldNetDaily reported Saturday, Ritter is calling for the ouster of President Bush for what he feels are unnecessary and murderous actions in the conflict with Iraq.
"I would be in favor of the impeachment of President Bush for high crimes and misdemeanors," the 41-year old former Marine told WND. "Murder is a high crime and misdemeanor, and I can't think of any better definition than murder when he talks about American service members and putting them in a war which is not only illegal but is based on a foundation of lies."
"When you go to war you open up a Pandora's box, the results of which cannot be predicted," he said via telephone as he drove from his upstate New York home to appear on Fox News. "Therefore, there better be a darned good reason to go to war. It's got to be worth the sacrifice that you're asking others to make."
"Petty little inconsequential rumors BUMP.
I cannot wait to hear why it was sealed/dismissed/whatever. Because you KNOW we will hear!
He must have been assured that his little secret was safe with, um, whoever.
Oops, someone forgot about the film...
Well, my question is why did the Assistant DA, Cynthia Peiser, cut a deal and keep it secret from her boss, the DA, at the risk of her job.
In fact, Cynthia's risk was realized when she was fired over a week ago when the DA found out.
Many, many questions, indeed.
Howlin, did you see post #53? Ritter was caught three months before this arrest! What does THAT tell you about his stability and self-control?
From the article in that post:
Colonie police will not confirm any of this, but Channel 6 News learned that Ritter was caught in a sex sting early in 2001. He was issued a warning then, but eventually arrested for the same thing three months later.
That's what I was thinking; guess they're not on the "same page."
And I would guess the answer is he probably knows he doesn't have any credibility left.
And Channel 6 News has learned that Ritter had been issued a warning after being caught by police once before.
I'm going to guess that if he was caught and warned and still persisted in this behavior to the point of being caught 3 months later, that he has been doing this for awhile before getting caught.
In fact, Ritter can deny it ever happened since sealed cases essentially mean, it never happened.
Yeah, tell it to Linda Tripp (who didn't even commit the act she was charged with).
I wouldn't be surprised if that turns out to be true. He got caught twice here. Sounds like a pattern of behavior. Who knows how many times he got away with it. It would explain a lot. Like his complete turnaround in attitude. They probably have video tape.
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