BUSH JUSTICE DEPARTMENT BLOCKS RENO DEPOSITION

Judicial Watch Press Release ^ | 11/8/01

[Rebeckie]

11/8/2001

202-646-5172

BUSH JUSTICE DEPARTMENT BLOCKS RENO DEPOSITION

Latest Obstruction Prevents Scheduled Testimony In Defamation Case Against Accused Spy Wen Ho Lee

Last Minute Gamesmanship No Better than Clinton Justice Department

(Washington, DC) Judicial Watch, the public interest law firm that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, today criticized the Ashcroft Justice Department for obstructing a long scheduled deposition of former Attorney General Reno in whistleblower Notra Trulock defamation case against accused Chinese spy and admitted felon Wen Ho Lee. Trulock, the former chief of the Energy Department intelligence operations, is suing Lee and others for falsely accusing Trulock of racial bias while conducting an inquiry into the loss of America nuclear secrets from Energy Department labs. Former Attorney General Reno, who was subpoenaed last month, was expected to testify that Wen Ho Lee charges of racial bias had no basis in fact and that there was a legitimate basis to investigate Lee. The deposition of Ms. Reno was scheduled to take place tomorrow in Miami. Judicial Watch is representing Mr. Trulock in this matter.

Late yesterday afternoon, the Ashcroft Justice Department, through a fax from Assistant Attorney General Robert D. McCallum, Jr., unilaterally decided that Reno (and other witnesses such as former FBI Director Louis Freeh) would not appear as scheduled. Judicial Watch was told by a Justice Department lawyer that this decision was only made yesterday. (The Ashcroft Justice Department had known that Reno would be testifying in this case since June of this year.)

The Justice Department lawyers know they have no legal basis to prevent Ms. Reno from testifying at the last minute. Yet they think they are above the law and are contemptuous of the Court processes. The Ashcroft Justice Department has continually obstructed this case. Indeed, a federal court has already sanctioned them for similar conduct in this case. "Truth be told, in matters that Judicial Watch has been litigating, the ethics and practices of the Ashcroft Justice Department are no better than those of Reno Justice Department", stated Judicial Watch Chairman Larry Klayman.

"No one is above the law. And Judicial Watch will seek appropriate sanctions and plans to ask for an independent investigation by the Office of Professional Responsibility into the way the Wen Ho Lee case has been handled. These repeated obstructionist tactics by this Justice Department are most likely to cover up their ongoing negligence concerning the loss of virtually all of our nation nuclear secrets to China and other nations adverse to the United States", added Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.

[wingnuts'nbolts]

In all seriousness, would it make sense right now to bog down the entire country with this sort of investigation? These sickening people have protected themselves through the last 8 years and it would rip the country up right now. Give GW the benefit of the doubt, let him do what he is doing. Believe me, nobody wants to see Clinton heads roll more than I do, but I think it would be counter productive in today's world. Even before 9/11/01 there were more inportant things on the Bush ajenda. Clinton will get himself, like OJ and Hillary will suffer humiliation big time. But now is not the time to relive the last 8 years.

[Rebeckie]

Barbara Olsen would be so upset if she saw all of her fellow Republicans writing and talking of ignoring the crimes of the Clintons and this Nuclear Espionage case. The fact that people are flinging personal attacks at Larry Klayman, the only person in America that is actively trying to do something about these crimes, is really disheartening to me and many other young people that wish to see justice served.

[Howlin]

Quit the personal attacks and look at the real picture here--nuclear espionage and corrupt politicians that are getting away with their disgusting personal behavior and irresponsibility with their elected public office.

You really are a babe in the woods, aren't you? This is a defamantion case; I doubt they'll even GET to nuclear anything.

[Rebeckie]

Just because we are in a war does not mean that we should just ignore our domestic problems also.

[Howlin]

Barbara Olsen would be so upset if she saw all of her fellow Republicans writing and talking of ignoring the crimes of the Clintons and this Nuclear Espionage case.

How dare you even insinuate that that HONEST woman would approve of Larry Klayman. In case you forgot, she DESPISED dishonest people who took money for their own benefit.

[Jefferson Adams]

people seem to think that just because a Republican is in the Oval Office, Washington has suddenly become Mr. Rodger's Neighborhood,

Socialist Party R as opposed to Socialist Party D.

And the sheep baaa-aaa-aaaa on...

[Rebeckie]

If they can clear of Trulock's name, then maybe the Chinagate case will gain more credibility and a second look. I was talking big picture, not just this defamation case, and by the way, I am a college student, not a "babe in the woods."

[Jefferson Adams]

After watching Bush now since 20 January, I have to conclude Bush is afraid of the Clintons. He is scared out of his wits about something or several things.

I tend to agree.

[sinkspur]

Ah, one of the most famous Ad hominem attacks for trying to discredit someone without actually having any hard evidence.

If you don't think Klayman is in this for the money, ask him to stop his massive soliciting machine and actually win cases for his clients.

As it is, he just stirs up dust, and gets paid anyway. A lot.

[Howlin]

Why does he need to? I don't see Larry Klayman abusing his public office, sexually assaulting women, selling our nuclear secrets abroad, etc.

Because he is COLLECTING money for lawsuits and he's NOT SPENDING IT ON LAWSUITS. That's FRAUD. Sort of like what the Red Cross is doing.

[Rebeckie]

Barbara Olsen worked with Judicial Watch for a while and her last book was still a rant against the Clintons.

[BeAChooser]

this is practically the only case he has left that hasn't been laughed out of court.

LIE. Provide ANY proof that ANY of his cases dealing with Chinagate, Filegate, Emailgate, Ron Brown were EVER "laughed out of court".

I don't expect you can since you can't even explain why you don't think Ron Brown was murdered.

Why do you go out of your way to try and discredit EVERYTHING that Judicial Watch did during the Clinton years? Are you a democRAT?

[Howlin]

So do you believe that the Filegate and Travelgate were justifiably laughed out of court too?

I believe in the law -- when it's correctly practiced. And if it's not correctly practiced or you have no legal standing in cases -- I give you Donato -- then you get laughed out of court.

[Howlin]

Do you attack them too?

You bet your A$$ I do. Anybody who takes money for ONE THING and spends it on another is a cheat.

[Rebeckie]

Look Dude, I am not some Judicial Watch Lackey, I just firmly believe with what they are trying to accomplish here. What's more, I have already had two semesters of American Constitutional Law, although I still have two and a half years left, but incidently I am not going to spend my life being a lawyer.

[Jefferson Adams]

In all seriousness, would it make sense right now to bog down the entire country with this sort of investigation? These sickening people have protected themselves through the last 8 years and it would rip the country up right now.

Actually. it wouldn't. It would give most of the country closure after the debacle of the Krinton administration. And they'd feel like we finally had a truthful and ethical administration.

[Howlin]

I understand that; but I'm telling you that it happens all the time.

And since the DOJ is under the eye of a court, there HAS to be a reason for them cancelling the deposition; you just cannot NOT do it; Larry left out the REASON.....and just accused them of being crooks.