Senior Citizen Activist Jailed For Internet Rant

Newsbytes via Rense ^ | Michael Bartlett

[Sir Gawain]

Senior Citizen Activist
Jailed For Internet Rant
By Michael Bartlett
Newsbytes
3-28-2

SEATTLE, Wa. - A man who posted on the Web details of what he asserts is an investigative report into alleged improprieties at a Seattle residence for senior citizens has been in jail for a month - with no end to his incarceration in sight, his attorney said today.

 

Paul Trummel, 69, was for approximately two years a resident of Council House, a residence in the Capitol Hill section of Seattle whose construction was funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

 

Trummel, a former professor of journalism at the University of Washington, had frequent run-ins with the administrators who managed the facility.

 

He detailed his complaints in a newsletter, which he published and distributed to residents of Council House.

 

According to Robert Siegel, Trummel's attorney, Trummel first appeared in court in April 2001, when he asked Superior Court Judge James Doerty to issue an injunction against the administrators of Council House, who were trying to halt the distribution of his newsletter.

 

"Judge Doerty took an immediate dislike to Paul," said Siegel. "Not only did he turn down his request for an injunction, he told the other side that if they asked him, he would issue an injunction against Paul."

 

Two weeks later, on April 19, 2001, Council House obtained a restraining order against Trummel. Siegel said the order not only told Trummel not to "harass" the administrators, it said he could not even go into the building - making it a de facto eviction.

 

"The judge said he can't have any contact with anyone at Council House. That means not just the people he had a problem with, but also the residents, many of whom were his friends and acquaintances."

 

Since April 2001, there have been four or five contempt orders based on the original anti-harassment order, said Siegel.

 

Some time last year, Trummel created a Web site he called ContraCabal.net. On this site, Trummel continued to bash the administrators of Council House, as well as Doerty. Council House's attorneys brought the site to Doerty's attention, asserting that it violated the judge's order that Trummel cease his "harassment."

 

"Most of what Paul was putting on the site was public information that is available at the Secretary of State's office," said Siegel.

 

Eventually, Trummel complied with the judge's order and edited many items from his site. However, Siegel said Trummel put up what he called a "shadow" Web site at ContraCabal.org that contained all of the non-complying information. Trummel asserted that since the second site was based in Holland, Doerty had no jurisdiction over it, said Siegel.

 

"On Feb. 27, Doerty ordered Paul placed in jail for contempt," Siegel said. "He ordered him held until he is in compliance with an Oct. 26, 2001, order to remove content from the Web site."

 

The problem is, Trummel has no Internet access in jail, and the judge's indefinite sentence rankles Siegel.

 

"I don't know how he is to comply from jail. That is the dilemma," he said. "The judge has not set a date for an arraignment, a hearing or anything. It is civil contempt, so he is not guaranteed the right to a speedy trial. Had he been arrested for murder, he would have had to be arraigned."

 

James Chadwick, an attorney not involved in this case who is an expert on free speech law, believes Trummel has a solid First Amendment defense.

 

"The judge's order to take down statements is classic prior restraint," Chadwick told Newsbytes.

 

Chadwick said he looked at Trummel's Web site and it seemed to him that some of Trummel's statements had been removed.

 

"Trummel makes several accusations on his site against the administrators of the building, but if those accusations are false, they are defamatory," he said. "You cannot enjoin speech because it is defamatory, at least until you have a conclusive judicial determination that it is defamatory - such as a trial or a summary judgment."

 

Chadwick said the judge in this case has enjoined speech "that appears to enjoy First Amendment protection."

 

"Speech can be enjoined, but only in very limited circumstances," he explained. "Examples would include a pattern of threats of physical violence, incitements to violence or child pornography."

 

"But even in categories of speech not protected, such as speech that is defamatory or obscene, you cannot enjoin the speech," he added.

 

Siegel said Trummel's legal troubles are exacerbated by his health issues. He said Trummel suffers from four types of arthritis and prostate problems, and is forbidden under jail rules to take the supplements he normally takes to treat those conditions.

 

This week, Trummel tested positive for tuberculosis, Siegel added.

 

Trummel's plight is attracting international attention. Because he is a British subject and permanent resident alien, the British government has written to the judge. In addition, organizations such as the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) are trying to rally support.

 

"Paul has been an investigative reporter all his life, and he is a member of several journalism groups. SPJ said they were going to file an Amicus Curiae brief on his behalf."

 

Siegel said it is possible that Trummel could ask him to take down the Web site on Trummel's behalf, but "Paul wants to stand by his guns on principle."

 

"He says every thing he wrote is satire or the facts," said Siegel. "If Council House thinks they have damages, they can sue for defamation and try to prove it. They don't need the extraordinary protection of an anti-harassment order."

 

Trummel's Web site is at http://www.contracabal.net .

 

The "international version" is at http://www.contracabal.org .

 

Reported by Newsbytes.com, http://www.newsbytes.com .

 

Press contact:
Robert Siegel, defendant's attorney 206-624-9392

[snopercod]

Oh, I thought this thread was about A+Bert.

[Victoria Delsoul]

"Most of what Paul was putting on the site was public information that is available at the Secretary of State's office," said Siegel. James Chadwick, an attorney not involved in this case who is an expert on free speech law, believes Trummel has a solid First Amendment defense.

I agree.

[tpaine]

One of the best 2nd amendment articles I've ever read.

- Surprisingly, all five of the law school prof's, - [& they're not all from LA], -- seem to agree that the USSC would probably use the 14th to 'incorporate' the 2nd when & if it comes to that test. - Which is needed, badly, -- in Calif.

Thanks for the link.

[Kerberos]

"One of the best 2nd amendment articles I've ever read."

Your welcome.

I particularly like the quote about "rights flow from the end of a barrel.”

[tpaine]

I'm interested in the 14th angle, because the Calif constitution has no equivilent of the 2nd, and the state is using that to ban weapons of all sorts.

Hopefully, the USSC will take a case on this basis soon.

[DAnconia55]

I still think it can be fixed.

Not peaceably, it can't.

But the elderly gentleman in the story could certainly take care of one problem, if he was so inclined.....

Our 'masters' need to fear us.

[Kerberos]

"Not peaceably, it can't."

Well that is certainly one approach, however I don't believe that we have gotten to that point yet.

But then again I may be a hopeless optimist.

[VietVet]

"...if the courts should not interpert the Consitution, and decide what it says, then who should?"

That was Chief Justice Marshall's argument, that "the judicial Power" included the power of judicial review, the power to interpret the Consitution.

But the Consitution itself makes no such specific assignment of authority, and the oaths of office of everybody form the President on down to every soldier sworn into the Army requires that they "support and defend the Consititution of the United States." Since it would be impossible to do this *without* interpreting it, I hold that every official, elected or appointed is required and empowered to interpret the Consitiution, comesurate with their authority. And the authority of the President and the Congress is equal to that of the Supreme Court and superior to that of any of "the inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish."

[Buckeroo]

America is a police-state. It has been a police-state before Bush and since Bush came to office, America has become more of a police-state.

[Roscoe]

"Recently, about two hundred nonresidents held a bar mitzvah in the combined dining room and lounge. They held a religious ritual that some residents found distasteful and imposed their exclusive criteria upon all residents." --Paul Trummel, British citizen living in American subsidized housing

[Buckeroo]

You know how to make a free, soverign nation into a police-state? Tax the citizens to death and poverty and despair. Create a government based upon a proud people that are now mere criminals for complaining about their rights that this nation has destroyed.

And you bought into the political idium.

[Roscoe]

He's not a citizen.

[Buckeroo]

Tell that to your GET_OUT_OF_FREE_JAIL_CARD_AMNESTY_LOVING_ ILLEGALS_WAVING BUSH!

[Roscoe]

Tax the citizens to death and poverty and despair.

To provide subsidized housing to foreign national leaches like Mr. Trummel?

AMNESTY_LOVING_ ILLEGALS_WAVING BUSH

I don't think GWB has embraced the LP's goal of open border and the elimination of are immigration laws. Camels and gnats.

[Cultural Jihad]

Seven million hits a month!

Rense.com

---

Dazzling Flying Triangle
Visits South Coast Of England
From David Kingston

Davidkingston@btopenworld.com

3-30-2

Dear Jeff,

 

Sighting on the 28th February 2002 Time 22.50hrs

 

The size of the "flying triangle" was approximately 100feet from the base of the triangle to the apex. The size as was the overall description was consistent with all witnesses that night. It had red lights running along the length of the right hand side of the craft and blue along the left side.

 

A large circular light in the middle of the craft that pulsated in colour from a pale neon blue through to purple. There were no reports of any noise only a sound which was described as an electric crackle, similar to being underneath a power pylon when it is wet.

 

First Report

 

The "craft was first seen at St. Austell in Cornwall by a hospital doctor out walking his dog. Within minutes it was seen by several other people as it hovered approximately 200 yards off the shore at 1,000 ft high. It's speed increased from stationary to 500 mph for 10 miles before doing a right hand turn (sharp 90 degree) without slowing down. (report by pilot)

 

The next report I received was from Somerset from a couple who at first did not see anything but were drawn to look upwards by an electric crackling noise. They could not believe their eyes when they saw the craft hovering above their heads estimated at about 2 to 3,000 feet, the centre light rapidly pulsating. It hovered for about two minutes maximum before "shooting off" at a tremendous speed in a easterly direction.

 

Second Report

 

22.55 hours from Lyme Regis, Dorset by a retired Coast Guardsman. His words: "The craft was hovering over the town, no more than 800 feet I would estimate. At first I thought it was a new prototype aircraft but was mystified by no sound and the unusual lighting display. I witnessed it for only a minute at the most before it gained tremendous speed, no noise, the light underneath pulsating a very pale blue with a corona around it. It climbed vertically in a matter of seconds, it reminded me of a Harrier jump jet, I would estimate to a height of 2,000 feet before it headed in a South Easterly direction."

 

Third Report

 

From Portland 23.00 hours, Dorset. Policeman and two other witnesses (statements all describe the craft identically). Once again hovering, over a set of transmitting aerials at approximately 1 to 2,000 feet. Totally noiseless, only hovered for a minute or two at the most. The "electric noise" was heard but two witnesses stated they were not sure if it could have been the military transmitting aerials. Moved off slowly, almost at a hover speed.

 

Fourth Report

 

From Hengistbury Head area, Dorset. 23.05 hours. Four separate witnesses walking and walking their dogs. Height estimated at about 500 to 600 feet over the sea, this description of height was confirmed by a fisherman out "dropping his crab pots". Once again, no noise reported, the navigation lights?? were pulsating like a "rope light." Only seen for a maximum of two minutes by witnesses. The craft departed this time by climbing vertically very quickly until it became about the size of a star and then "blinked out" the witnesses stated. The interesting thing at this location was that very soon after the craft started to ascend two jet fighters screamed overhead the witnesses said. There were a total of 18 witnesses that saw the craft during its flight path over the South Coast.

 

Best regards,

David Kingston

U.K.

[Buckeroo]

Everything you complain about, Roscoe, is because of your own weakness to identify the basic nature of our Constitutional rights, liberities and freedoms. You have succumbed to government's spew that they are here to help you ... whether you are a citizen or not.

You don't care about America. All you care about is a government that will contain proud Americans while making foreign nations equal to us.

[Roscoe]

An anti-semitic foreign national welfare parasite is a poor choice of hero, Buckeroo.

[Kerberos]

”and the oaths of office of everybody form the President on down to every soldier sworn into the Army requires that they "support and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Yes, I remember taking that oath when I was inducted into the military. I also remember, when I arrived at basic, that they pointedly explained to me how my obligations to support that oath would be executed. Or as they so eloquently put it, “Son, there are two ways to do things in the military. There’s the military’s way, and then there’s the wrong way.”

” Since it would be impossible to do this *without* interpreting it, I hold that every official, elected or appointed is required and empowered to interpret the Constitution, commensurate with their authority.”

I concur, however I might not necessarily want that interpretation to be binding.

And the authority of the President and the Congress is equal to that of the Supreme Court and superior to that of any of "the inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish."

I’m, not sure what you are saying here. Do you mean that the President, or the Congress, can overrule the Supreme Court, or that the President can overrule a lower courts decision without the need for judicial review.

[Buckeroo]

Ever notice your parasitic remarks, Roscoe. Notice how you have succumbed into being the leach as you beg for more government control upon our lives. Notice how you applaud American government's triumph over our liberties.

[F.J. Mitchell]

Everyone who can read with comprehension should interpet the Constitution. (Assuming anyone is too dense to understand it in the first place) We know what it says and any court or Judge that twist the easily understood meaning of it's words, should be impeached-not have his moronic ruling eternally over rule the Constitution itself.