JUDICIAL WATCH UNCOVERS FORMER INS COMMISSIONER'S ORDERS TO DESTROY EVIDENCE...

Judicial Watch ^ | April 9, 2002

[FreedominJesusChrist]

For Immediate Release

Apr 9, 2002

Press Office: 202-646-5172

MEDIA ADVISORY

JUDICIAL WATCH UNCOVERS FORMER INS COMMISSIONER MEISSNER’S ORDERS TO DESTROY EVIDENCE IN DECISION TO RETURN ELIAN GONZALEZ TO CUBA AND SUBSEQUENT, ILLEGAL RAID ON GONZALEZ FAMILY HOME

Press Conference For Release of Documents

Date: April 10, 2002

Time: 8:00 AM

Place: Sheraton Biscayne Bay

495 Brickell Avenue

Parlor 3

Miami, FL

(Washington DC / Miami) Judicial Watch, the public interest law firm that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, announced that tomorrow, April 10, 2002, it will release documents revealing former Immigration and Naturalization Service (“INS”) Commissioner Doris Meissner’s orders to destroy evidence and obstruct justice in the illegal raid that returned Elian Gonzalez to Communist Cuba that resulted in the beating and gassing of dozens of peaceful protestors by INS agents. The documents were produced for the first time today in a trial before the Merit Systems Protection Board (“MSPB”), in Miami, concerning charges of retaliation against INS Special Agent Rick Ramirez, by his supervisors in the Miami District Office of the INS. An INS attorney, Diana Alvarez, produced the documents during sworn testimony in the hearing. Ramirez is an INS whistleblower who initially revealed the INS and Justice Department obstruction of justice and anti-Hispanic prejudice that pervaded the Elian Gonzalez saga.

The documents reveal that the U.S. government had information indicating that Juan Miguel Gonzalez (Elian’s father) had sought to leave Cuba for the United States. They also reveals the U.S. government was aware that Juan Miguel wanted Elian to stay in the U.S. and that the father was being coerced by the Castro regime.

INS attorney Rebeca Sanchez-Roig notes that she was ordered to destroy all documents, but retained a copy of the e-mail because she believed Meissner’s destruction orders to be improper.

Copies of the documents will be made available at the press conference.

©

Copyright 1997-2002, Judicial Watch, Inc.

[Howlin]

You cannot possibly be this dense. It's a public document.

[VRWC_minion]

Well, if you were lurkning, surely you'd remember that that was discussed and debated her ad nauseum, so that wouldn't have been news to you, would it?

I recall some Freepers anaylzing the pictures for tell tale clues that he might have been sending out.

But from what I read the claim that is being made is that some federal officials had knowledge he applied for immigration in the past. To accept this as fact we must conclude that these application records were destroyed and that the father never mentioned it to any of his Cuban relatives. Not a likely prospect.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

"If he had, wouldn't you think he would of mentioned it to his family in Cuba and wouldn't they have made a big deal about ? The claim doesn't pass the smell test."

And I am sure that his family in Cuba would have the freedom from fear and retribution to speak out about this publically in Communist Cuba, right? I am sure that Castro would have appreciated fully a revelation such as this. Do you still remember living under Communism is like? Read the Gulag Archipaligo if you don't know please.

[VRWC_minion]

My optimism is irelevant to the discussion at hand, let's stay on the issues.

I didn't address your attitude. I addressed your claim that Klayman should be trusted because a client trusts him.

[deport]

Hey! Who's Lusi Gonzalez?

LOL..... Yep you have to watch out for those types that will change your name..... Sorry about that. I'll take my ten lashes with a wet noodle.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

Well, then Judicial Watch helped give this situation the press coverage it deserves.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

"You're a real "the-glass-is-1/4-full" optimist, aren't ya?"

Again, how is this not addressing my attitude?

[Howlin]

But from what I read the claim that is being made is that some federal officials had knowledge he applied for immigration in the past.

Where exactly are the facts to back up that "claim," which, of course, is not being made by the Federal government, but by Larry Klayman.

[VRWC_minion]

And I am sure that his family in Cuba would have the freedom from fear and retribution to speak out about this publically in Communist Cuba, right?

His family in the US had no such fear, in fact they tried to do everything possible to keep Elian here and this was done prior to Elian becoming an issue. So, I am to assume that Elian's dad applied for immigration and never gave a hint of it to his family in the US. Possible but not probable.

[VRWC_minion]

Again, how is this not addressing my attitude?

Not my post.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

That was not really his family per se, but his wife's who was divorced from him.

[deport]

Klayman had possession of the memo and released it to the media this morning, so of course it is everywhere now.

And you wonder why the government fights the "ethical Washington Watchdog" in his FOIA actions.... LOL. I think you just hit upon the answer.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

Sorry about that.

[VRWC_minion]

Where exactly are the facts to back up that "claim,"

Facts ? Facts ? Larry doesn't need no stinking facts. All he needs is an overstated case to appeal to donors. I wonder how many full page ads have been planned to run in the Miami papers since last week. They will probably be in Espanol.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

The government fights against JW's FOIA actions when they wish to supress damaging information. There are only 9 exemptions for a FOIA request and typically the reason Judicial Wath appeals a FOIA decision is because the denial is not under the 9 exemption rule.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

I think that you should be patient and wait for this case to fully come out. Besides, attacking Larry Klayman's person does nothing to present your arugment well.

[VRWC_minion]

That was not really his family per se, but his wife's who was divorced from him.

He was recently divorced if memory serves right. At the time he might have considered this (undocumented potential application that no one has a record of) he may or may not have remarried.

But lets say you desire to move from one country to another where you have no contacts and no job. Wouldn't it be reasonable to assume you would want to give even distant family members a heads up ?

[FreedominJesusChrist]

No, if it was a strong possibililty that the government would open and read my mail.

[VRWC_minion]

Besides, attacking Larry Klayman's person does nothing to present your arugment well.

I clearly stated my argument that this is extemely improbable. Therefore, Larry's motives for making a big deal out of allegations, beliefs, heresay and undocumented claims is a natural progression.

We have an undocumented claim that is being made that is being touted as something its not by someone who is in the business of soliciting donations. His motive is as relevant in this case as the motives of the seller of a home boasting about all the positive attributes of his home.

Buyer beware.

[VRWC_minion]

No, if it was a strong possibililty that the government would open and read my mail.

The article says he may have applied for a visa. Ordinarily Visa are done in writing.

First, for someone in the US gov't to have this knowledge he must have communicated it to strangers. Second, he would have felt safe to send correspondence to the US gov't but not safe to contact any family members in the US either by phone, mail and even by third parties.

Okie, dokie. Larry's a smart caring lawyer and wouldn't overstate his case for donations.