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JUDICIAL WATCH UNCOVERS FORMER INS COMMISSIONER'S ORDERS TO DESTROY EVIDENCE...
Judicial Watch ^ | April 9, 2002

Posted on 04/09/2002 8:34:03 PM PDT by 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.


TOPICS: Announcements; Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Free Republic; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: judicialwatch
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To: FreedominJesusChrist
Not worried about the media and how they report it. It's what the "eWW" claims since he promotes himself as the ethical one and is counsel in the Special Agent Ramirez matter.
221 posted on 04/10/2002 1:56:42 PM PDT by deport
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To: one_particular_harbour
But even a stopped clock is right twice a day; even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every once in a while.
222 posted on 04/10/2002 1:56:59 PM PDT by NeoCaveman
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To: FreedominJesusChrist
The Miami Gonzalez' were the first, I believe, to assert that JMG had called them prior to the ill-fated departure from Cuba.

That Miami Herald article was wrong in indicating that this was the first time the memo had been seen (unless they were referring to the hand-written note, but the context of their comment belies that).
223 posted on 04/10/2002 1:58:23 PM PDT by Tickle Me Pank
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To: deport
Well, I do not think it is safe to say yet that Larry exaggerated the memo.
224 posted on 04/10/2002 1:59:28 PM PDT by FreedominJesusChrist
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To: Tickle Me Pank
They probably meant seen by the public.
225 posted on 04/10/2002 2:01:41 PM PDT by FreedominJesusChrist
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To: FreedominJesusChrist
That's what I meant - this is not a new memo to us, the contents of it, with the exception of the hand written note, have been well known for ~2 years.
226 posted on 04/10/2002 2:06:39 PM PDT by Tickle Me Pank
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To: FreedominJesusChrist
As I said, it's a memo that has been public for ~2 years, and doesn't come close to 'providing proof' (JW's words) of any of the points in the JW press release.
227 posted on 04/10/2002 2:09:30 PM PDT by Tickle Me Pank
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To: Tickle Me Pank
The memo has not been made public for two years. Here is the most recent Associated Press article about this case:

INS Misstep Claimed in Elian Case

Wed Apr 10,11:52 AM ET

By ADRIAN SAINZ, Associated Press Writer

MIAMI (AP) - The head of the Immigration and Naturalization Service ordered the destruction of an e-mail that could have bolstered the request for asylum filed for Elian Gonzalez during the Cuban boy's stay in Miami, a conservative watchdog group said Wednesday.

A handwritten notation at the bottom of an INS memo dated Dec. 29, 1999, said that Doris Meissner, then the INS commissioner, ordered the memo destroyed the very next day.

A copy of the memo survived and was made public Wednesday by Washington-based Judicial Watch. It discussed the possibility that Elian's father at one time had sought a visa to move to the United States.

It also discussed allegations that the Cuban government had been coercing the father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez.

If coercion could be shown, the roughly drafted e-mail memo said, INS could "potentially accept the child's asylum's application and advise that there is no prohibition on age to child filing application. As such PA should proceed."

"PA" apparently refers to "political asylum."

The memo, written by INS attorney Rebeca Sanchez Roig, summarized a conference call on the Elian case involving several INS employees, including Meissner.

The handwritten notation on a printout of the e-mail memo, added by Roig some point after the memo was written, said Meissner ordered the destruction of all copies of the memo through another INS official.

It also said Meissner ordered that no more discussions related to Elian's case be put in writing.

Elian was rescued at sea off Florida in November 1999 after his mother and most of the other passengers traveling illegally from Cuba to the United States died when their boat capsized.

The boy was temporarily placed with relatives in Miami who, backed by other Cuban exiles, fought to keep the child in the United States.

The federal government said Elian should be reunited with his father in Cuba.

An INS spokeswoman in Miami, Patricia Mancha, said she could not immediately comment on the memo.

Meissner, reached at her home in the Washington area, said she could not comment because she was not aware of the details of the allegations.

Judicial Watch attorneys said the copy of the memo was provided to them this week by INS lawyer Diana Alvarez.

It was cited Tuesday at a civil service hearing on INS special agent Ricardo Ramirez's claims of threats, harassment and anti-Cuban-American sentiment in the INS Miami office at the time of Elian's stay in the United States.

In March, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit in which Ramirez claimed he was harassed for reporting alleged anti-Cuban bias in the agency after the Elian case.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Judicial Watch claimed that the former head of the INS ordered the destruction of a memo that could have influenced whether or not Elian Gonzalez could stay in America. Judicial Watch said that they would make the memo public today and they made good on their promise.

228 posted on 04/10/2002 3:38:59 PM PDT by FreedominJesusChrist
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To: Cincinatus
Thank-you for the translation and the link--it is much appreciated. I was growing frustrated trying to read that messy scrawl at the bottom of the memo.
229 posted on 04/10/2002 3:39:48 PM PDT by FreedominJesusChrist
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To: Attillathehon
It is obvious that this woman wanted to cover her butt, probably so she could keep her job. However, she should be commended for feeling guilty enough to save a copy of the memo on her e-mail.
230 posted on 04/10/2002 3:41:09 PM PDT by FreedominJesusChrist
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To: FreedominJesusChrist
We will see it tomorrow. Judicial Watch would not do a press blitz if they couldn't deliver..

You forgot your 'sarcasm' tag.

231 posted on 04/10/2002 3:41:14 PM PDT by TomServo
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To: TomServo
I wasn't being sarcastic, I was stating this as a simple axiom. I do not believe that Judicial Watch would do a press blitz if they could not deliver on their claims. It turns out that they did. They made public today, a memo which shows that the former head of the Miami INS ordered the destruction of documents which probably would have influenced whether or not little Elian Gonzalez would get sent back to a Communist country or stay living in Freedom in America.
232 posted on 04/10/2002 3:44:05 PM PDT by FreedominJesusChrist
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To: Howlin
I'm saying Larry Klayman never tells the truth

Never? I challenge you to list some lies that Klayman told in the press releases where Chinagate, Filegate, Emailgate, the Riady non-refund and the death of Ron Brown are concerned. Go ahead! If he NEVER tells the truth it should be easy.

I've never depended on Larry Klayman for ANY news

Of course, you won't tell us who you do rely on for news. I'm just curious if what you say is true how you learned about the Riady non-refund ... or did you make up your mind in that case without any facts? And how about Filegate? Where did you go to learn what Tripp said under oath ... or did you just miss her testimony? And most important of all ... what about Ron Brown? What source did you use to decide he wasn't murdered? At first you claimed it was Ken Starr ... but Starr had nothing to do with Brown. Then you latched onto the statement of a democRAT who said she believed the government's report that nothing foul happened. You said you believed that report too, although it is clear you never read it. And you just ignored the fact that the report was put out by the Clinton administration and failed to even mention dozens of highly incriminating facts. So, again, where did you learn enough about Brown to conclude he died by accident?

You continue to ask all of us questions over and over;

Which you never answer. It is curious how you can DEMAND that others answer your questions while blythly ignoring those of ours that you find "inconvenient".

I, for one, believe you have fallen hook, line, and sinker for Larry's view of the "truth," which contrary to the number of times you post it, does't make it 1) true, and 2) proveable.

Why are you afraid to exhume and autopsy Ron Brown's body? And what you are really doing is calling all those who testified UNDER OATH about Clinton/DNC illegalities (like Linda Tripp) liars. Now why would conservative do that?

You all are just like liberals

Oh that's a hoot. Would you like me to list the characteristics you have that are similar to democRATS?

And since you're always demanding the truth and accountability, can you tell me

See ... there you go DEMANDING an answer without answering a single question. No. Howlin, you address my question first ... what source did you use to decide Ron Brown wasn't murdered?

233 posted on 04/10/2002 4:37:06 PM PDT by BeAChooser
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To: Sir Gawain
Just curious in using vocabulary as an adverb would it be "vocabularily" challenged? /;-)
234 posted on 04/10/2002 4:37:20 PM PDT by ImpBill
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To: FreedominJesusChrist
Ouch ! ! !
235 posted on 04/10/2002 4:38:46 PM PDT by Jimbaugh
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Comment #236 Removed by Moderator

To: ratcat
Thank-you for the thoughtful reply. I am used to being insulted by people like nopardons by now. To tell you the truth, I never knew that verbal abuse could be so entertaining. It surely does not shed a positive light on their opinion and argument against Judicial Watch. When people resort to calling me names, I realize then that they have nothing left to go on to further their argument. Name-calling always hands the debate victory into the hands of the insulted.

I hope that Judicial Watch can successfully pull through this one. To tell you the truth, there has been more positive posts on this thread than I have received or seen for a while. Thank-you, I am sure JW appreciates the encouragement, especially from this forum.

237 posted on 04/10/2002 6:22:28 PM PDT by FreedominJesusChrist
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To: nopardons
"concerning Larry, the ambulence chaser,"

I think that you and I both know that Larry is not an "ambulence chaser." He is not a personal injury attorney, he is a public interest attorney with over 22 years of legal experience, including experience as a trial attorney, international attorney, and an attorney for for the Justice Department. You know, people usually sling mud when they have nothing else to go on and no proof to further validate their claims.

And by the way it is 'ambulance' and not 'ambulence.'

238 posted on 04/10/2002 7:09:32 PM PDT by FreedominJesusChrist
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To: FreedominJesusChrist
BTTT
239 posted on 04/10/2002 7:31:10 PM PDT by mickie
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To: mickie
bump
240 posted on 04/10/2002 10:43:18 PM PDT by timestax
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