[the_Watchman]

Why is it that those who oppose a Democrat have to sue in court when there is a clear violation of Federal law? The DOJ should be pursuing this since the Congressman admitted that he leaked an illegally acquired tape of a private phone conversation in direct violation of Federal law.

This also happened to Paula Jones.

[MozarkDawg]

The DOJ should be pursuing this since the Congressman admitted that he leaked an illegally acquired tape of a private phone conversation in direct violation of Federal law.

You are precisely correct. MOC Karen Thumond (D-FL) had the whole story from the Martins when she accepted the tape from them. She KNOWINGLY transported illegally-obtained material across state lines. She gave it to McDermott, who then KNOWINGLY provided illegally-obtained material to members of the press in a blatant effort to skew the public's impression of the contents.

It is an outrage that all these MOC's are using the Speech and Debate clause in this manner. The Founding Dads put it in specifically to keep politically-motivated arrest, seizure, etc., from being an obstacle to good government, NOT to allow these jerks to violate the law willy-nilly and get away with everything possible.

[weegee]

Heads up! Here's another interesting bit of spin (this from the press claiming First Amendment rights to trash your constitutionally protected privacy):

Wiretapped Conversations by Kathleen Kirby, for Communicator, February 2000

This article directly references the Martin case as well as others.