UN's Ritter faced sex rap

New York Daily News ^ | 1/19/03 | Joe Mahoney

[kattracks]

ALBANY - Former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter was secretly prosecuted in Albany County in 2001 after he was snared in an Internet sex sting operation, law enforcement sources told the Daily News.

Ritter, who lives in the Albany suburb of Delmar, is now a high-profile critic of President Bush's war preparations.

He was arrested by Colonie Police in June 2001 on a misdemeanor charge after he allegedly had a sexual discussion on the Internet with an undercover investigator he thought was an underage girl, law enforcement sources disclosed on condition of anonymity.

The case was sealed, and Colonie officials declined to release the arrest records, explaining the matter was adjourned in local court in contemplation of dismissal.

The Schenectady Daily Gazette reported yesterday that Albany District Attorney Paul Clyne fired veteran Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Preiser last week for failing to inform him of the case against Ritter.

Clyne said that as a "sensitive" case, it should have been brought to his attention.

Ritter, who has made frequent appearances on network television after speaking to the Iraq National Assembly last year, could not be reached for comment.

Joe Mahoney

[Eva]

If Hillary is behind this and the sting was instigated at her behest, you can be sure that there is more behind it.

[cake_crumb]

"This seems to have happened in June 2001 - predates Homeland Security, I think."

Right. The president didn't announce the intended formation of an Office of Homeland Security until after 9/11/01.

FUNDING for the Office of Homeland Security was not approved by the Daschle controlled senate until November, when Daschle lost control of the senate.

Tom Ridge is still waiting to be confirmed as director of the Office of Homeland Security, which hasn;t been set up yet. Former Governor Ridge's confirmation was delayed by the Dems in the Senate refusing to give over majority control of the senate to the incoming majority party.

Have a great afternoon, all!

[bvw]

Okie dokie.

[Lancey Howard]

If he was both guilty, and just unlucky enough to be caught, why was the prosecution sealed?

And why did the assistant fail to inform the DA about this case??
The stench in this whole affair is overwhelming..

[Lancey Howard]

The Schenectady Daily Gazette reported yesterday that Albany District Attorney Paul Clyne fired veteran Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Preiser last week for failing to inform him of the case against Ritter..... Clyne said that as a "sensitive" case, it should have been brought to his attention.

Somebody needs to start talking.

[jimbo123]

Here's the police department who caught him:

Colonie PD Computer Crime Unit

Computer Crime Unit On March 15, 2000 the Colonie Police Department opened the doors to its first Computer Crime Lab. The purpose of its existence is three-fold. First, the investigators are able to go undercover online in search of pedophiles....

[Howlin]

IMO, this couldn't have happened to a better person. He was on the top of my list of A##E#. I cannot WAIT till this breaks wide open.

[cake_crumb]

"I have a feeling only people who are compromised -- and therefore controllable -- are appointed to such positions."

GOOD point!!

OK...NOW I'm leaving...FOR REAL

[CARepubGal]

In the words of the TV Marine Gomer Pyle "Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!" And Pvt Pyle was a MUCH better representative of the USMC than Ritter and co. Well, being that Islam was founded by a pedophile, seems that Mr. Ritter found himself a compatible home.

[cyncooper]

Here's what I think, just based on the info at hand and observing Ritter's strange behavior over the years:

He has engaged in this behavior due to his own base impulses.

He was caught, *perhaps years ago*, and the information has been used by the holders of this information to have Ritter behave in particular ways.

The information certainly was sealed and I would argue that it certainly was NOT the Bush administration, as some have argued, that was behind that happening, nor did the administration use this information to have Ritter make his appearances and issue certain statements. I have my own ideas who may be behind it.

So when you say "set up" I was rejecting any implication that Ritter was caught doing something he wouldn't normally be inclined to do. If you say "set up" that someone was monitoring his activities because they received a tip that he was malleable due to a certain, uh, "character flaw", then that is possible. Again, I would reject the Bush administration or republicans as the master-mind to such a ploy because I don't see one single positive thing that Ritter's actions and words have done for them, but most of all because I don't believe this administration engages in using such as Ritter in such a way.

[Dog]

I just got in an hour ago....logged on and must have 10 pings to this thread........what did Ritter do??

[Howlin]

ALBANY - Former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter was secretly prosecuted in Albany County in 2001 after he was snared in an Internet sex sting operation, law enforcement sources told the Daily News.

[Howlin]

He was arrested by Colonie Police in June 2001 on a misdemeanor charge after he allegedly had a sexual discussion on the Internet with an undercover investigator he thought was an underage girl, law enforcement sources disclosed on condition of anonymity.

Ain't life grand???

[Dog]

OMG!!!!!!!

LOL!!!!!!!!

So it looks like someone is blackmailing old Scottie....Haha!!!!!!!

[marajade]

I thought once a case was adjudicated it was public record? Why or how was it sealed?

[friendly]

Every man or woman who keeps their mouth shut -- for whatever reason -- abets terrorism.

Absolutely. And that is why this requires careful investigation and uncovering the facts of this case. The American people deserve answers about this foreign agent, as well as those who promote and cover up for him.

[cmsgop]

I Love waking up to News Like this!

and it's up to us to investigate further,cause thats what we do best!

[Lancey Howard]

One thing, Kat,
This article is of tremendous importance.

A headline like:

SCOTT RITTER ARRESTED IN INTERNET SEX STING!!!

....would have been nice.

Sorry for the nitpick - - great post!

[Dog]

It was sealed???

[TLBSHOW]

Addressing the issues raised by Iraq, Mr. Butler states that Mr. Ritter, as Chief Inspector of UNSCOM 227, arrived in Iraq on 11 January, accompanied by 15 visiting inspectors, with the intention of conducting inspections until 16 January. The overall team, which also draws on staff resident in Baghdad and other visiting inspectors as needed, consisted of 44 persons from 17 nations.

As arranged with the Iraqi Government the prior evening, the whole team proceeded to conduct inspections at seven sites on the morning of 12 January, Mr. Butler states.

Iraq declared three of those sites as "sensitive" and was unable to decide upon the categories it would assign to one of the remaining sites.

Prior to completion of the 12 January inspection, the statement by the official Iraqi spokesman was issued.

http://www.fas.org/news/un/iraq/sc/sc6468.htm