Posted on 01/19/2003 1:15:49 AM PST by 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
Looks like you need to lay off the MadDog 20/20. You are hallucinating.
(we still don't know the age of the 'girl' - I wouldn't call someone seeking sex with a 'girl' who describes herself as 17yrs and 10 months a pedophile).
How many run of the mill pedophiles have security clearances, work on important US missions, have high press profiles, accept $400,000 in cash from a foreign enemy - and thus are monitored by our intelligence services, manage to get a felony listed as a misdeamenor, get a judge and prosecutor to agree to seal their records, and remove the record of the sealing from the judicial record, all under the watchful eye of Federal intellgence agents.
Looks pretty run of the mill to me. What about you?
Can you spell s-m-e-a-r attempt? Why would they remain anonymous. This would all be out in the open if it were for real. This is public information. We don't yet live in the kind of police state where common crimes are tried in secret.
I am shocked at the lack of critical thinking on this thread. Sheep...
I also agree about the minor...although you realize we are talking about a fictitious person, since Ritter was apparently communicating over the internet with a cop. What is relevant is how old Ritter thought she/he was.
And what I would like to know is if there are other instances of this.
On the contrary, I think it's much better from the administration's point of view that Ritter has become this figurehead for the anti-war Left, feted on every college campus in the country. How have they been hurt by this, really? Does it appear to you that Bush is in a terrible hurry to go into Iraq? Pied Piper Ritter will be discredited after he has led his left-wing minions over a cliff, and not before.
Yes - and Ritter would be suing if it were not true.
I do not want to attack Iraq - but Ritter should be done in for being a traitor AND a pedophile.
Actually, it sounds like the DA is protesting too much.
He could very well have known, and approved and is merely hanging an underling out to dry.
OR... he didn't know, and wasn't trusted to know.
Only two possibilities I can see.
It's NY. I'm sure a DA would not take up a case involving a 17 year old.
Assuming this is real - the "minor" was a "kid".
I'm against entrapment but I'm for humiliating traitors - so I have mixed feelings on this.
Agreed. But be prepared to be crucified by the State worshippers.
They nab kids or physically abuse 'em, then throw 'em in a dark hole. If they're just talking, then leave them alone.
Think about what you're saying.
You think it's likely that a pedophile task force is going to give first time offenders a pass?
One free attempt??
Possible, but consider the timing. This arrest took place 18 months ago. That was prior to the 2002 State of the Union address where President Bush named Iraq as part of the axis of evil. Before 9-11. This happened in June of 2001.
To the best of my knowledge, I hadn't seen Ritter on any of the talking head shows before last years SOTU address.
Would Ritter even have been on the Bush administration's radar at that time? I'd be surprised.
What does this mean? NOT GUILTY!
From the article:
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.
I don't know how you come to believe "in contemplation of dismissal" equates to NOT GUILITY.
If you read above statement carefully, it appears they were not going to try it in the local court, and then just sealed the records saying in contemplation of dismissal.
It is very likely this could still be active in a Federal Court, since I think child porn falls into a federal offence. I may be wrong though.
He's tricking you. Solicitation requires payment. Therefore an actual crime has been commited. You have paid to have someone murdered. Proven intent and action to cause direct physical harm.
Not the same at all as prostitution, etc...
How can a collective be a victim?
Only individuals can be victims.
Demonkrats and Republicans don't work together.
We don't need your opinions of what is a crime and what isn't a crime, since you have not repudiated your earlier call for the legalization of child pornography possession.
Perhaps Ritter HAS to be shut up ... RIGHT NOW. The attack is coming. Maybe he knows something that does not need to be blabbed on national television.
Besides, I think he's really Scottish.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.