Ritter Says He Won't Be Silenced

Albany Times Union ^ | January 23, 2003 | Alan Wechsler

[Shermy]

Scott Ritter said he doesn't want forgiveness.

Speaking publicly for the first time about the sex charge he was arrested for in 2001, the former U.N. arms inspector and one of the leading critics of the Bush administration's plans to attack Iraq said he has been held accountable for breaking the law. And it would be a shame, he said Wednesday, that his arrest could derail his efforts to help prevent a war in the Middle East.

"I think it's important to put a human face on this, to remind people that there are issues out there bigger than a two-year-old dismissed case," he said. "I'm not asking people for forgiveness.

In June 2001, he was charged in a police sting operation with trying to lure a 16-year-old girl he met on the Internet to a Burger King. Later in Colonie Town Court, the case was adjourned in contemplation of dismissal after six months. Half a year later, the case was sealed.

"I was arrested on June 15 (2001) and charged with a class B misdemeanor," he said. "I think it's important for people to know that I stood before a judge in a public court, with my wife by my side ... and the case was dismissed."

Ritter, 41, a Delmar resident, spent Wednesday afternoon in a frenzy of television and newspaper interviews. He had been at the center of a national controversy that exploded this week when the arrest came to light.

A former Marine, Ritter served as a U.N. weapons inspector for seven years. He resigned in 1998, saying that Iraq remained a threat. He also accused the United States of damaging the inspection process by using intelligence from the U.N. to determine subsequent bombing sites.

In September, Ritter visited Iraq to urge Saddam Hussein to allow inspectors back into the country. Hussein agreed to do that a few days after Ritter left.

On Wednesday, Ritter said he's trying to put his life back together after the attention of the last few days. He declined to speculate on who may have released information from the sealed file.

"The timing is definitely suspicious," he said. "I have no insights as to who or why. I know what the impact is, which was to prevent me from getting on an airplane as I planned to do so ... to fly to Baghdad."

Ritter was to fly to Iraq on Tuesday to meet with the country's government, along with many other figures in the peace movement, to help avoid a war. Ritter bowed out of the trip because of the recent attention.

Colonie police Chief John Grebert said he did not blame any of his staff for the controversy. Though the case was sealed, he said, his detectives were not barred from talking about it, according to two lawyers he consulted. Furthermore, the case had been reported on Channel 13 in 2001 and many people were already familiar with it.

"This case is going on two years old," he said. "This case has been discussed fairly openly over the past year. A person who becomes more and more of a public figure increases the chance that anyone's going to talk."

WNYT Ch. 13 had the story on the arrest in 2001, but did not identify the man charged as the former weapons inspector. The station has said Ritter was charged under his given name -- William S. Ritter -- and the station did not make the connection at the time.

Ritter said this would be the last time he plans to discuss the situation with the media. He said he has been encouraged by hundreds of positive e-mails from around the country. His family is also with him.

"I'm very supportive of Scott, 100 percent or more," said his wife, Marina. "I'm very proud of him and everything that he has achieved."

Ritter and Marina, who married 12 years ago after they met in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia, are parents of two young children. Ritter said it was difficult explaining to his kids about what happened, but expects to soon put this behind him.

"I will continue to speak where I'm invited and permitted to speak," he said. "This will not silence me."

Staff writer Mike Goodwin contributed to this report.

[Grampa Dave]

There is a thread on Free Republic right now that links into the predator Ritter: (UN appears to be a magnet for deviants like the predator Ritter)

[DoughtyOne]

Since when to people get to plea bargain away pedophilia?

Seems to me the left gets a free pass for whatever the hell they wish to participate in?

[Peach]

Ritter says he won't be silenced; I'll bet he's wrong. Hussein silenced him when he threatened to release information this was going on while Ritter was in Iraq pre '98. See Lucianne's site today for more on this little tidbit.

[DWSUWF]

"..."I'm very supportive of Scott, 100 percent or more," said his wife, Marina. "I'm very proud of him and everything that he has achieved."..."

English Translation:

"Anything to keep him out of my bed! Even that fat boy who lost all that weight eating sub sandwiches is sexier than this chicken-choking putz I'm married to!"

[BigWaveBetty]

And it would be a shame, he said Wednesday, that his arrest could derail his efforts to help prevent a war in the Middle East.

My, my, Scott has a rather bloated opinion of himself.

[eddie willers]

"This will not silence me."

No....but your words will fall on deaf ears.

[Shermy]

Seems that this wasn't such secret news to the locals, despite insinuations that someone must have "leaked" this story.

When you think about it, who in the know is not going to talk about it, especially with concerns about other children, coupled with the attention given to him in the media?

I think the story was only "reportable" by local standards when coupled with the scandal of why the case was treated secretly in the first place - which resulted in the firing of an assistant DA. There was also a doctor arrested for crack cocaine treated whose case was treated secretly which raised local concerns.

[Kewlhand`tek]

i think he already has been silenced :p

[Grampa Dave]

This is great!

Is it sung in rap style?

[South40]

I saw a Ritter interview with Aaron Brown of CNN last night.

Ritter refused to discuss the reason why he was arrested, stating emphatically that it would violate some court order.

Brown called him on it saying the entire legal staff at CNN could not find any such law, that only the prosecutors were disallowed from speaking on it and not him.

He still refused comment.

The man’s lost whatever credibility he may have had.

How pathetic.

[cyborg]

Words escape me as to comment on this post... rotfl

[Caliban]

Bigger issue...IF Ritter can be DUPED by a cop playing the role of a teenager...willing to "give" him somehting he desires and craves...what makes ANYONE think he isn't being duped time and time again.

One a DUPE...always a DUPE!

[TC Rider]

I bet Saddam promised him 72 YOUNG virgins.

Promised? Try delivered, and filmed, and videotaped.

[Revolting cat!]

"I will continue to speak to young girls, and conduct my research into pedophilia" he said. "This will not silence me."

[Lauratealeaf]

It's not that Ritter will be "silenced", it is just that no one will listen to him anymore. Pathetic pervert.

[Grampa Dave]

I bet the editors and publishers of the NY Slimes have known about this story within minutes after that local tv station ran it.

The spiking of this news story has been basically iron tight until this past week.

I still bet that some cop retired and took out the A$$t, DA and Ritter with this story.

Ritter is just like the Clintoons when they get caught. Oh this happened a long time ago, and only the evil VRWC's are now bringing it out.

If the left wing mediots did their job instead attacking President Bush and Conservatives, we would have read about this 2 years ago. Ritter would have had the validity that any sexual predator has, when he lied for his Uncle Soddomite.

[TLBSHOW]

and then there was the CNN interview last night that finished him off! LOL

[cyborg]

Yes it is... go on kazaa and listen to Digital Underground's Humpty Dance.

Also, these nations he's defending so much would chop him to bits for what he did. Child rape/molestation is punishable by summary execution, usually hanging or firing squad.

[The Great Satan]

Candy is dandy, but Ritter is quicker.

[Positive]

Wasn't this the same Scott Ritter who told the media that they had the wrong guy earlier this week?

Appears that the guy's first impulse is to lie, next is confusion about how to "explain" this to two kids who may be less than 12 years old, since he's been married for 12 years.

Finally, he won't discuss it anymore, tsk tsk. But he won't be silenced, so will he follow his current MO of lyng first to see how that works?