Posted on 01/26/2003 11:46:30 AM PST by HAL9000
Ritter questions federal action
Ex-arms inspector is critical of the timing of ruling to unseal 2001 arrest records
Former U.N. chief weapons inspector Scott Ritter on Saturday questioned the decision by federal investigators to reopen sealed files in a two-year old case involving charges he allegedly tried to use Internet to lure an underage girl to a sexual encounter.
"I wish that everyone would understand how much the timing of this whole thing just stinks," Ritter said Saturday from his Delmar home.
Ritter declined to comment further.
Ritter, who resigned his position as chief weapons inspector in 1998, has become a high-profile opponent of President Bush's plans for war against Iraq and has traveled to that country as a peace advocate.
He was to travel to the country last week on a mission of peace when it was revealed that the 41-year-old was arrested in June 2001 and charged with a Class B misdemeanor for allegedly to set up a sexual rendezvous with a person whom he thought was a 16-year-old girl but who was really an undercover Colonie cop.
The case was adjourned in contemplation of dismissal, meaning the charges would be dropped and the records sealed if he didn't break the law for a six-month period.
But last week, after news of that arrest surfaced, State Supreme Court Justice Joseph C. Teresi signed an order unsealing the Ritter file after a request by federal prosecutors in the Albany office of the U.S. Attorney who, sources said, may be looking to further prosecute the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Pericak and Thomas Spina Jr., who has been prosecuting computer crime cases for years, sought the unsealing of the records, sources said.
Now that federal prosecutors have the records, they must obtain permission from the U.S. Department of Justice before they can bring a prosecution.
A possible federal case against Ritter could include the charge of using the Internet to entice a minor to engage in criminal activity, sources have said.
In other words, the timing was perfect.
In other news - Fearful of the federal investigation of Scott Ritter's attempts to use the Internet to lure underage girls for sexual encounters, his partner William Rivers Pitt abruptly announced today that he has "Gotta go" and discontinued posting messages on the Internet.
The ancillary compulsions have shattered the exquisite enablement.
Oh, I'm melting, melting....
...all my terrible wickeness....I'm melting!
And the attempted luring of the teenager for illicit sexual purposes doesn't stink??? Methinks Mr. Ritter has his priorities bass-ackward.
Ritter had his attempted child molesting buried, by his lawyer engineering a dismissal in court and a sealing of the file. Had he kept a low profile, that probably would never have come to public light.
But he made himself and his credibility a national and international issue. That sort of spotlight can and will smoke the skeletons out of the closet. The "timing" he is complaining about was caused by his own actions. If he has a real complaint with the cause of this result, he is free to commit suicide.
Congressman Billybob
Click for latest column for UPI, "Necessary Lies -- Iraq & N. Korea" (Now up on UPI wire, and FR.)
As the politician formerly known as Al Gore has said, my book, "to Restore Trust in America"
No. YOU stink ritter.
FMCDH
The issue for concern here is that there has to be a lot, lot more to this story than has already surfaced. Every time Willie got caught in another lie, he, at least, had a chorus of sleazy dems to endorse his lie. I don't see Scott with the same luxury. Sure, someone, probably an American-hating democrat, probably a member of Congress, covered/lied for him. Then there will be the obligatory lying about who told the lie but, once the truth comes out, Scott will be on his own.
Actually, I look forward to the "press conference" after the next piece of damaging information comes out where Ritter's wife says bravely, "Scott is a good man, I'm proud of him and don't believe those who are trying to damage him, and I'm sticking by him." Then, the next information after which she says, "I didn't believe it until I saw the pictures. I'm suing for divorce." Then, the story where he is led away in chains, still shouting about the timing. Bye, Scott.
Scott, The timing of the whole thing stunk when the Assistant DA had it sealed.
It should have gone to the Federal Jurisdiction right from the start.
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