Court to rule on records in bribery case (associates of Cunningham)

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Court to rule on records in bribery case

By ALLISON HOFFMAN, Associated Press Writer
43 minutes ago

SAN DIEGO - A federal appeals court said Friday that it would hear
arguments on whether to unseal records of secret court proceedings
linked to the bribery case against associates of former Congressman
Randy "Duke" Cunningham.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stepped in to the case of New
York financier Thomas Kontogiannis, who pleaded guilty in closed
court in February to illegally helping finance the congressman's
purchase of a $2.5 million Rancho Santa Fe mansion. The plea
agreement was unsealed June 13.

U.S. District Judge Larry Burns had ordered the release of transcripts
of four hearings held in San Diego federal court in February and April
that contain details about why Kontogiannis' plea was sealed for four
months.

Government lawyers objected in sealed motions last week, citing
federal statutes protecting classified information.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070630/ap_on_re_us/congressman_bribery_1

[Liberty Belle]

1. K&R - Bet they're sealed to protect Duncan Hunter.

There is a qui tam whistleblower case alleging Hunter took bribes from the coconspirators who bribed Cunningham. Portions of the case has been sealed.

It will be very interesting to see what's in those files!

[flyarm]

3. open them up..i want to see them all..and see the little bastards squirm..and their balls sweat!! n/

[cascadiance]

5. As I noted to you in PM's... I STILL think Waxman should put John Rinaldi on the stand...

I still think that Rinaldi knows some info of the deals that were cut to keep Hunter from getting indicted last year! We REALLY need to know about this!

I'm also tired of thinking that I might be being spied upon myself now too for making this suggestion!

[raider1967]

6. Duncan Hunter

I bet you are correct about Duncan Hunter.

[flyarm]

2. those bastards spy on us..amd yet protect their own ..amazing isn't it??

the most secretive administration in my lifetime ..and yet they have no problem tapping our phones...those mtf ers..wouldn't want anyone to know how crooked they are ..now would we??

gosh i despise the little bastards!

fly

[cascadiance]

4. Here's the Union Tribune's writeup on this...

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20070630-9999-7m30sealed.html

Damn! WHAT are they covering up? Is this about protecting Duncan Hunter from getting exposed or what?