Cheney Not Likely to Testify on 'Assault'

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

Cheney not likely to testify on 'assault'

The Associated Press
April 16, 2008 - 12:00 am

Vice President Dick Cheney does not have to testify as an eyewitness in a civil lawsuit filed against Secret Service agents by a man who says he was wrongfully arrested for criticizing the vice president, U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Craig Shaffer ruled yesterday.

But the judge left open the possibility he may change his mind if Steven Howards can prove that Cheney has information that others cannot provide about the 2006 encounter in the Colorado ski resort town of Beaver Creek.

Howards, a 55-year-old environmental consultant, approached Cheney while he was on a walk in town and said he told the vice president, "Your policies in Iraq are disgusting." Howards said he also lightly touched Cheney on the shoulder, then walked away.

A Secret Service agent later caught up to Howards, and when Howards refused to talk, arrested him on suspicion of assault.

Read more: http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080416/NEWS03/804160328/1013

[laylah]

1. Why am I

not surprised? Both he and Vitter walked on testifying in the DC Madam trial, why should this be any different? Oh, and BTW, I hate that bottom feeding freak :puke:

[NM Independent]

2. Assault on Dick eh?

I would imagine that if anybody that actually had intent to assault him got close enough and had an opportunity - it would be much more than a brush against his shoulder because of the certain result of the action regardless of degree.

Just an assumption, though. :shrug:

[Thor_MN]

3. If I could be the judge hearing that case

I'd toss it if Cheney refused to appear and find Cheney in contempt for wasting the court's time. If he is too busy to be bothered with showing up, he is too busy to be bothered by the alledged assault. It would be a different story if he were in the hospital or was terrified of his "attacker", but that doesn't appear to be in play.

[OKthatsIT]

4. Government, Mafia...what's the difference?

America needs to accept the truth. Our Governement is not our government.

[Virginia Dare]

5. He'd lie anyway, so BFD...n/t

[gratuitous]

6. Not sure what this means

Is Magistrate Shaffer refusing to issue a subpoena compelling Cheney's appearance at trial? The Supreme Court ruled 9-0 that being compelled to testify in a civil matter was not a hardship for an elected official. Of course, then we were talking about Bill Clinton; federal judges know better than to mess around with Dick Cheney.

[John Kerry VonErich]

7. Judge denies request to subpoena Cheney in arrest lawsuit

Source: Yahoo News

Judge denies request to subpoena Cheney in arrest lawsuit
By P. SOLOMON BANDA, Associated Press Writer
Wed Apr 16, 4:35 AM ET



DENVER - A judge denied a request to subpoena Dick Cheney in a lawsuit filed by a man who claims he was wrongfully arrested for comments he made to the vice president about the Iraq war.


Steve Howards' attorney, David Lane, had argued that Secret Service agents involved in Howards' arrest in Beaver Creek in June 2006 told different versions of the incident and that only Cheney could clear up what happened.

In denying Lane's motion Tuesday to have U.S. marshals serve Cheney with a subpoena, U.S. Magistrate Judge Craig Shaffer said Lane had "not made a sufficient showing to warrant a deposition at this time."

Howards claims in his lawsuit that he was arrested and his constitutional rights violated when he happened upon Cheney and his security detail at a mall and took the opportunity to tell him: "Your policies in Iraq are disgusting."

Lane said Shaffer's rulings, including those blocking the release of videotapes that Lane said show the agents accusing each other of lying and trying to cover up what happen, have been very protective of the government.

"It's a temporary setback, but he's basically saying come back and try again," Lane said.

Howards said he approached Cheney in a crowd in the resort town two hours west of Denver when he saw him shaking hands and posing for photos. He said he made the comment about the Iraq War and then left.

Howards alleges that Secret Service agent Virgil D. "Gus" Reichle Jr. questioned him minutes later, "badgering" him about whether he touched or assaulted Cheney. Howards said Reichle handcuffed him and told him he would be charged with assault.

At the jail, Reichle told Eagle County deputies to issue Howards a summons on a state charge of harassment, according to the lawsuit. The district attorney later dismissed the charge.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080416/ap_on_re_us/cheney_man_arrested

[ORDagnabbit]

8. 3 words.... "above the law"

[sinkingfeeling]

9. Sd. I was looking forward to hearing what Vader had to say.

[lovuian]

10. yep above the law

Hail Ceasar

[Winterblues]

11. Well when you allow thugs to run the country then

Thugs will run the country

[bdamomma]

13. unfortunately yes, they are ruining the country.

if these thugs were anywhere else in the world their butts would be long gone. Actions speak louder than words sometimes.

[BeHereNow]

14. Or people get the government they deserve...

SOME people in this country actually VOTED for these thugs and mobsters...
Hope they are happy as they struggle to survive under their corporate masters.
BHN

[bdamomma]

12. his royal majesty cheney, needs his butt to be thrown off that royal throne.