Coulter: 'I sent NY Times white powder'

[kpete]

Published: Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Memo Pad: Fan Mail

FAN MAIL: If you falsely yell "Fire!" in a crowded theater and everyone tramples each other to death, you get sent to jail. So what should be done with Ann Coulter, who has argued that The New York Times should have been blown up by Timothy McVeigh and that Times executive editor Bill Keller should be executed by firing squad?

This was the question one Times source asked on Friday after an employee at the paper of record received an envelope with an X scrawled through it and a suspicious powder inside. "This thing makes all of Ann Coulter's comments a little less funny," said the source. "I wonder if she considers herself at all responsible when lunatics read her columns and she says that we should be killed."

So Memo Pad went and asked her, sending an e-mail to her AOL account. And guess what? She not only responded, but claimed to be the sender of the mysterious powder.

"So glad to hear that The New York Times got my letter and that your friend at the Times thinks I'm funny," she wrote back. "Good luck in journalism and please send me your home address so we can stay in touch, too.

"P.S. If we get hit again, don't forget to ask the NYT if they consider themselves responsible since they have repeatedly exposed classified government programs designed to prevent another terrorist attack."

Thankfully, the powder at the Times turned out to be cornstarch. Memo Pad declined to send Coulter its home address.

— Jacob Bernstein
http://www.wwd.com/article/print/107729

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Why is she not under arrest? Weren't there 2 or 3 pranksters arrested

in 2001-02 for sending white powders through the mail?

Edited to add this warning from the FBI:

FBI Warns Against Anthrax Hoaxes

In recent months, approximately 40 individuals have been charged with anthrax hoaxes and threats with penalties ranging from a maximum of 5 years imprisonment and up to $250,000 fine. FBI Director Robert S. Mueller warned that the FBI has and will continue to vigorously investigate and arrest those individuals who commit these crimes. Mueller said "we will not tolerate these serious violations of federal law. These investigations place a severe strain on law enforcement and public health resources and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel01/anthraxhoax122001.htm

[babylonsister]

2. Err, isn't that illegal? Can't the NYT have her arrested? nt

[Mist]

8. Does it have to be the NYT that brings charges? Can't it be anyone in the

NYC area? This c**t needs to slapped down. Seriously.

[reichstag911]

22. The NYT can't "bring charges,"...

...only the US Attorney can do that, but they can make a complaint. Whether they do or not, however, is irrelevant. Ultimately, the US Attorney does not need a complaint to investigate and charge criminal activity. Send your thoughts to https://tips.fbi.gov/ .

[reichstag911]

23. The NYT can't "bring charges,"...

...only the US Attorney can do that, but they can make a complaint. Whether they do or not, however, is irrelevant. Ultimately, the US Attorney does not need a complaint to investigate and charge criminal activity. Send your thoughts to https://tips.fbi.gov/ .

[Virginia Dare]

3. She's a dangerous psycho and needs to be locked up...n/t

[Forrest Greene]

30. If I May

...she's a waste of flesh & blood & deserves being ignored.

[tocqueville]

4. she should be indicted

I don't know about US laws but in Europe, she'll get jail. The behaviour is similar to sending false alarms to the fire department, police etc...

if ANYBODY ELSE had been doing the same thing and found guilty, would he/she go free ?

[Hekate]

35. She has not been charged with anything -- yet.

And not having been charged, she can't be "found guilty."

Having said that, sending terrorist threats through the US Mail is indeed against the law. Since 9-11, "white powder" certainly constitutes such a threat. Recipients understandably take it seriously, and many people get involved in cleaning it up and analyzing it -- not just the recipients, but publicly-paid people like Haz-Mat crews and hospitals.

Since Coulter's admission is already public, I certainly hope that the next step is that charges will be filed against her (by the District Attorney?) for this illegal act.

If she tries to pass this off as some warped exercise in "humor" or "satire," let's recall that back in the day when airplanes were being hijacked to Cuba, it was QUITE the felony to joke about such things in airports.

That woman needs to start being held accountable for her foul mouth.

Hekate

[negativenihil]

5. Ann Coulter - Admitted Terrorist...

I say we ship her down to Gitmo.

Why should she be treated any differently than anyone else labeled a terrorist?

[kpete]

11. I have to agree with that...

Why should she be treated any differently than anyone else labeled a terrorist?

[Craig3410]

18. IOKIYAR.

[Canuckistanian]

6. This is a crime

People have been arrested for a lot less.

If nothing else, the journalist should seriously consider a civil suit.

Can you imagine what would have happened if Michael Moore had sent an envelope with white powder to Fox News?

And then admitted doing it?

[Mandate My Ass]

7. that's a federal crime she just admitted to.

13:40CST - 05 Dec 2001

FBI Top-Ten Suspect Arrested; Wanted In Anthrax Hoaxes

Cincinnati, OH -- Clayton Lee Waagner, an alleged anti-abortion activist, has been arrested in a Cincinnati suburb. Waagner was reportedly arrested in a Kinko's store in Springdale, Ohio. Waagner, is the primary suspect in a string of anthrax hoax letters. He has been on the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list since Sept. 21, 2001. Arraignment and charges are pending. FBI officials said that they intend to prosecute people engaging in anthrax or other Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) hoaxes to the fullest extent of the law...

http://www.emergency.com/2001/bio-scare2001.htm

[dipsydoodle]

9. A hoax would definately be an imprisonable offence

here in the UK. Quite despicable what Coulter did.

[Mandate My Ass]

13. yes, but will the FBI investigate this?

Idoubt it. But here's what she deserves IMHO.

CLAYTON LEE WAAGNER FOUND GUILTY OF MAKING ANTHRAX AND DEATH THREATS - FACES MAXIMUM POSSIBLE SENTENCE OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_pjus/is_200312/ai_3460993200

[tom_paine]

32. Another story about Serfs getting HAMMERED for anthrax hoaxes

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=2544965&BRD=1671&PAG=461&dept_id=17782&rfi=6

Rightfully so, IMHO. An anthrax hoax is NOTHING to be joking about.

But naturally, Annthrax herself will walk free. It is always that way in Totalitarian nations such as BushMerika.

Party Members, just like in the Old Soviet Union & Nazi Germany, can just about get away with murder. The only difference between us and them is a matter of degree.

[Crankie Avalon]

10. Well, I doubt she was the one who sent it...she was just being glib...

...her idea of humor, etc. The thing is, she's known as a nut who just instantly pops off with whatever nutty thing comes into her head, so it might be hard to hold her responsible in court for anything she says.

It's like what Al Franken said about how Bill O'Reilly likley can't be held liable for his words when being sued for libel because he's so well known as a lunatic that he can't be held responsible for the things he says.

[ikojo]

12. Why is she not in jail?

Double standard when it comes to conservative "pundits."

G Gordon Liddy advocates shooting Federal agents and he remained free. If someone on Air America say, sent white powder to Rush Limbaugh or the Washington Times, the Feds would shut down Air America. Considering that the anthrax spores were sent to those in the "liberal media" and Democrats I don't think this should be taken lightly by the police.

[msongs]

14. nothing in this post says she sent white powder, just a letter.

the conclusion drawn is not based on facts in evidence.

not sure why you people keep promoting her.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/demfest1.htm

[babylonsister]

15. SHE said she sent it:

"She not only responded, but claimed to be the sender of the mysterious powder."

[sinkingfeeling]

16. Although we don't know the exact question the Memo Pad asked, we

do have what they say is her response.
"So Memo Pad went and asked her, sending an e-mail to her AOL account. And guess what? She not only responded, but claimed to be the sender of the mysterious powder."

[NYCGirl]

17. It was quite obviously a stupid joke. She sent nothing. NT

[grace0418]

21. Stupid joke or not, I'm pretty sure it's illegal, like "joking" about

having a bomb in the airport. At least it would be illegal for anyone who's not a right-wing lunatic. Seriously, like someone else said, what do you suppose would happen if Michael Moore joked about sending a letter like that to Fox News? He'd be arrested faster than you could say "Gitmo". And he'd be hung out to dry on every single news channel out there.

[Craig3410]

19. The funny thing being...

if I sent an envelope of cornstarch to her, I'd be (not) writing this in Gitmo.

[kpete]

20. I think that is the WHOLE point

of this post and this incident...

[Initech]

24. So can we finally have Coulter committed?

I realize, being an armchair psychiatrist, that I'm no expert on mental illness, but I think anyone who makes repeated death threats to the same people and even goes so far as to send them "white powder" as a "joke", then even goes so far to admit it and was proud of it, is seriously showing signs of some sort of mental defect.

Oh and if I had recieved "white powder", my next phone call would be to the feds.

[Ravy]

25. Misleading headline

I couldn't find where Coulter made the quote you attributed to her.

I am no Coulter fan, but decency is gauged by how we treat the least of us... and Coulter certainly qualifies as the least of us. That is no reason for us to lie. The truth is bad enough.

[autorank]

34. The link is provided in the message. What in the world are you talking

about. The veracity of the message was sufficient for Kieth Olberman to make her "Worst Person of the Year." So there's a source on the web and then a known news source on MSNBC.

What is your standard of proof? and why are you using the term "lie" in association with the poster of the OP. That's just outrageous and not supported by anything.

Apologize now, please.

[Ravy]

36. So where did she say "I sent NY Times white powder"?

My standard of proof is just showing me a link where she said those words. The one provided does not quote her as saying that.

Sounds to me like Ann was trying to be funny, but then again, she is a comedian according to KO.

I think she should be investigated.

Until I see where she said the words attributed to her in the headline, I will not be apologizing.

[Faryn Balyncd]

26. Is Coulter attempting to be so unhinged as to force the SUPPRESSION of....

of free speech?

Is she positioning herself as a test case for censorship?

Do we really benefit if we advocate that the state silence her insane and immoral rants?

Are we wise if we follow her script?

Are we so cowed by this anorexic fascist as to sacrifice our values?

[EstimatedProphet]

29. Nonsense

If she did send it (which i don't believe) it isn't protected speech, it's an attempted threat, every bit as much as someone who holds up a store with a fake gun. If she just said she sent it (which I do believe) it still isn't protected speech, it's an implied threat, just like yelling fire in a theater. Neither case falls under free speech.

[DanCa]

27. And she says liberals are godless.

I don't know why anyone listens to the Coultergeist.

[WI_DEM]

28. I thought these days even if you "kid" about terrorist acts you

should be investigated. How do we know she wasn't the one who did this? They should look into it.

[kpete]

31. Coulter-geist

Just named Countdown's "Worst Person In The World" For her response regarding the
"sender of the mysterious powder"!

[Warren DeMontague]

33. That sounds like an admission to a very serious felony.

Why is she still free?

[DanCa]

37. White Powder is Ann a coke head?

I wonder if that's her tongue in cheek way of telling us that she does lines with Sean Hannity. That would explain so much of her bizzare behavior if it were true.

[Hubert Flottz]

38. She can plead insanity and say anything.

And she does have an airtight insanity case!