Interviewer thinks Rather may call both George W and Poppy if his lawsuit goes to trial

[DeepModem Mom]

Examiner: Rather chokes up, and hunkers down
Sep 26, 2007
by Patrick Gavin and Jeff Dufour


(Nathans Restaurant)
Former "Evening News" Dan Rather choked back tears on several occasions today when discussing his decision to file a lawsuit against CBS.

WASHINGTON - Former CBS "Evening News" anchor Dan Rather choked back tears on several occasions today when discussing his decision to file a lawsuit against CBS and he left many audience members with a sense that he may call President George W. Bush as a witness should the lawsuit proceed to trial (and Rather said he hoped it would).

When asked by Carol Joynt, host of the "Q&A Café" held at Nathans restaurant who worked with Rather at CBS in the 1970s, whether "he'd like to" call President Bush as a witness in the trial, Rather paused, then said "I'd like not to answer the question," leaving both Joynt and audience members wondering whether the newsman has Bush in his sights." Joynt later told Yeas & Nays, "From the look in his eye -- and he gave me a definite Ratheresque look -- I got the impression he will call the president as a witness. Possibly both of them: 41 and 43. He implied the suit is not against them, but what the suit is about stems directly from his antagonistic relationship with them."

In the lawsuit, Rather claims he was unjustifiably squeezed out of CBS by network executives following a 2004 story about President Bush’s service record in the Texas Air National Guard. After evidence emerged that the story’s primary documents were possibly faked or forged, Rather stated on air that “if I knew then what I know now, I would not have gone ahead with the story as it was aired, and I certainly would not have used the documents in question.”

Joynt asked Rather if he believes the president hates him, and Rather responded by saying that "hate is a strong word." Then, he began to well up. "You've never met anybody who had more respect for the presidency than I do," said Rather, choking back tears. He stood by his 2004 story, saying "we got the truth, but we left ourselves vulnerable."...

http://www.examiner.com/blogs/Yeas_and_Nays/2007/9/26/Rather-chokes-up-and-hunkers-down

[porphyrian]

1. Does he think they'll answer that subpeona? - n/t

[tridim]

2. What happens if someone refuses a subpoena in a criminal trial?

We already know what happens if they refuse a Congressional subpoena, but this is more "real life" than Congress. I'm thinking, given the right judge it might not be so easy for * and poppy* to ignore.

[porphyrian]

3. Would the Secret Service confront the Deputies serving the subpeona, I wonder?

It would certainly make an interesting drama to have on film.