The DC Madam will subpoena ABC's Brian Ross

[babylonsister]

http://cannonfire.blogspot.com/2007/09/dc-madam-will-subpoena-abcs-brian-ross.html

The DC Madam will subpoena ABC's Brian Ross

The tale of Jeane Palfrey, the DC Madam, keeps getting stranger. I received this word from her lawyer, Montgomery Sibley:

Along with the criminal case against Jeane, the government has also filed a civil forfeiture action seeking to take all her assets. Curiously, in the criminal action -- in which Jeane could go to jail -- she is not allowed to gather information before trial by examinations of witnesses under oath. However, in the civil forfeiture action, such discovery before trial is allowed. Go figure.

Judge Kessler stopped the civil forfeiture action last March for six months to prevent Jeane from getting information to help her defense in the civil and criminal cases. That stay order expired last week and I promptly issued subpoenas for the depositions of (i) Troy Burrus, the IRS case agent on Jeane's case, for Friday, September 28th in Washington, D.C., and (ii) Brian Ross of ABC News, (ii) Cindy Adams of the New York Post and (iv) Bill Bastone of the Smokingun.com for Friday October 5th in New York City. Those subpoenas were served yesterday on the witnesses.

I expect both the government and the subpoenaed witnesses to aggressively fight Jeane's attempt to get the basic information regarding why this matter was commenced by the government and how the government has acted since the seizing of all Jeane's assets one year ago. Heaven forbid the truth comes out.

As we mentioned in previous posts, Ross had privately told Palfrey that the DC Madam case would receive Watergate-level coverage. Alas, his televised report ended not with a bang (pardon the expression), but with the whimpered complaint that none of her listed customers were "newsworthy."

more...

http://cannonfire.blogspot.com/2007/09/dc-madam-will-subpoena-abcs-brian-ross.html

[aquart]

1. Delightful.

[Mabus]

2. I know it was reported that Ross alledgedly cut back on the coverage

at the request from the executives above. IIRC, Flynt has also said he identified at least two network anchors/personalities whose numbers were on the list.

K&R

[MelissaB]

3. Ooh! I didn't know that.

Network anchor/personalities, eh? Intriguing!

[Mabus]

4. I'll see if I can find a link. eom

[Mabus]

5. Here's what I found

from a WashPo blog, assertions from Palfrey's attorney that there was pressure exerted on the reporting:

Palfrey's attorney suggests "political pressure" was put on ABC News to "bury" the names of other prominent clients listed in the phone records. To that assertion, Jeffrey Schneider, senior vice president for ABC News, says, "Utter nonsense."

"Our decisions about what to report were based solely on what we deemed newsworthy," he told us yesterday.
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2007/09/dc_madam_case_weirder_by_the_v.html

Otherwise the hits that reference ABC execs and national anchors trace back to Wayne Madsen.

[MelissaB]

6. Thanks for the link.

:hi:

As for Wayne Madsen, I don't think he's reliable.

[Mabus]

8. I knew that was a possibility

about Wayne that is and so I thought I would divulge that as soon as I realized it. I saw a thread the other day talking about him and his veracity. I figured I had two choices. I could either offend your sensibilities or pique your interest.

fwiw, I like Wayne. I met him this summer in D.C. As for his reporting, he's about like every other reporter: hit and miss. I read his stuff and than see if I can find any corroborating information.

[in_cog_ni_to]

7. I knew it!!! I was watching Howard Kurtz on CNN the Sunday after the news that Flynt had 30 names

of D.C. insiders from Madame Palfrey's black book and the look on his face said HE is on the list or he knew someone on the list. I posted about it here immediately after I saw it. I knew it, I knew it, I knew there had to be some anchors/personalities on the Madame's list.:rofl: Howie doesn't hide guilt very well!:rofl:

[Mike Daniels]

9. The longer Flynt waits the less people are going to care when he does release names

If Flynt really had the names he says he does he could release one or two a month and still hold the big names until just before the election.

My thinking is that Flynt doesn't have hard evidence on anyone that the public really will give a damn about. He may have innuendo and hear-say and he may be hoping that a big fish may be pro-active and drop out/quit. But without anything more substantial he's not going to go on record with any names.