If Telecoms have Immunity

[Schema Thing]

Might this make the players in the Telecom industry more willing to testify against the players in the government side of this debacle?


Could that be an unintended silver lining?

[Eric J in MN]

1. No. Firstly, the phone companies want what they're doing kept secret..

Secondly, the immunity prevents companies from being sued. It doesn't have to do with criminal cases.

[Schema Thing]

8. ah, the second part of your comment addresses my OP

as to the first part, well of course they "want" what they're doing kept secret. Hence my OP.

[Lasher]

2. Hell no.

What would be their motivation to turn on their pals? Certainly not a plea bargain.

[Schema Thing]

6. Staying out of jail?

[kentuck]

3. The Congress could subpoena a few of them....

and see what happens? Before they are sworn in, they are given full immunity. However, they must be truthful in their responses or they could be charged with perjury. I think that might be a good thing for the Congress to do.

[gateley]

4. They went along with Bushco in the beginning because I'm pretty sure

they got special considerations for their compliance. I don't think they did it for 'nothing', and I'm sure they didn't do it out of patriotism.

There was probably a lot of wheeling and dealing going on. They wouldn't want to let that info become known.

I think it will have to be another whistleblower.

[kentuck]

5. They were paid off...

I have no doubt. We, the taxpayers, paid them to screw us.

[Schema Thing]

7. Who gives a shit what info they want to "become known"?

that's why it might be nice to be able to compel them to testify. At that point, they don't get to chose what they talk about.

[TexasObserver]

9. No, it helps them to stay silent.

They could not refuse to answer questions in discovery or trial of civil matters, at least without suggesting they thought they might have committed a crime. Even then, they'd have to invoke the 5th, refuse to give testimony, and that would sink the telecoms in their civil cases.

Civil cases therefore offer a better opportunity to develop evidence than criminal matters. With criminal matters, they all lawyer up and say nothing.

[Schema Thing]

10. Well honestly, in the big scheme of things, I'm far more interested

in punishing the people in governmental power who engaged in criminal activity, than I am in punishing corporations.

It's disgusting that Telecoms did what they did, but it's far more disgusting that they where asked to do so by the executive branch.

[High Plains]

11. If telecomms can have immunity, why can't I? Make mine retroactive.

Thanks.