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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSecond Christie Pal Invokes Fifth Amendment Rights
Bill Stepien, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's (R) former campaign manager, on Friday became the second Christie ally to invoke his 5th Amendment rights in response to the investigation of the George Washington Bridge lane closures.
In a letter to the special counsel working with state lawmakers investigating the closures, Stepien's attorney argued that the subpoena served to his client violated his constitutional rights, and requested that it be withdrawn.
"Bill Stepien has not broken any laws," attorney Kevin Marino wrote in the letter. "Under the circumstances, Mr. Stepien simply has no choice but to invoke the constitutional and common law rights guaranteed to all persons - including, most critically, those innocent of any crime. For these reasons, amplified below, we object to the Subpoena in its entirety, and respectfully urge the Committee to withdraw it."
Stepien was among a number of Christie allies who were subpoenaed earlier this month by state lawmakers, who asked for documents related to the lane closures. The subpoenas were all returnable Feb. 3.
- more -
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/bill-stepien-letter
Gothmog
(145,481 posts)The campaign manager for Christie is going to be spending some time in jail for contempt unless he complies with the subpoena
longship
(40,416 posts)Contempt, coming right up.
Served piping hot.
Gothmog
(145,481 posts)I skimmed the 18+ page letter raising the 5th amendment http://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/bill-stepien-letter I have not read the cases cites but I doubt that the law is clear on this issue. If it takes 18 pages to explain your position, then you know that you have some issues.
I will read the letter more carefully and may download the cases cited later this weekend. I was not impressed with the letter from what I saw. I think that the attorney for this witness is trying to make production of documents equivalent to testimony which is not normally how subpoenas work
11 Bravo
(23,926 posts)and THEN the fertilizer will hit the ventilation!
Travis_0004
(5,417 posts)See Fisher vs US.
I don't think he will win this case, and I don't think the case law in Fisher will be enough, but he is certainly allowed to request a hearing on his 5th amendment rights. I doubt the court would throw him in jail for not complying, instead they need to have a hearing on the issue to decided if he does have a 5th amendment rights to those documents, and only then should be be in contempt.
The easier solution might be to give him immunity, and force him to testify. If Christie is the target anyway, I don't see the harm if it gets more accurate information out there.
Gothmog
(145,481 posts)I need to read this case and the other cases cited. The fact that it took 18+ pages to make the case here does not impress me. If the law is clear, the lawyer would not be working to hard to make his case in this letter
WillyT
(72,631 posts)Whisp
(24,096 posts)*rubs hands together licking lips.
SomethingFishy
(4,876 posts)"I'm innocent but if I have to spill the beans it may look like I'm guilty of something else."
mstinamotorcity2
(1,451 posts)the ship hasn't started sinking yet. Soon they will do as all RATS do. Abandon ship
lindysalsagal
(20,718 posts)Laxman
(2,419 posts)from yesterday and see how bad he looks. Probably hasn't looked like this since a fraternity party at Delaware! This is a man under pressure.
http://video-embed.nj.com/services/player/bcpid1950981419001?bctid=3122792780001&bckey=AQ~~,AAAAPLMILBk~,Vn8u6tPOf8Us2eD8W1ez5Zw-Ss_6Anfe
ProSense
(116,464 posts)Thanks for the clip.