Appeals Court rules against McDermott in taped call dispute

[flamingyouth]

WASHINGTON -- A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that Rep. Jim McDermott violated federal law by turning over an illegally taped telephone call to reporters nearly a decade ago.

In a 2-1 opinion, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that McDermott violated the rights of House Majority Leader John Boehner, who was heard on the 1996 call involving former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

The court ordered McDermott to pay Boehner more than $700,000 for leaking the taped conversation. The figure includes $60,000 in damages and more than $600,000 in legal costs.

McDermott, D-Wash., leaked a tape of a 1996 cell phone call involving former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to The New York Times and other news organizations.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_WA_Congressmen_Taped_Call.html

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. if only similar fines were entered against the GOP

for its theft of Dem Judicial e-mails, draft memos and position papers, for the GOP's tapping of computers, and breaking into secure records.

[Rose Siding]

2. Damn it

Poor Jim :(

He busts a Republican RED HANDED trying to subvert ethics and they make HIM the leader.

[flamingyouth]

4. I know

It sucks. :(

[suffragette]

8. Yeah, it's upside down and backwards

and slimy as hell.
They're going after Jim for this because they can't touch him in elections. We like sending him back to speak truth to their faces.

[maxsolomon]

9. i grow weary of jim mcdermott

he's my rep, but i vote for him because there is no other choice.

now the GOP has made this smear stick. he is wounded by this. he should retire & let a younger, frankly angrier voice be heard.

the washington 7th could be the first district in amurka to elect a Green.

[FloridaPat]

3. So there are some laws the repubs feel are important to enforce.

After these clowns are done, they're going to have to rewrite the Bible to change all the "hypocrites" to "mean people". The repub party has redefined the word "hypocrite" as far as I am concerned.

[KoKo]

5. Where will he get that money? Can he appeal higher?

I wish he could claim "whistle blower" status. :-(

[Ian David]

6. Don't forget Linda Tripp n/t

[Ian David]

7. How long would it take for us to raise $700,000 for McDermott?

[wicket]

10. What was discussed in the tape?

:kick: