Coburn: 'I will never reveal' what I told Ensign

[Lone_Star_Dem]

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Sen. Tom Coburn — who confronted fellow Sen. John Ensign in an effort to convince him to end an extramarital affair — denied allegations Thursday he'd suggested Ensign pay off the husband of the woman he was having an affair with, telling reporters on Capitol Hill that he would not berevealing the content of his conversations with the Nevada senator:

<snip>

Reporter: You were there?

Coburn: Sure.

Reporter: Is that the first time you learned about it?

Coburn: I'm not going to talk about that. I'm just telling you I was there.

Reporter: And you won't say what you told him?

Coburn: No, and I never will. Not to a court of law, not to the ethics committee, to anybody. Because that is privileged communication that I will never reveal to anybody.

On edit:
I forgot the link.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/07/09/coburn-i-will-never-reveal-what-i-told-ensign/

[global1]

1. Aiding & Abetting.......

an accessory to a crime. Put his ass in jail too.

[MADem]

2. What, he's a priest, now? Taking confession? nt

[annabanana]

10. My thought exactly. .What the hell goes ON over there at "C-Street"??

Sounds like a cult to me.

[MNDemNY]

3. Are they married?

[closeupready]

13. lol

:rofl: Sounds like it, huh?

[Horse with no Name]

4. Soooo...I am guessing that Coburn was treating Ensign

for STD's or something of that nature?
Because truly as his physician, he wouldn't have to reveal his conversations.
Does Coburn have a license to practice medicine in DC?
Interesting that as a representative of law, he feels he doesn't have to reveal information to a court of law or Congress.

[chat_noir]

9. Isn't Coburn an OB/GYN?

[daninthemoon]

11. Interesting notion. what else could it be?

[WeDidIt]

5. OOOOOH, he's gonna be subpoenaed for that one!

He CANNOT refuse to say wht he told Ensign in a court of law. It's NOT privelaged.

[Life Long Dem]

6. A judge may not be able to order Coburn to answer.

Then if he makes him answer and he doesn't it would be contempt of court. I don't if there is a maximum sentence or a fine like criminal sentences for misdemeanors or fines but... I always wondered if someone just took the contempt of court and took the max would it be worth it?

[Are_grits_groceries]

8. If a judge holds you in contempt,

you can be put in jail for quite a while. Ask Barry Bond's trainer - Greg Anderson.

[Life Long Dem]

12. I just looked at Bond's timeline, and he seems to have this covered.

Tells you how much I've been following baseball.

[Mojambo]

7. That's a great way to ensure that the press NEVER stops asking. n/t

[Lone_Star_Dem]

16. This was my exact thoughts

The media will gnaw on him over this like a dog with a juicy bone. :D

[Still Sensible]

14. Wonder what gynecological condition he was treating

Ensign for. Legally speaking that is the only "privilege" Coburn could evoke, I believe. But really doesn't matter a whole lot... here in Oklahoma Coburn won't have to pay a price, too many fundies that will support him no matter what.

[Sydnie]

15. "Well John, when it happened to me ...."

Maybe that's why he won't tell what he said!

Unless he was treating him for a medical condition (is moronic asshole an official medical diagnosis for such cases?) or his lawyer, his priest, or his wife, I don't know how Coburn can get away with saying that he won't answer in court or to an ethics committee probe.

No legal leg to stand on with that one. I never heard of a "I told him that as a friend or colleague and therefor it's privileged" defense before.