James O’Keefe phone interference case will be resolved with a very stern talking to--Frum

[Pryderi]

http://www.frumforum.com/the-james-okeefe-arrest

I’m going to go out on a limb here and predict: the James O’Keefe/Landrieu phone interference case will be resolved with a very stern talking to by a judge, no criminal record, and 100 hours of community service each for the four arrested young people. Which seems about right. After which … you know there really IS a case for aspiring journalists going to journalism school!
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Yeah, because good news people commit felonies.

[Joanne98]

1. NOT

[lame54]

2. O'Keefe videotaped it...

they're screwed

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Does Sen. Mary Landrieu have anything to say about this "penalty"?

[WeDidIt]

4. Can't let O'Keefe walk and give Flanagan cover at the same time.

Nope, conflict of interest if all of them walk.

They ahve to have Flanagan singing on his friens so he can walk and his friends go to prison or else it's a quid pro quo from one U.S. Attorney to another.

[thunder rising]

5. But this will fall under the "we are looking ahead" policy where only Dems go to jail.

[Cass]

6. I doubt it. They committed serious crimes.

They got caught trying to bug a Senator's phones which is political espionage. To let them walk with a stern talking-to doesn't seem plausible.

[csziggy]

14. It went past polictical espionage since they were not bugging her campaign office

Once they attempted to bug the federal office of a US Senator who sits on major committees that affect US international security, it should have become of interest to the Homeland Security people. Landrieu is Chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Disaster Recovery Subcommittee. She is Chair of the Committee on Small Business. She is also on the Appropriations Committee and the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

If these fools thought they were just dabbling in minor political espionage, they are too stupid to function in society - and I do not believe that. They may try to spin it as "youthful hi-jinks" but I will never believe it.

[Cass]

16. Very good point about how serious this is. You're right, it is bigger than political espionage.

I can't imagine this being swept under the rug by authorities.

I am wondering where they got the equipment and if anyone else is involved, particularly in a funding capacity.

[Renew Deal]

7. You don't need "journalism school" to know that you can't bug a Senators phone

:shrug:

[libodem]

8. What?

No slap on the wrist?

[DefenseLawyer]

9. This is federal district court, not misdemeanor night court

There is no "diversion" program or a provision in the sentencing guidelines for a stern talking to in lieu of prosecution. Either the U.S. Attorney goes forward with a case or he doesn't.

[wroberts189]

15. thx for that info.. I fear as well they will walk. nt

[peacetalksforall]

10. Please use quote marks.

[peacetalksforall]

11. Hey Frum - the FBI arrested them, not the local policemen or building security agents.

[BurtWorm]

12. Conservative ratfucking boys will be consevative ratfucking boys.

:eyes:

[peacetalksforall]

13. Everyday there is more proof of the arrogance of the Republicans. If it had only.

been limited to the stealing of our votes or bombing the hell out of Iraq and torturing, but it applies at all levels - Beck Bachmann Coulter Rumsfeld Cheney Franklin Scalia Roberts-Alito Roger the Stone Jean Schmidt - the arrogance has no limit or end.

[pnorman]

17. In the "Reader Comments", there is mention of that notorious ACORN tape had been heavily edited..

That extended to INSERTING "dialog". If that was so, the evidence value of that video would be LESS than zero! That's the first I had heard of that, and I'll try to Google it for details. Any help in that would be greatly appreciated.

[WhiteTara]

18. that's how I got all my stories!

I mean who would investigate when you can just steal.