While the Twittersphere has been abuzz with outrage over Gubernatorial Candidate Tom Corbett's use of a grand jury subpoena to unmask anonymous critics, legal experts have even graver concerns.
Questions regarding Corbett's motive still abounded, but it was his use of a grand jury for a purpose other than securing an indictment that proved even more chilling for some people. The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania further described as "completely inappropriate" a cover letter that accompanied the subpoena sent to Twitter.
The cover letter, signed by the investigating grand jury's executive secretary, asked that Twitter not reveal the existence of the subpoena.
"It's more than chilling," said Vic Walczak, the ACLU's legal director. "If I'm not a constitutional lawyer, I'm not going to say 'boo' to anybody, even though I have a right to do so."
Very few of us are constitutional lawyers - or lawyers at all, a fact that Corbett's office relies upon as it drags people before a grand jury for any reason that strikes Corbett's whim.
Most people won't ignore a subpoena. (Most people who aren't cabinet officials.) Most people assume that a subpoena from the highest-ranking law official in the state is legitimate. Most people assume the questions they're being asked in a grand jury are in the furtherance of a legitimate investigative purpose.
Investigating grand juries are for investigating crimes. The jurors, not being lawyers, may not be expected to know this. But surely the esteemed Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania may be expected to know this.
Or not: "...deputy attorneys general the ACLU talked with during the Twitter affair had a reaction of, 'We do this all the time. What's the problem?'" Walczak told the Legal Intelligencer.
We do this all the time? What's the problem?
"I hope somebody is going to look into whether this is a legitimate use of law enforcement authority," said Sam Bayard, the assistant director of the Citizen Media Law Project at Harvard Law School's Berkman Center for Internet & Society.
Bayard clearly hasn't spent much time in Pennsylvania, where journalistic curiosity and political courage are in severely short supply.
12 comments:
Or not: "...deputy attorneys general the ACLU talked with during the Twitter affair had a reaction of, 'We do this all the time. What's the problem?'" Walczak told the Legal Intelligencer.
We do this all the time? What's the problem?
"I hope somebody is going to look into whether this is a legitimate use of law enforcement authority," said Sam Bayard, the assistant director of the Citizen Media Law Project at Harvard Law School's Berkman Center for Internet & Society.
Bring in Boston Legal!.
Corbett thinks he can bypass all his abuses, it will follow him into the Governor's Mansion or if he remains the Attorney General.
Corbett is running frighten, keeping a brave face, but he knows he crossed the lines of decency, and he will pay the price for it.
Bye Bye Corby,
No One Will gonna miss you so;
Bye Bye Corby,
Why'd you have to go?
No more sunshine on the blogs,
It's followed you away anyway;
Bye Bye Corby,
It's awful hard to bear;
Bye Bye Corby
Think We'll always care,
Guess the GOP always care,
Guess We'll always care!
Bye Bye Corby
The Sheriff's taken you now
We'll try Corby
To forget some how
No more sighing
Each time you moved your lips
No more lying
When you twist those tips
Your swivel and your sway
Your super trooper takes you away
There's nothing left to say
But Corby you're a bad bat
Bye Bye Corby
Free Brett Cott, Recall, or Investigate Corby Corbett!
From the Reading Eagle:
"The Legislature is a bloated, self-serving, exclusive club made moribund by traditions that border on the corrupt.
That's not my conclusion. It's the short version of findings made by a statewide grand jury that studied our state lawmaking bodies for two years before issuing its report six days after the May 18 primary elections.
The jurors said there are too many legislators, that they are overpaid, have too many expensive perks, aren't needed on a full-time basis and spend too much money on themselves and too much time campaigning.
If expensive, wasteful Legislature traditions work and voters keep sending the same people back to the club, there probably won't be any effort to change."
Funny how The Honorable (choke) H. William DeWeese has been in office 34 long years and yet his constituents don't hold HIM accountable for the monstrosity that IS the General Assembly?
Jeez, and Cott is the one serving time? Can you say injustice?
Funny how The Honorable (choke) H. William DeWeese has been in office 34 long years and yet his constituents don't hold HIM accountable for the monstrosity that IS the General Assembly?
Anonymous said...Funny how The Honorable (choke) H. William DeWeese has been in office 34 long years and yet his constituents don't hold HIM accountable for the monstrosity that IS the General Assembly? June 2, 2010 3:47 PM
Check your facts; DeWeese was only Speaker two Years and Majority Leader 2 years.
Republicans controlled the Republican Senate and House for many years when all of these Perks were passed...All Corbett's Friends and Contributors and..... Corbett only went after Mike Veon, Bill DeWeese, and Stetler to date.
Only Republican John Perzel who refused to contribute to Corbett's Campaign was indicted on Computer Fraud not Bonusgate.
No Republican has been indicted on Bonusgate to date????
Look at the Republican Spenders and those Aides now working for Corbett, they worked on featherbedding their own pockets and then blamed the Democrats.
Finally, Corbett's Political mentor Robert Jubelier along with Republican John Perzel were the Majority Leaders in House as Speaker and Senate Pro Temp when the 2004 34% Pay raise was proposed and passed at 3:00 AM.
LOOK AT THE REPUBLICANS BEFORE YOU BLAME JUST 1 OR 2 DEMOCRATS....Corbett has had some problems investigating his own friends for over 3 years.....but no problem hiring their Aides i.e..Brian Nutt and Mike Long and taking money from them????
And Corbett sleeps at night while Brett Cott sits in Jail? Valdez is coming and Corbett will answer for his Hypocrisy, Injustice and Crimes!
The law only applies to Democrats. Republicans are above the law. Corbett demonstrates that he is above the law. There is a Republican running for the 130th Leg. District who talks all about property rights except when it comes to Democrats. His name is Maloney and he told his friends that it is okay to hunt on another person's private property WITHOUT their permission. See, the rule of law only applies to Democrats. Scum like Maloney and Corbett believe that they are above the law. Kind of reminds me of the boy Bush.
Can you spell Injustice?
C - O - R - B - E - T - T
Injustice!
Free Brett Cott!
The Count of Monte Cristo!
Where's the beef?
Mahoney is full of Baloney!
Someone has given very very very confidential financial information to someone and now must retire before they become a target of charges.
Not looking good folks, Corbett is going to play a ew round of gotcha and it ain't going to be pretty.
Life can be a bitch some days.
it happens!
It is nice to see our hopelessly corrupt republicrats making their way to their cages. The republicrat system is carefully designed to subvert our democracy. Republicrat traitors are primary terrorists and do far more damage to our country than any outsiders.
Hope Veon ges the 30 years he deserves. Then Perzel for 40 years and clown Deweese for 50 years. Then Corbett, Juby, Smith, etc.
Why can't these freeloader professional politician clowns ever get real captitalist, tax positive jobs?
Post a Comment