From Jim Gilliam's blog archives
Ashcroft to Judge: I won't do it.

July 15, 2003 9:42 AM

George Paine discusses the legal rights of Zacarias Moussaoui, the accused co-conspirator in the 9/11 attacks:


Put yourself in the accused's shoes for a moment. Imagine yourself being arrested and charged with a heinous crime - perhaps a double murder. Suppose that the State says in its indictment of you that you're a member of a satanic cult that engages in double murders as part of some ritual. They also arrest several other people and say that they're also members of the cult.

Would you not like to have other members of this "cult" testify in your defense? Perhaps you've never met them before, or perhaps you simply want them to testify that there was no murder, or that you took no part in it, or that you were never a member of their cult... Would you not be entitled to having these accused criminals testify on your behalf? Perhaps the jury wouldn't believe them, perhaps they would. Isn't it your right to try?

John Ashcroft doesn't think so. John Ashcroft thinks that he should be able to call any witnesses he likes to testify against you. But you should only be able to call witnesses to testify for you that he likes, that he approves of. Is this fair? No, of course it isn't.


Judge Brinkema ruled that Ashcroft must allow Moussaoui's witness, bin al-Shaibah, to testify. Ashcroft is refusing. Seriously.

The Attorney General of the United States of America is willfully refusing to uphold the Constitution.

More from the archive in Civil Liberties, Crime and Punishment, Terrorism.

Ashcroft to Judge: I won't do it. (07.15.2003)

Next Entry: Yellow Cake with Fleischer Frosting (07.15.2003)
Previous Entry: Just Tell the Truth (07.13.2003)

Read the 1 comments.

Matt in Chicago:

Well it's about damn time someone in the third branch of government exercise their duty to uphold the constitution... I'd like to see more judges standing up, but I think they actually have to have a case brought before them in order to pass judgement... so is it the democrats that are wimping out in the prosecution of these traitors in office?? or is it us the people?

Tue Jul 15 2003 2:35 PM


Jim Gilliam

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