GOVERNMENT COULD GRANT ASHENFELTER IMMUNITY

 

Reporter David Ashenfelter is afraid he will be indicted for writing an article about information that was criminally leaked to him.  In a filing by the Department of Justice, attorneys for the department state that the sources of the leak were unable to be identified after an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General.  It further states that the only way for us to know who the persons responsible for the leak are is through David Ashenfelter.

If the Justice Department is interested at all in justice, they could certainly put an end to this charade by granting Ashenfelter immunity.  I have a feeling Ashenfelter's attorneys might not be the only lawyers giving him advice and that this is all part of the government's defense, not necessarily Ashenfelter's.

It is interesting that Ashenfelter's attorneys keep referencing my website as if it is run by Rick Convertino when they know, as does the government, that this site is controlled solely by me.  Stop the games and give us some answers and some closure so we can go on with our lives.

Val Convertino

Glen Fine, head of the Justice Department's Public Integrity section has been named Lawyer of the Year!  I throw up a little in my mouth every time I read that.  Of course, how could anyone possibly know about the rampant misconduct and lack of integrity within the department since there is not a Public Integrity section to investigate the hypocrites within the Public Integrity section. 

When the lawsuit Rick has against the Justice Department finally goes to trial, all of the behind-the scenes political deals will be revealed. Lawyer of the year? I would laugh if my mouth were not full of vomit already.

 

Val Convertino

Editors at the Detroit Free Press approved the use of anonymous sources in the January, 2004 article that ended his career as a prosecutor.

Editors at the Detroit Free Press issued a "position statement" regarding why their reporter should not have to reveal his sources, even though the leak was criminal.

These same Editors even devoted an Editorial  to the subject. 

But despite the extensive one-sided coverage, the Editors at the Free Press have refused to print a response which clarifies the issues involved and negates their assertions.

The entire handling of this is definitely a case study in journalistic ethics and the power of the press.

Val Convertino

Yesterday I emailed an Opinion Editorial to all of the Editors at the Detroit Free Press.

On Monday, one of the paper's reporters, David Ashenfelter, refused to name the criminals who leaked information to him and Ashenfelter invoked the First and Fifth Amendments.

  The Detroit Free Press devoted several articles and even an Editorial that omitted important facts and contained misleading information.

I am waiting to hear whether or not this "unbiased" news source will print my piece.

Val Convertino

The leak of information to reporter David Ashenfelter in January 2004 was a criminal act by "anonymous" government sources.  The subsequent printing of the information caused irreperable harm to my husband's reputation and career, and risked the life of an informant who was helping our country in the war on terror.

In yesterday's newspaper, Detroit reporter David Ashenfelter's lawyer expressed his concern that if his client is forced to reveal the sources of this leak, it will be used to "further embarrass, defame and humiliate" reporter David Ashenfelter.  How so?  It isn't Ashenfelter who would be "exposed" but the individuals who leaked the information to him.