-Caveat Lector- ------- Start of forwarded message ------- From: Libertarian Party Announcements <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Fwd: LP RELEASE: Martha Stewart case Date: 2/6/2003 6:20:59 PM
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- =============================== NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100 Washington DC 20037 World Wide Web: http://www.LP.org =============================== For release: February 6, 2003 =============================== For additional information: George Getz, Press Secretary Phone: (202) 333-0008 Ext. 222 E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] =============================== Justice Department's actions in Martha Stewart case reveal double standard, Libertarians say WASHINGTON, DC – Reports that federal investigators may file criminal charges against celebrity homemaker Martha Stewart raise a troubling question, Libertarians say: Why aren't Dick Cheney and Terry McAuliffe facing criminal charges as well? After all, both the vice president and the head of the Democratic National Committee have been accused of selling millions of dollars in stock before its value plummeted and ordinary investors lost their life savings. "Is there one standard of justice for television celebrities and another for political celebrities?" asked Geoffrey Neale, national chair of the Libertarian Party. "It's fair to ask whether Cheney and McAuliffe have been given political immunity by their friends in the federal government." Sources inside the Justice Department confided to reporters on Thursday that they have "a solid criminal case against Martha Stewart," who is accused of insider trading and obstruction of justice after dumping 4,000 shares of ImClone stock last year. Stewart's action came one day before the Food and Drug Administration rejected the firm's cancer drug – an action that caused the company's stock to plummet. But the investigation of Stewart has created a troubling double standard, Libertarians point out, because politicians such as Cheney and McAuliffe have gotten rich doing the exact same thing. * Cheney, former CEO of Halliburton Co., made $18.5 million in August 2000 when he sold his shares of company stock for $52 each. Shortly thereafter, the stock plunged to $13, and many ordinary investors lost their life savings. But instead of being referred to federal prosecutors, Cheney's case was quietly referred to the Securities and Exchange Commission, where it has languished for months. * McAuliffe, chairman of the Democratic National Committee and former chief fund-raiser for President Bill Clinton, reaped an $18 million profit in 1999 on an investment of $100,000 in telecommunications company Global Crossing. Though the company has since gone bankrupt and many investors are holding worthless stock, McAuliffe has escaped a criminal inquiry. "Why isn't Martha Stewart's case sitting on a shelf right next to Cheney's over at the Securities and Exchange Commission?" Neale asked. "And why aren't federal prosecutors threatening to slap handcuffs on Cheney and McAuliffe? "The answer is obvious: The Justice Department has a habit of engaging in selective prosecution – and if you're a powerful federal official you're probably not going to be selected. "But if you're an ordinary American – or a TV celebrity who can be exploited to benefit someone's career – you'd better abide by the law or risk having your life turned upside-down by zealous federal bureaucrats." Neale emphasized that Libertarians don't know whether the specific accusations against Stewart, Cheney or McAuliffe are true – only that their cases are being handled very differently by government prosecutors. The result, he said, is that "many people will wonder if justice is a game in America – in which certain individuals can lose their freedom and others always seem to win a get-out-of-jail free card." -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBPkMUAdCSe1KnQG7RAQG8EwP/eQbJLxfsGY6ZQGSk++ 4ccvBptRFeiSAJ AWUD86ARcx6um9UeiZ+YWsRL6F8H+ 3EsBq0d/UgrNLCXUv4Cj8NMzjTkcLH5ywc2 TECETY3a80jQAVW5h+T0IGoX9E4vOfoOZIYhoa0lpJWp3+HsToYw3RtINjOCOipV R530aN8cnfU= =R9gx -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The Libertarian Party http://www.lp.org/ 2600 Virginia Ave. NW, Suite 100 voice: 202-333-0008 Washington DC 20037 fax: 202-333-0072 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- For subscription changes, please use the WWW form at: http://www.lp.org/action/email.html -------- End of forwarded message -------- Forwarded for your information. The text and intent of the article have to stand on their own merits. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe simply because it has been handed down for many genera- tions. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of teachers, elders or wise men. Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all. Then accept it and live up to it." The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sut <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
