Follow the Sandy Berger Model
Jim, Jim, Jim. If you wanted to leak classified or private material, all you had to do was wear pants a couple of sizes too big.
“Is that a leaked transcript in your pocket, or…?”
House Minority Leader John Boehner was awarded more than $1 million in legal fees Tuesday in perhaps the concluding chapter of his politically charged lawsuit against Democratic Rep. James McDermott.
The case dealt with an illegally intercepted phone call in 1996 involving Boehner that later was handed over to McDermott, who then leaked it to two newspapers.
…
“Congressman McDermott broke the law, and as a result, he shattered the bonds of trust between our institution and the men and women we represent in the halls of Congress,” said Boehner in a statement Tuesday.
“I remained committed to this case in order to begin restoring those bonds, and to uphold the belief that no one — including members of Congress — is above the law.”
In a statement after the judge’s decision, McDermott said the legal fight was worth it and that the judgment against him was “a small price to pay in defense of so fundamental a principle, and freedom, as the First Amendment.” He added, “I am proud of my role in defense of the First Amendment.”
Feh. Leaking a private phone call to embarrass a political adversary is hardly Sullivan v Times.
More like Hustler v Falwell.
Given his recent outing as a stooge for Saddam, Michelle’s comment, “Yeah, a real patriot. But for which country?” is entirely appropriate.