Please send as far and wide as possible. Thanks, Robert Sterling Editor, The Konformist http://www.konformist.com http://www.konformist.com/page1.htm http://www.konformist.com/1999/tailwind.htm Saturday, June 26, 1999 10:18:46 PM From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For Immediate Release Contact: April Oliver (202) 362-1893 TAILWIND PRODUCER REVEALS NEW INFORMATION Washington -- Tailwind producer April Oliver filed an amended lawsuit against her former employer, CNN, this afternoon, charging fraud, intentional interference with business relations and defamation. The nearly 80 page document contains new details about the controversial Tailwind report on nerve gas use during a 1970 mission to kill defectors. She references documents that reinforce that the Tailwind report was properly sourced, and the internal CNN investigation, which resulted in her dismissal, was a fraud. Among other things, her new complaint states that: * During the controversy last June, Henry Kissinger provided CNN management with an internal memo that indicated that the Tailwind target was a North Vietnamese prison camp. This information was consistent with CNN's assertion that wiping out American defectors was the mission's central aim. Kissinger privately has accused the Tailwind producer of "blackmail" in her attempts to obtain an interview with him. Kissinger declined all efforts by CNN to interview him, and has not, to Oliver's knowledge, publicly commented on the report. The Pentagon insists the Tailwind mission was merely a diversionary action to blow up a bridge. * CNN General Counsel David Kohler has covered up his role in the Tailwind report's editorial decision-making. Kohler was co-author, with attorney Floyd Abrams, of the supposedly independent report that argued the Tailwind story was insufficiently sourced. The Abrams/Kohler review resulted in CNN's retraction of the story, and the firing of Ms. Oliver. Yet Kohler did not disclose that he himself had made and approved many of the editorial decisions he later attributes directly to Oliver, and which the Abrams/Kohler report criticized. Specifically, David Kohler reviewed and approved the language describing Admiral Thomas Moorer as a confirming source, as revealed in a June 16 memo authored by David Kohler describing his direct editorial input. Kohler also was a lead contributor to the June 14th Tailwind report. * CNN willfully disclosed the names of confidential sources and other confidential information, in the report authored by Abrams and Kohler last July. At least two Tailwind sources who were explicitly promised their identities would be protected were named in the Abrams/Kohler report. Oliver warned Kohler (and CNN) not to release this information, but CNN decided to publicize the report to the press corps anyway. The lawsuit details other evidence that CNN management is engaged in a cover-up regarding the editorial oversight and managerial decisions related to the Tailwind report. It offers evidence of a panic attack in the CNN executive suite over the controversy, and describes pressure tactics used by veterans to encourage CNN to retract the Tailwind story. Oliver charges she was scapegoated by CNN to please the military. She is seeking $7 million in compensatory and $100 million in punitive damages. Ms. Oliver is represented by new attorneys, Roger Simmons and Charles Schneider. If you are interested in a free subscription to The Konformist Newswire, please visit http://www.eGroups.com/list/konformist/ and sign up. Or, e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject: "I NEED 2 KONFORM!!!" (Okay, you can use something else, but it's a kool catch phrase.) Visit the Klub Konformist at Yahoo!: http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/klubkonformist ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Listen to Britany spears and more top artisits now at audiohighway.com! http://clickhere.egroups.com/click/395 eGroups.com home: http://www.egroups.com/group/konformist http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communications
