http://www.trib.com/HOMENEWS/WASH/AAClinton_Willey26.html Appeals court refuses emergency relief for Clinton By PETE YOST Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - A federal appeals court today refused to intervene in a lawsuit in which a judge found President Clinton committed a criminal violation of the Privacy Act by releasing letters of presidential accuser Kathleen Willey. The three-judge panel strongly criticized U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth's decision regarding Clinton, but the appeals judges said "we do not take seriously" arguments by the White House that the work of the president and his aides is hurt by the ruling. "The district court's observations on alleged criminal activity are entirely superfluous," but they are not binding and so there is "no basis" for the appeals court to intervene, all three appeals judges said in their ruling. "District court decisions do not establish the law of the circuit" and "the members of the White House Office are under no real threat of criminal prosecution," the appeals judges declared. The decision stated that the appeals court can deal with the issue when the lawsuit filed by a conservative group, Judicial Watch, ends. It is highly unusual for appeals courts to involve themselves in cases before they are disposed of. The 3-0 ruling was by judges Harry Edwards, a Carter appointee; David Tatel, a Clinton appointee; and Douglas Ginsburg, a Reagan appointee. The White House had argued that Lamberth's ruling would chill confidential discussions between the president and his top aides. But the appeals court said "there has been no showing of harm of the sort required to justify the drastic remedy" of stepping into the middle of an ongoing lawsuit. In a March 29 ruling, Lamberth, a Reagan appointee, found the president had the requisite intent to commit a criminal violation of the Privacy Act when he authorized the release of Willey's letters in the midst of the 1998 criminal investigation that led to Clinton's impeachment and acquittal. White House aides viewed the Willey correspondence with the president as vital to undercutting her allegation that Clinton made an unwanted sexual advance. Much of Willey's friendly correspondence with Clinton came after the alleged 1993 encounter. The lawsuit concerns the Clinton administration's alleged violation of the Privacy Act by gathering hundreds of FBI background files of former Reagan and Bush appointees. Although the case began with the FBI files issue, Lamberth gave Judicial Watch latitude to explore whether the White House routinely gathered and released damaging information about its political opponents, a decision that led to inclusion of the Willey letters even though Willey is not a party to the suit. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ . <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, misdirections 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, CTRL gives 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://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html <A HREF="http://home.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
