Judge orders Ashcroft to explain his actions [View All]

[truthisfreedom]

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/news-6/1062665341249911.xml

Judge orders Ashcroft to explain his actions

The Associated Press
9/4/2003, 4:41 a.m. ET


DETROIT (AP) — Attorney General John Ashcroft has two weeks to explain why he should not be required to appear in court to tell why he violated a judge's gag order by commenting during this year's terrorism trial.

U.S. District Judge Gerald Rosen issued the 14-day directive on Friday in response to a motion filed by lawyers for three men who were convicted in June after the trial, the Detroit Free Press reported in a Thursday story.

The lawyers said Ashcroft's comments jeopardized their clients' fair trial rights.

A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment Wednesday on Rosen's 14-day directive.

Ashcroft is accused of violating Rosen's court order when he praised government informant Youssef Hmimssa during an April 17 news conference.

At the news conference, Ashcroft called Youssef Hmimssa's cooperation "a critical tool" in efforts to combat terrorism.

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