Virginia Wiretap Case Brings Down GOP Leaders

[VTGold]

Nixon - where fore art thou Nixon....

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45155-2004Dec7.html

Glee Over Eavesdropping Soon Turned to Fright
Transcripts Illuminate Va. Wiretap Case That Brought Down GOP Leaders

By Michael D. Shear and Chris L. Jenkins
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, December 8, 2004; Page B01

RICHMOND, Dec. 7 -- The door to Edmund A. Matricardi's office at the Republican Party of Virginia was shut. One of the small tape recorders on his desk was running. And his speakerphone was filling the room with a politically tantalizing argument between Democratic lawmakers and the state's Democratic governor, Mark R. Warner.

Over the next three days, the 33-year-old executive director of the state party shared the fruits of his eavesdropping with some of Virginia's most powerful Republicans. "You wouldn't believe what I just did. You wouldn't believe what I just heard," he told one, according to sworn testimony he later gave in a federal lawsuit.

Edmund A. Matricardi shared tapes of Virginia Democratic leaders with Republicans.

In fact, what Matricardi had done was a federal crime, a felony. For more than 2 1/2 hours on March 22, 2002, and again during another conference call three days later, Matricardi violated wiretapping laws.

[opihimoimoi]

1. He will get away without serving even one second in jail

[Nay]

4. Probably true. I live in VA, and this is not being treated very

seriously. I expect he will get a fine and probation, and he will be promoted in his present job.

[Helga Scow Stern]

2. Nice to know they can still get in trouble. n/t

[VTGold]

3. That's true - I didn't think of that :) n/t

[Hamoth]

5. we hsould make this a bigger stink.

Frist got away with hacking all over the place, with Dem's files on his personal comuter (siezed by the FBI). Firing this up gives us an inroad to get Frist as well.

[marions ghost]

6. Yes, don't take this lightly....

Right, documented R dirty tricks and dishonesty at any level should be addressed. Dems are TOO nice. We should not be putting up with utter disregard for morality and law at our expense.
Up the penalties for this abuse of power. Look at what it's done to the election system.

I take heart from the Positives--at least this was exposed and reported!
The reason they always get by is nobody 'seems' to care even if it is reported.
Citizens groups could collect documented "sleeze in gov't" incidents nationwide--tally them by year and make lists to put online and send to people. Just like we have done for collection of voting incidents.

If the states don't care and the courts don't care, the people should especially care....the system is not working in our favor. Call for tougher laws and more responsible gov't, a higher standard of ethics from the local to the federal.
Don't accept 'that's always how it goes..." Defeatist thinking.

Immediate action: Give the Wash Post a positive email for this story.

[StephanieMarie]

7. I'm also emailing it...

from their site to friends to that it rises in their statistics.

[Karenca]

8. Thanks WASH. POST...You deserve a thank you letter for

reporting this story.