Lawyers try to gag FBI worker over 9/11

[True_Blue]

The Bush administration will today seek to prevent a former FBI translator from providing evidence about 11 September intelligence failures to a group of relatives and survivors who have accused international banks and officials of aiding al-Qa'ida.

Sibel Edmonds was subpoenaed by a law firm representing more than 500 family members and survivors of the attacks to testify that she had seen information proving there was considerable evidence before September 2001 that al-Qa'ida was planning to strike the US with aircraft. The lawyers made their demand after reading comments Mrs Edmonds had made to The Independent.

But the US Justice Department is seeking to stop her from testifying, citing the rarely used "state secrets privilege". Today in a federal court in Washington, senior government lawyers will try to gag Mrs Edmonds, claiming that disclosure of her evidence "would cause serious damage to the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States".

Mrs Edmonds, 33, a Turkish-American who had top secret security clearance, claimed this month that while working in the FBI's Washington headquarters, she saw information proving senior officials knew of al-Qa'ida plans to attack the US with aircraft months before the strikes. She has provided sworn testimony to the independent panel appointed by President George Bush to investigate the circumstances surrounding 11 September.
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=515270

[acmavm]

1. Jeez, why don't they just hang a sign from the White House saying

"Yep, we've got plenty to hide and we're gonna do it by hook or by crook."

Shitheads need to learn that we have the right to know what the hell is going on in this country. We already know what she has to say, so let her say it in front of the 9/11 commission. It's not like the cat isn't already long out of that bag.

[Just Me]

17. More like, "Fuck the balance of powers and the constitution!!"

After all, that is what this freon neonazicon administration has done from the get go.

Maybe, we should combine our resources to compose a simple list of everything they have done via executive order (and defiance and secrecy) to destroy the balance of powers that the constitution created to protect a form of democracy (even that very delicate democratic republic)!!!

What is really weird to me is my memory of one of the first "U/Osama bin Laden" tapes that was released specifically pointing out how the laws of the US wouldn't stop him from his endeavors. My thought in response: which are at work here,...like minds or like endeavors? I can't help myself.

[dusty64]

22. Thats certainly how it

looks to any with two brain cells to rub together, unfortunately too many citizens appear not to have that many.

[nostamj]

2. message from Sibel Edmonds...

received this through Kyle Hence and the CitizensWatch maillist. I did remove her direct email address though.
===================================

Dear friends, colleagues and list members of CitizensWatch,

The following are personal notes and a call to action from whistleblower Sibel Edmonds, a former FBI translator, who believes the truth must be told--that she should be free to tell the public and the lawyers of the Motley-Rice law firm (representing thousands of victim family members) what she knows from her work for the FBI immediately after 9/11. She is now under gag order but now the FBI is seeking to prevent her from giving a deposition to Ron Motley and his legal team on Tuesday.

Based on documentation she herself reviewed, Sibel maintains the government became aware of a plot to crash planes into building in American cities. She has accused Condi Rice of lying to the American people when she denied they had uncovered any specific threats pertaining to the use of planes as missiles.

Google Sibel Edmonds and you'll find a host of stories about her case. A few of them are posted at www.911citizenswatch.org where a search of "Sibel Edmonds" will yield 18 hits. Please educate yourself on her story.

There must be transparency. Without it there is no accountability. This she said to me tonight and this I've been saying since May of 2002 when I co-founded unansweredquestions.org

She is asking for a public showing of support at the hearing on Monday.

Please come to the U.S. Dictrict Court in Washington, D.C. at 3rd St. and Constitution Avenue this coming MONDAY, April 26th Enter thru Constitution Avenue entrance and go to Judge Reggie Walton's courtroom. Proceedings BEGIN AT 11:30AM. Come earlier if you can.

The secrecy must end. What must rally and demand the truth see the light of die and keep asking "what is it they are so intent upon hiding that they would go to such lengths to silence Sibel Edmonds?"

Please join us...don't sit on the sidelines for this one...do what you can to be there and have your voice heard.

Press release to follow.

See you there!

Kyle F. Hence
9/11 CitizensWatch

-----------

Sibel Edmonds wrote:

Kyle,

I know it is a short notice, but it will be a big day. The Bureau will argue in front of the judge, try to get him to order a gag on me. Motley-Rice will try to make their case re: importance to the family members & the country.

We need to gather a large group, and have them show up in the courtroom, have them rally/kick/scream. The press will cover it, and this is our chance to wake everybody up and let them see what's happening. What can you do? I am sending e-mails to everyone I know.

Best,
Sibel

Sibel Edmonds wrote:

Kyle,

Can you be there on Monday? Can you bring INN and anybody else from the press?
It will be a hearing in front of Judge Walton, the Bureau is going to fight Motley-Rice in order to block my deposition as a witness for their case. It will be attended by the Bureau's attorneys, Motley-Rice attorneys, Mark Zaid (my attorney), myself, and the press.

Best,
Sibel

Forwarded Message:
Subj: Burnett v. Al Baraka -- subpoena for the deposition of Sibel Edmonds
Date: 4/23/04 11:13:48 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Sent from the Internet (Details)

Mr. Haefele and Mr. Zaid,

Attached are the pleadings that were filed today. You will also receive a copy of these papers by federal express. I have served all of the parties in the immediate Burnett case by federal express as well, and will serve by email all those who are on the email service list that Williams and Connolly has put together.

Judge Walton has scheduled a hearing in his courtroom for 11:30 on Monday morning, April 26, and the deposition will be stayed until after the hearing.

Vesper Mei

[belladonna]

10. Well, here's an idea

How many people showed up for the March for Women's Rights today? Imagine if even HALF of those people show up to support Sibel Edmonds. Just an idea, it's what I'd do if I'd been able to make it to the march today.

[Oilwellian]

14. Looks like Judge Walton was...

appointed by Bush. BUT, he recently upheld DC's ban on handguns.

[Democat]

3. The secret government of Bush again?

When Kerry opens the books on these crooks, can you imagine what's going to come out?

Bush better leave the country before January 2005.

[MetaTrope]

20. Come January 2005,

Bush will be safely esconced in the presidential palace in Baghdad, guarded by the best men and weapons that Blackwater and the Carlyle Group have to offer.

[Barkley]

25. From your mouth to God's ears!

[fearnobush]

4. LIHOP

Today in a federal court in Washington, senior government lawyers will try to gag Mrs Edmonds, claiming that disclosure of her evidence "would cause serious damage to the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States".

(My read: Today in a federal court in Washington, senior government lawyers will try to gag Mrs Edmonds, claiming that disclosure of her evidence "would cause serious damage to the national security of the Bush administration and futher prove that the administration knew about the attacks and did nothing to stop them.")

[goforit]

16. She just might lead us one step closer to mihop.

The old "follow the money" ploy gets them every time.

[robertpaulsen]

5. ...for if it prosper, none dare call it treason! n/t

[mulethree]

30. why to quash this

We've seen other evidence of advance warnings and specifics that should have resulted in a red alert. Perhaps Ms. Edmonds has some additional evidence on that which would go beyond whats already known. But is that reason to quash it? Is it a state secret?

Perhaps not

I suspect the state secret is more related to this stuff :

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A7829-2002Jun18¬Found=true
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/j062102.html
http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200208/081302.html
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=36492

[mulethree]

31. why to quash this

We've seen other evidence of advance warnings and specifics that should have resulted in a red alert. Perhaps Ms. Edmonds has some additional evidence on that which would go beyond whats already known. But is that reason to quash it? Is it a state secret?

Perhaps not

I suspect the state secret is more related to this stuff :

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A7...
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/j062102.html
http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200208/081302.html
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=36492

[FreakinDJ]

6. There needs to be a public outcry for this women to be heard

Enough of the Bush Lies

The people of the United States deserve full disclosure

[FreakinDJ]

7. Has the 911 commission heard Sibel Edmon's testimony ?

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JohnyCanuck]

9. But it's still true. n/t

n/t

[proud patriot]

11. <Insert Dean Scream here>

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh !

[Bluebear]

12. If this ain't a scary statement.....

"disclosure of her evidence "would cause serious damage to the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States"."

So in other words she knows truth which may cause "damage" to our interests? Or Bush's "interests"?

[Minstrel Boy]

13. You're right. They aren't denying her allegations.

They're as much as admitting them.

[goforit]

15. Where are our checks and balances NOW!!!...Congress /Supreme?

How in the hell can this murderous regime get away
with bloody murder?

[Rex]

18. LIHOP - state secrets privilege.

Drip drip drip.

[FreakinDJ]

19. The Sibel Edmond's story has got to get out to the media

This whole story reeks of Bush 911 cover up

DU needs to make it a priority to email as many members of the media with her story. If it doesn't get out now the administration is going to bury it

[nomatrix]

21. All the FBI whistleblowers

are here. Ms. Edmonds is halfway down.


http://www.whistleblowers.org/hmbdy.htm

[Minstrel Boy]

23. "Bush Will Try To Silence 911 Witness Today"

Bush Will Try To Silence 911 Witness Today
Free Press International
4.26.2004

Today in a federal court in Washington, the Bush administration will try to gag a former FBI translator, Sibel Edmonds, from providing evidence about September 11 intelligence failures to more than 500 family members and survivors of the 2001 attacks in New York and Washington. The US Justice Department is seeking to stop Mrs Edmonds from testifying, citing the rarely used state secrets privilege.

The Group of 500 have filed a 1 trillion dollar lawsuit and have accused international banks and officials of aiding al Qaeda.

Mrs Edmonds is a Turkish-American who had top secret security clearance while working for the FBI.

The Motley-Rice law firm is representing the Group Of 500.
http://www.freepressinternational.com/edmonds.9923183.html

[Doug Decker]

24. Kick

:kick:

[reprehensor]

26. Bump. n/t

[neohippie]

27. no sign of this story in US media

I don't know why I am still surprised that this story isn't making a big splash within our media.

[JohnyCanuck]

28. Here's what you can do to help Sibel Edmonds

ACTION ALERT: Urgent Call to Support 9/11 Whistleblower & Full Disclosure
from Catherine Austin Fitts

CARPE DIEM

From [e-mail]:
----------------------------------------------------------
Dear 9-11 activists and concerned citizens,

The following urgent action alert was forwarded to us from Catherine
Austin Fitts in support of former FBI translator and 9-11 whistle-blower
Sibel Edmonds, upon whom the DOJ is poised to place a gag order. There
are five recommended actions. Please take the time to read Catherine's
impassioned appeal below, and then take action today! We strongly urge
your participation. (Also, forward this email around to as many people
and lists as you can.)

For 9-11 Truth,

Emanuel Sferios
Webmaster, 9-11 Visibility Project
http://www.septembereleventh.org

-----
URGENT ACTION!

To ensure that the truth can be heard on 9-11, I need your support. On
April 9, 2004 I publicly accused National Security Advisor Condoleezza
Rice of lying under oath before the 9-11 Commission. On Monday, April
26, the Department of Justice is going to be in court trying to silence
Sibel D. Edmonds, an FBI whistle-blower who claims she has evidence
regarding those lies.

The DOJ is attempting to quash her subpoena ? and therefore her
testimony -- relating to a private lawsuit involving some 9-11 victims'
family members (details linked below). This private lawsuit could
potentially illuminate the Saudi role in and around 9-11. There is also
concern that the DOJ and Judge Reggie Walton will take action in
separate, pending litigation to subject Ms. Sibel to a gag order in the
name of "national security." Both actions include gagging information
that our government had specific warnings of the possibility of planes
being used as missiles.

Now is the time to take a stand! I cannot stress enough how CRITICAL it
is for the 9-11 Truth movement to stop the DOJ in this attempt to
silence Sibel Edmonds. Our success hinges on supporting those inside the
machinery of government who are willing to speak out. If we allow the
government to gag Sibel Edmonds, we will be sending the wrong message to
other potential truth-tellers. We need to let those on the inside know
the movement will support them if they come forward.

I personally have sat in the court room alone for nine years. No one
came. No one cared. It is a brutal and horrible experience. The DOJ
lawyers laugh. The judges laugh. My own attorneys felt the isolation.

Going to rallies and marches may be more fun, but we MUST support the
individuals who are confronting the system from the inside. We need to
march into court and say "NO! You will NOT stop the truth from coming
forward!"

Is Sibel Edmonds telling the whole truth? I have no idea. Is Sibel
Edmonds a perfect person? Probably not. But this is irrelevant. Sibel
Edmonds is taking the single most courageous act an insider could take ?
to publicly testify to the piece of the puzzle that she
knows, inside the very belly of the beast. And she is going up against
EXACTLY THE SAME PEOPLE AND NETWORKS WHO ARE DOING THIS SAME THING TO
ME.

Supporting Sibel Edmonds right now means supporting the principle of
protection for whistle-blowers, and for government transparency. We need
to stop the DOJ's efforts to terrorize the people who could bring out
the truth, whether it is Sibel, me, or anyone who promotes transparency
inside the machinery.

And it won't take much to turn the tide. The DOJ and the Courts
desperately rely upon the appearance of the rule of law. They WILL back
down if we confront them within the very court system they use to
maintain the appearance of legitimacy. Don't underestimate the power of
sunshine.

Here's what you can do to help. (Please do as many of these as you can.)

#1. COME TO COURT ON MONDAY!

If you live in the DC area, please come to support Ms. Edmonds and to
make sure the Judge and the DOJ know that the public insists on 9-11
transparency. The hearing will be held in the US District Court (3rd and
Constitution Avenue), in Judge Reggie Walton's courtroom, on Monday,
April 26, at 11:30 AM. Ms. Edmonds will be in front of the Constitution
entrance at 11:00.

DC Court with map
http://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/location.html


#2. EMAIL AND CALL THE INDIVIDUALS WHO MATTER

The Department of Justice budget is funded by the White House and the
Congress. Please email John Ashcroft and cc Bush, Cheney, Rice, Frank
Wolf (Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee), Roscoe C. Howard,
Jr. (DC US Attorney), Peter D. Keisler (Assistant Attorney General), and
Judd Greg (Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State and
the Judiciary).

Simply copy and paste the following sample text in your email, or use
your own words.

-----
Dear John Ashcroft,

I have recently learned that the department of Justice is attempting to
silence Sibel D. Edmonds, a former FBI translator who is attempting to
tell the truth about 9-11. It is outrageous that my tax dollars are
being used to prevent government transparency in what appears to be a
9-11 coverup. Does this administration have something to hide? Ms.
Edmonds and any other government employees or contractors who want to
tell the truth
have a right to do so. The public has a right to know the truth!


Sincerely,

(your name)

cc: President George Bush, Vice-President Dick Cheney, National Security
Advisor Condaleezza Rice, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Frank
Wolf, DC US Attorney Roscoe C. Howard, Jr, Assistant Attorney General
Peter D. Keisler, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State and the
Judiciary Chairman, Judd Greg
-----

EMAIL ADDRESSES

Copy and paste the following addresses into the "to"
field:

[e-mail], [e-mail],
[e-mail], [e-mail],
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]

And please copy and paste my address into the "bcc" field so I can keep
track of how many emails are sent:

[e-mail]

To email Frank Wolf, Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, use this
web-mail form:

http://www.house.gov/wolf/email.html

To email the entire House Appropriations Committee, use this web-mail
form:

http://appropriations.house.gov/index.cfm\?FuseAction=ContactInformation.Contac
tForm

PHONE NUMBERS

President George W. Bush Vice President Richard Cheney: 202-456-1111
Attorney General John Ashcroft: 202-514-2001
Assistant Attorney General Peter D Keisler: 202-514-3301
DC US Attorney Roscoe C. Howard, Jr.: 202-514-7566
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Frank Wolf: 202-225-5136

Senate Appropriations Committee: 202-224-7363
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State and the Judiciary Chairman,
Judd Greg: 202-224-3324

#3. FORWARD THIS ACTION ALERT TO OTHERS


Please post this action alert to relevant lists and forward it to ten or
more people in your network who are interested in seeing the truth
emerge on 9-11. Also, contact your local media (use a google search to
find their emails and phone numbers) and encourage them
to cover the story.

#4. THROW THESE PEOPLE OUT OF OFFICE -- VOTE WITH YOUR
ATTENTION AND MONEY

While we wait until November to vote at the pools, we can vote in the
marketplace with our media attention, bank deposits, and our purchases
and investments. When we shift our market "votes" to local banks and
local media, we break up the economic power that is running the federal
government. Shift your bank deposits from a large bank to a well managed
local credit union or community bank. Shift your media attention and
subscriptions to media that is telling the truth about 9-11 and your
local media. Let's use our consumer power to break up the banking and
corporate cartel that is running our government to stop transparency and
accountability.

#5. PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS

Our intention is for total transparency on 9-11. Keep believing and
thinking, "May it be so!"

-----
MORE INFORMATION


Documents related to the hearing on Monday
http://www.septembereleventh.org/edmonds

My public letter to Condaleezza Rice
http://www.whereisthemoney.org/hotseat/condoleezzarice.htm

Judge Reggie B. Walton overseeing the case
http://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/walton-bio.html

Alert from Citizens Watch for Monday Hearing
http://www.solariactionnetwork.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php\?t=910


Stories about Sibel D. Edmonds

Lost in Translation
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/10/25/60minutes/main526954.shtml

Statement of FBI Whistleblower Sibel D. Edmonds and her Attorneys
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/onpolitics/articles/whistleblowerpr.html

We should have had orange or red-type of alert in June or July of 2001
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/03/26/translator/index_np.html


_____________________________________________________________

We need your continued support. Please send a donation today!

Keep an eye on our web-site for imminent registration info. and complete program.

International Citizens' Inquiry Into 9/11
May 25 - 30, 2004 - Toronto, Canada

www.911inquiry.org

7B Pleasant Boulevard, Box 958
Toronto, ON., Canada M4T 1K2
ph: 1-416-963-5562
fax: [phone]
Toll Free North America 1-866-234-7438

[Generator]

29. I just want to cry, I feel like the fate of our country

is resting in this one judge's hands. The odds are slim.

We've been discussing Sibel Edmonds for awhile here. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=125x10536

She's the smoking gun that will prove this "government" we have is a farce. It's not doing anything to protect us now, it did nothing before 9/11. It's all a lie.

[mulethree]

32. why to quash this

We've seen other evidence of advance warnings and specifics that should have resulted in a red alert. Perhaps Ms. Edmonds has some additional evidence on that which would go beyond whats already known. But is that reason to quash it? Is it a state secret?

Perhaps not

I suspect the state secret is more related to this stuff :

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A7...
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/j062102.html
http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200208/081302.html
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=36492