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Dead Constitution See other Dead Constitution Articles Title: At least 8 arrested in attempt to build Phelps drug case As many as eight people have been arrested on drug charges in an effort to build a marijuana possession case against Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps, an attorney for one of the defendants confirmed this morning. Longtime Columbia attorney Dick Harpootlian said Richland County Sheriff's deputies arrested his client - whom he declined to identify -- in a raid Saturday at his Lake Murray-area home after seizing a small amount of marijuana. "He's sitting there on Saturday, and 12 cops kick in the door with guns drawn, search his house and find 5, maybe 6, grams of pot," Harpootlian said."They never asked him, 'Who sold you the pot?' ... They were asking, 'Were you at the party with Michael Phelps? Did you see him using marijuana?' It was all about Michael Phelps." Local defense attorney Joseph McCulloch also said he is representing someone in the case. Harpootlian, a former solicitor for Richland and Kershaw counties, said in his entire legal career he had "never seen a search warrant executed for simple possession of marijuana." Harpootlian said deputies arrested another person who was with his client, adding the pair were roommates at the Blossom Street home where Phelps attended a November party. As many as six other people have been charged connection with the Richland County Sheriff's Department investigation, several of whom were charged after deputies recently raided the Blossom Street home, he said. "All these people have been asked the same questions," Harpootlian said. "It's all about Michael Phelps." Phelps has publicly confirmed he was pictured holding a bong at the party, though he hasn't admitted specifically using marijuana. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott has said he would charge Phelps if there is evidence a crime was committed, though no charges have been issued. Harpootlian said his client - a 21-year-old currently on leave from USC - was with Phelps at the November party but told investigators he didn't see Phelps using marijuana. Still, deputies seized four laptop computers, a desktop computer and a computer storage drive from his client's home -- supposedly to try to find evidence against Phelps, Harpootlian said, adding they refused his request Wednesday to return the items to his client. "I don't think they had the authority to seize them to begin with," he said. Harpootlian said his client was taken to jail but was released later on a personal recognizance bond, which means he didn't have to put up any bail money. He said he is trying to get his client into a "conditional discharge" program that would allow the possession charge to be eventually dismissed, noting that in his experience, "99 percent" of first-time marijuana possession cases are handled that way. Harpootlian questioned why Lott is devoting large amount of resources on simple marijuana possession cases against his client and others to try to implicate Phelps. "This is marijuana -- 50 percent of all Americans have smoked marijuana at one time or another," Harpootlian said. "A college kid smoking pot -- I don't endorse it ... but should you be committing very important resources to it?" Lott was out of town this morning and could not be reached for comment. He previously has declined to discuss the case against Harpootlian's client with The State. "As soon as we're ready to release information on this case we will and we're still in the middle of this investigation," Lt. Chris Cowan, sheriff's department spokesman, told the Associated Press. McCulloch said his client and the roommate used to live at the house where the party that Phelps apparently attended took place, but they have since moved out of the city. Richland County deputies searched the alleged party home and then searched the room-mates' new home in Irmo and made the arrests, he said. He said his client was out of town when the swimmer visited the city and said he doubted that anything the client or his roommate — who has a different lawyer — told police would assist them in the case against Phelps. "Our clients answered questions but I don't know that their information would be helpful to law enforcement," he said. "It seems to me that Richland County has a host of its own crime problems much more serious than a kid featured in a photograph with a bong in his hand." On a "Good Morning America" broadcast this morning, McCulloch characterized the arrests as "a fascination, if not an effort, to destroy a public hero." Under South Carolina law, possession of one ounce or less of marijuana is a misdemeanor that carries a fine up to $200 and 30 days in jail for the first offense. Possession of drug paraphernalia is a $500 fine. The photo and Lott’s vow to investigate Phelps have been hotly debated in the media here and abroad. There have been op-ed columns in, among others, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and The Washington Post and on Newsweek.com, some criticizing Phelps and some, Lott. The notorious photo of the champion Olympic swimmer appears to have been taken at the house at 2201 Blossom St., where five witnesses interviewed by The State say Phelps partied. The house, which sits on a hill, has a wraparound porch that early last week was littered with pizza boxes, broken beer bottles and a keg. Pictures of scantily clad women were taped to the front door. Two security cameras guard the porch, sending a live stream to a flat-screen television just inside the front door.
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#10. To: bluegrass, *libertarians*, *LEAP* (#0)
ping
There will be a 'flurry' of these sorts of incredible diversions in the coming months as a prelude to the next big 'planned attack' to generate new 'needed legislation' in order to 'forcefully deal with the terrorists.' What could it be this time around? In case you're wondering; 'Homeland Security' has nothing to do with 'American Security' or 'National Security.' The 'Homeland' is 'Israel.'
Whenever I see "Homeland Security" I just automatically replace it with goons, Gestapo, or Vaterland Sekurity. Of course I was just a lowly PO1 so waddooIno? ;-)
The plans for Homeland Security were devised under the direction of former Secty of Defense and erstwhile poet, Bill Cohen. Here's a list of Poet Cohen's "accomplishments" per his own PR as speaker for hire - warning! warning! serious gag alert if you plan to read the cut and paste that follows: Countering Terrorism: A Voice Of Experience As the Secretary of Defense in President Clinton's administration, William S. Cohen led the Defense Department efforts to counter terrorism. During Cohen's tenure, the United States was targeted by Osama bin Laden and the Al Qaeda network in the bombing of U.S. Embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, and the attempt to destroy the U.S.S. Cole. Cohen was a key player on the national security team that decided to strike Al Qaeda camps in Afghanistan and and a chemical weapons plant in Sudan. He also ordered the vaccination of U.S. troops to protect them from Anthrax and initiated planning to protect American cities from terrorist attacks involving nuclear, chemical and biological weapons In his presentation, Secretary Cohen discusses the most critical challenges this country faces in battling terrorism on many fronts, using all means available to us: military, diplomatic, economic, and intelligence. He also addresses the need for the United States to ensure the best possible domestic defenses and responses to biological and chemical terrorist threats. While addressing the latest breaking news about the War on Terrorism, Cohen gives audiences a context for understanding why and how this country is a target for certain terrorist networks. He examines what we have done, are doing, and must do to meet the requirements these challenges pose. His perspective, gained from years of direct experience in working these difficult issues, gives audiences depth and breadth of insight far beyond what they would obtain from traditional media. Bi-Partisan Credentials: William Cohen was tapped by President Clinton to be his secretary of defense – the first time in modern U.S. history that a president appointed an elected official from the other party to his Cabinet. Under Cohen's bi-partisan leadership, the U.S. successfully conducted military operations around the world, including Bosnia/Kosovo and Iraq. Respected Thought-Leader: Cohen shares his insight into today's most vital issues: terrorism, international relations, national security, military preparedness, trade and global economics. The author of ten books ranging from non-fiction to poetry.
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