Leaks on steroids
Lawyers for the lead defendents in the BALCO case cry foul at the leaks emerging from the Justice Department.
The leaks accidentally on purpose indicated that Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, and Gary Sheffield were implicated as having received steroids from the lab.
The lawyers have grounds for their accusations. Ashcroft has a history of ignoring gag orders and dropping a dime on testimony given in closed court. And they have a point about why this is such a major concern for his majesty and the chief officer of his star chamber.
"'I believe Ashcroft is behind it," Ellerman said of Attorney General John Ashcroft, who held a news conference Feb. 12 to announce the indictment of the Balco officials; Greg Anderson, Bonds's personal trainer; and Remi Korchemny, a track coach. All four men have pleaded not guilty.
"'It may sound strong, but it is what it is,' Ellerman said of his accusation.
"A spokesman in the United States attorney's office in San Francisco said the department would have no comment.
"'Why is this being prosecuted the way that it is?" Holley said. 'Why was it made part of the State of the Union address?' he said, referring to President Bush's condemnation of steroid use by athletes in his speech before Congress.
"Holley also questioned why Ashcroft held a news conference in Washington when the case is being handled in San Francisco.
"And why, Holley asked, is the administration pushing for a speedy trial 'when there's an election coming up?' With 34,000 pages of discovery, or evidence, the lawyers said, a speedy trial was unlikely."
The leaks accidentally on purpose indicated that Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, and Gary Sheffield were implicated as having received steroids from the lab.
The lawyers have grounds for their accusations. Ashcroft has a history of ignoring gag orders and dropping a dime on testimony given in closed court. And they have a point about why this is such a major concern for his majesty and the chief officer of his star chamber.
"'I believe Ashcroft is behind it," Ellerman said of Attorney General John Ashcroft, who held a news conference Feb. 12 to announce the indictment of the Balco officials; Greg Anderson, Bonds's personal trainer; and Remi Korchemny, a track coach. All four men have pleaded not guilty.
"'It may sound strong, but it is what it is,' Ellerman said of his accusation.
"A spokesman in the United States attorney's office in San Francisco said the department would have no comment.
"'Why is this being prosecuted the way that it is?" Holley said. 'Why was it made part of the State of the Union address?' he said, referring to President Bush's condemnation of steroid use by athletes in his speech before Congress.
"Holley also questioned why Ashcroft held a news conference in Washington when the case is being handled in San Francisco.
"And why, Holley asked, is the administration pushing for a speedy trial 'when there's an election coming up?' With 34,000 pages of discovery, or evidence, the lawyers said, a speedy trial was unlikely."
posted by John at 6:48 PM
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