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The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
Kidnappings & Torture |
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January 9th,
2009 - Prosecutors Urge Release of Testimony in CIA Case |
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Prosecutors Urge
Release of Testimony in CIA Case By Matthew Barakat Associated Press January 9, 2009 Alexandria, Va. - Kyle
"Dusty" Foggo is the highest ranking officer in the history of the
CIA to be convicted of a federal crime, admitting he abused his influence to
steer contracts toward an old friend who showered him with vacations, gourmet
dinners and other gifts. But if the public knew the
full extent of his misconduct, they would be outraged, prosecutors said
Friday as they urged a judge to make public secret grand jury testimony in
the case against Foggo. Foggo was appointed in 2004
to be the agency's executive director and third-ranking officer under
then-director Porter Goss. Foggo resigned in 2006 as he came under
investigation. Prosecutor Jason Forge told
U.S. District Judge James Cacheris that the public has a right to know the
depth of Foggo's misconduct and they want the judge to consider the
transcripts during sentencing. "The public has a right
to know the circumstances of his betrayal," Forge said. "That's all
we're trying to accomplish here. A critical part of our job is to bring this
information to light." Defense attorney Mark
MacDougall said the grand jury testimony includes gossip, speculation and
leading questions. He said prosecutors were "looking to make a big
public splash" and that Cacheris can arrive at a fair sentence based on
Foggo's admitted guilt. "This court will sentence
Mr. Foggo - not the public, not the press," MacDougall said. Cacheris did not issue a
ruling during Friday's hearing. Prosecutors won't comment on
what information within the transcripts they want released. Foggo, in his plea
agreement, only admitted to a narrow set of facts revolving around his
efforts to help longtime friend Brent Wilkes obtain CIA contracts. He pleaded
guilty to wire fraud for "depriving the United States and its citizens
of their right to his honest services." Separate charges revolving
around Foggo's efforts to help a mistress gain CIA employment and assignments
that would keep her close to him - which were only vaguely outlined in one of
the indictments - were dropped as part of a plea bargain. Prosecutors agreed as part
of the plea bargain to seek a sentence no longer than three years and one
month. The case against Foggo is
connected to an investigation of former congressman Randy "Duke"
Cunningham, R-Calif., who admitted taking bribes from Wilkes. Cunningham
pleaded guilty and was sentenced to more than eight years in prison. Wilkes
was convicted and sentenced to 12 years. If the judge wants the
secret testimony to become public, MacDougall said the witnesses should be called
at next month's sentencing hearing. One of the reasons
prosecutors accepted the plea deal, Forge said, was the logistical
difficulties of coordinating testimony from CIA agents who are flung around
the world on covert missions. Copyright © 2009 The
Associated Press. External link: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hSoMDsA5PakZOd1o1yx655Egw9ngD95JR1P80 |