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Politech is the oldest Internet resource devoted to politics and technology. Launched in 1994 by Declan McCullagh, the mailing list has chronicled the growing intersection of culture, technology, politics, and law. Since 2000, so has the Politech web site.
U.S. District Judge Jack Tanner did not grant our motion to quash the subpoena, so I took the stand this afternoon. When I did, I confirmed that I was the author of two Wired News articles and I said I believed those articles were accurate. When the prosecution and (mainly) defense asked me other questions, each time I said I "respectfully declined" to answer that question based on my First Amendment privilege as a journalist. I did this about six times before both sides gave up and said they had no further questions. Also, Assistant U.S. Attorney Robb London asked the judge to declare me a "hostile witness," but Tanner did not rule on the government's motion. The questions I refused to answer included whether I subscribed to the cypherpunks list, whether I interviewed government agents while writing my articles, what else defendant Jim Bell told me in other conversations, and whether I knew cypherpunks co-founder Eric Hughes. I did not answer any of those questions. This morning I emailed family and some close friends with emergency contact info for my attorney, Tim Alger, in case I was held in contempt and went to jail. Some were concerned enough that they already contacted Tim, and it's heartwarming to know that you have friends who will do that for you. Thanks (you know who you are). As an aside, this is a very interesting trial. It appears to be the first time the new "interstate stalking" law will be tested in court, the first time a defendant has been prevented from viewing discovery material because he wishes to post it to the Internet, the first time the Feds appear to be using a GPS bug implanted in a defendant's car, and so on. Local journalists or interested politechnicals may want to stop by the Tacoma federal courthouse tomorrow. I'll send along a writeup of today's proceedings later on. -Declan Tacoma, Washington http://www.politechbot.com/p-01882.html http://www.politechbot.com/p-01883.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if it remains intact. To subscribe, visit http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------