UPDATE: Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Saunders gave a statement to the media this AM trying to extricate himself from a sticky snafu: why he told federal court yesterday that Bert Fields was taking the Fifth Amendment if called to testify, and why Fields himself told me yesterday he wasn't taking the Fifth and is willing to testify (see my previous, EXCLUSIVE! BERT FIELDS WILL TESTIFY (...And Won't Take The Fifth):
"I was advised by Mr. Fields' personal counsel Mr. John Keker that he [Fields] would be invoking the Fifth Amendment. We since have been informed by Mr. Fields's firm's general counsel that he will not invoke the Fifth and that Mr. Keker is no longer representing Mr. Fields. We have not decided if we will or will not call Mr. Fields. It will depend on the testimony of a couple of witnesses next week."
Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown.
…and let the cover-up begin!
Comment by Anonymous — March 26, 2008 @ 9:35 am
So Fields fired the best trial lawyer in the country, John Keker. Obviously, Keker feels strongly that Fields should take the Fifth and Fields is going to ignore his own counsel’s advise.
Comment by Richard — March 26, 2008 @ 9:48 am
In California, without a warrant signed by a judge, it is crime to record a conversation without the consent of all parties. On the phone or in person, it doesn’t matter, it’s the same crime. For example, using a hidden tape recorder or video camera, is the same crime.
Some will say it is okay if there is no expectation of privacy. This is false. Some will say you can record, but you can’t use the tapes in court. This is false. Without consent of all parties it is a crime.
Here is the statute: http://www.rcfp.org/taping/states/california.html
Comment by BenFranklin — March 26, 2008 @ 11:54 am