U.S. Attorney Recuses Himself from O’Keefe Case; Updated with Video of O’Keefe on Hannity
posted at 10:04 pm on February 1, 2010 by Patterico
FoxNews.com reports:
The same day the man who first published James O’Keefe’s explosive videos exposing wrongdoing at community organizer ACORN came to his defense Monday, claiming the conservative filmmaker “sat in jail for 28 hours without access to an attorney” while the prosecutor made his case to the media, the U.S. attorney involved stepped down.
O’Keefe, accused of trying to tamper with the phones of Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu, was “framed” by the media and the U.S. attorney’s office, Andrew Breitbart, publisher of BigGovernment.com, told Fox News Monday.
Hours later, Jim Letten, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, recused himself from the case.
No word yet on the reason for the recusal.
Meanwhile, O’Keefe made his first public appearance since his arrest, on tonight’s episode of Hannity. He expressed “no complaints” regarding the U.S. Attorney’s handling of the case, and added nothing particularly new concerning the details of the arrest.
Video will be added as it becomes available.
Update: Media Matters has video of O’Keefe saying that he thinks the whole episode was a “huge misunderstanding”:
Update: The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that the recusal happened last week, a day after the arrest:
According to a brief news release sent to reporters on Monday evening, Letten decided to recuse himself from the investigation and “potential prosecution” of the men because of “various relevant factors.” These factors, which the release stated were discussed with officials at the U.S. Department of Justice, are not named.
The recusal decision came the day after the men were arrested last week and the same day they were released from custody, according to the news release.
One wonders why they waited so long to announce it. The press release is still not available on the Web site of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Louisiana’s Eastern District.
Blowback
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Page 1
Electrongod on February 1, 2010 at 10:05 PM
Heh.
Vashta.Nerada on February 1, 2010 at 10:06 PM
Hey, who knew you had to give a conservative filmmaker the same rights given to an al Qaeda operative?
amerpundit on February 1, 2010 at 10:08 PM
Recusal is another word for “I screwed up and tried to make a big deal out of nothing”.
Electrongod on February 1, 2010 at 10:08 PM
The trolls will be here any minute…….
Vashta.Nerada on February 1, 2010 at 10:09 PM
Maybe Rathke and Burfa and Stern want this US Attorney to do stuff which he does not want to do…anymore
macncheez on February 1, 2010 at 10:10 PM
How soon before all charges are dropped? Someone screwed up and now wants this story to go away.
Knucklehead on February 1, 2010 at 10:11 PM
Looks like Breitbart and O’Keefe may have the MSM by the short and curlies?
still begs the question, are we going to see any new Hannah Giles video????
the peeps wanna know.
ted c on February 1, 2010 at 10:12 PM
It’s more likely that big trouble lies ahead for a case and prosecutor where the defendant was denied legal representation for over a day.
amerpundit on February 1, 2010 at 10:12 PM
I am hoping they did this at other democrat senators’ offices.
SouthernGent on February 1, 2010 at 10:12 PM
We give up too easily. Don’t give up now. It’s not enough if they merely let James go. We have to investigate how they framed this person for ideological reasons. Maybe a powerful Dem senator was behind this frame up.
promachus on February 1, 2010 at 10:12 PM
tru dat.
ted c on February 1, 2010 at 10:13 PM
Exactly!
Electrongod on February 1, 2010 at 10:13 PM
Vashta.Nerada on February 1, 2010 at 10:13 PM
I think the counterattack by Breitbart and Co. is going to be forcing major retractions/corrections all across hell and back. They may have set these guys up and are now going to get some righteous payback. O’Keefe tonight indicated “journalistic malpractice” and, I ain’t be no journalist, but can somebuddy get sued for dat?
ted c on February 1, 2010 at 10:15 PM
Has anyone considered the possibility that it wasn’t O’Keefe being set up…but that he was doing the setting up?
:)
rvastar on February 1, 2010 at 10:16 PM
Almost as if the media and Justice Department were set up.
Paul Newman, Sally Field, “Absence of Malice”
InterestedObserver on February 1, 2010 at 10:17 PM
The U.S. Attorney just said, My name’s Bennett and I ain’t in it.
kingsjester on February 1, 2010 at 10:17 PM
ohhhhhyeahhhhh, now we’re talkin….. yeah. a conspiracy–sounds perfectly delicious and scandalous. I wonder what kind of dirt he dug up this time.
ted c on February 1, 2010 at 10:19 PM
28 hours?
Eunuchbomber was all lawyered up in what, less than an hour. What’s up with American kids these days?
No wonder.
roscopico on February 1, 2010 at 10:19 PM
You know Eric Holder will stay clear of this case. It’s a trap. Sweet.
Electrongod on February 1, 2010 at 10:19 PM
He’s such a great guy.
happyfeet on February 1, 2010 at 10:20 PM
I think the NYT ran an above-the-fold A1 story about these guys in jumpsuits and the “wiretap.”
If it is a setup, it’ll be like effing gold, a reverse Blagojevich, where’s my damn popcorn and new hotair hat that ed and AP better be stitchin’ me right now…
ted c on February 1, 2010 at 10:21 PM
unconventional journalism. Breitbart is the Charlie Beckwith of modern journalists.
good on him.
ted c on February 1, 2010 at 10:22 PM
Sumpin stinks!!
canopfor on February 1, 2010 at 10:22 PM
He’s such a great guy.
happyfeet on February 1, 2010 at 10:20 PM
Who, Obama? Wrong Thread, Skippy. You’d better hurry. Look. Somebody’s trying to cross your bridge.
kingsjester on February 1, 2010 at 10:22 PM
Speakin’ of scandals and phones, ain’t Blago’s day in court about to start sometime?
ted c on February 1, 2010 at 10:22 PM
+2 heheheh!
ted c on February 1, 2010 at 10:23 PM
By the end of the week the US Attorney’s Office will issue the following statement from an employee by the name of Roseanne Roseannadanna – “Never Mind”.
GarandFan on February 1, 2010 at 10:24 PM
Maybe he didn’t want to become the next Mike Nifong. Or maybe he is just a friend of the attorney father of one of O’Keefe’s crew.
MB4 on February 1, 2010 at 10:24 PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Letten
canopfor on February 1, 2010 at 10:24 PM
Where is Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein when you need them…
Oh, wait!
Seven Percent Solution on February 1, 2010 at 10:25 PM
You wonder what these morons are thinking when they jump the gun and come to ridiculous conclusions that are going to be knocked down in due course.
Mow-rons.
JeffinOrlando on February 1, 2010 at 10:25 PM
Do you find the concept of decency “nauseating”?
Juno77 on February 1, 2010 at 10:25 PM
Letten in an awesome guy, personally and professionally.
exception on February 1, 2010 at 10:25 PM
but, did the incident start with an innocuous knock on the door followed by, “Telegram…” “Candygram…”…ummmm “Land Shark!”
ted c on February 1, 2010 at 10:25 PM
The former attorney general of Durham NC…emphasis on “former”
ted c on February 1, 2010 at 10:26 PM
There must be some history between this US attorney and the various orgs that were located in the converted funeral home in NOLA nad Landreiu . It needs to be exposed. There is one person who can do that..
macncheez on February 1, 2010 at 10:26 PM
The intent,is seeking the truth!!
Good enough for me,next!!
canopfor on February 1, 2010 at 10:27 PM
The likely reason for Jim Letten’s recusal is conflict of interest. One of the accused, Robert Flanagan, is the son of William Flanagan, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
The elder Flanagan’s replacement has been nominated, but it’s being held up by Sen. Vitter, who wants assurances that Letten won’t be replaced, as well. It’s a pretty convuluted situation, but ethically, recusal is probably the right decision.
I wouldn’t say that it has anything to do with the strength of the case.
cy13 on February 1, 2010 at 10:27 PM
Did you happen to see Bernie Goldberg on BOR tonight? If not try and catch the rerun. He was outraged at the way the New York Times was all over this, including putting it on the front page along with the mug shots……………
……..after totally ignoring all of the good work this kid did with the ACORN video’s, which the Time’s ignored.
Knucklehead on February 1, 2010 at 10:27 PM
May take them a while-too many talking points to spin all at once. They will overload like the android robot Norman in the classic Harry Mudd Star Trek episode.
BTW-Is David Shoestring of MSDNC still down there in the Large Easy, or did he follow the Saints to Florida?
Del Dolemonte on February 1, 2010 at 10:27 PM
That’s not what I meant. What if his intention was to bait the Leftist “news” media into brazenly displaying their bias in a way that there’s no talking around?
O’Keefe exposes ACORN for the Leftist criminal racket that it is. US news media’s response? “Yawn.” O’Keefe gets arrested trying to pull another undercover sting. The next day, it’s on every network, and has now made it to the front page of the NYT.
IOW: if O’Keefe’s ACORN sting was no big deal, then why is the arrest of a guy who’s only claim to fame is “no big deal” such a big deal?
They’re caught and there’s no way out.
:)
rvastar on February 1, 2010 at 10:27 PM
\”Ohhhhhh Boooooy\” ALLAH-P. Next time you want to throw the book at the good guy, at least wait for the facts to come out.
leftnomore on February 1, 2010 at 10:27 PM
Recusal? What’s the back story? Do I sense a problem with the law and Bar?
Mason on February 1, 2010 at 10:29 PM
no, I didn’t catch it. I boycotted BORe tonight and am hittin the hay soon. I boycott him when his sycophancy gets the better of him. I’m glad Bernie called them out on this. I really think Breitbart is launching deep attacks into the MSM, they won’t even know what’s hitting them. If they can be sued for slander or defamation or something, then the big nails are coming out for the ol’ pine box for the NYT.
ted c on February 1, 2010 at 10:29 PM
I’m sure O’Keefe’s picture will be posted at every demrat office in the country now. Too bad, but that leaves him free to visit McShamnesty, Grahmnesty’s and other Progressive reps offices next time the illegal immigration and cap and trade issues come up.
csdeven on February 1, 2010 at 10:30 PM
Take this whole O’Keefe issue and the MSM’s quick reporting of assumptions as a prelude to the upcoming KSM and Pantybomber trials.
Electrongod on February 1, 2010 at 10:31 PM
Translation: simplesimon activated a sleeper user name?
Del Dolemonte on February 1, 2010 at 10:31 PM
rvastar on February 1, 2010 at 10:27 PM
dude, you’re on it. that’s probably what their up to. That kid seems like he’s redefining journalism on his terms. If what you say is true, then this kid, and breitbart, have cajones of stone.
ted c on February 1, 2010 at 10:31 PM
So true, so true … some people are now beginning to squirm.
Your statement had me LMAO.
ORrighty on February 1, 2010 at 10:34 PM
No more raped in prison jokes from liberal morons now? Darnit! It’s good seeing them get their hopes up though. O’Keefe will go right back to exposing corrupt Democrats and Democrat organizations. :-)
Narutoboy on February 1, 2010 at 10:36 PM
ORrighty on February 1, 2010 at 10:34 PM
Cheers!
ted c on February 1, 2010 at 10:37 PM
Wow!
I’m sure MS-NBC’s David Shuster will scream at this injustice, no? How ’bout the New York Times? Lame. Stream. Media.
TN Mom on February 1, 2010 at 10:40 PM
Can this be thrown out since he didn’t get a lawyer right away?
The Notorious G.O.P on February 1, 2010 at 10:41 PM
I imagine Mary Landrieu would like this story to go away, if for no other reason than that James O’Keefe is much prettier than she is.
Kralizec on February 1, 2010 at 10:41 PM
One little 3rd rate Troll shows up? Where are all the “brave” Trolls now? LOL. Classic.
kingsjester on February 1, 2010 at 10:43 PM
Oh My! Thanks man … that was good.
ORrighty on February 1, 2010 at 10:44 PM
If they plan on sending out Most Wanted posters at Democrat senators’ offices, will they use the pimp suit photo?
leftnomore on February 1, 2010 at 10:44 PM
This whole issue could have been handled much better if O’Keefe would have had 80 grams of a power in is shorts and a condom with an unknown liquid in it.
Electrongod on February 1, 2010 at 10:44 PM
Hell, UFA about blew up an airliner and he gots him a certified ACLU attorney like toot sweet after less than a wee little hour of talkie talk over his smoldering junkie junk.
ted c on February 1, 2010 at 10:44 PM
I think the counterattack by Breitbart and Co. is going to be forcing major retractions/corrections all across hell and back. They may have set these guys up and are now going to get some righteous payback. O’Keefe tonight indicated “journalistic malpractice” and, I ain’t be no journalist, but can somebuddy get sued for dat?
ted c on February 1, 2010 at 10:15 PM
I think that there is definately for the grounds for bringing a slander/libel case. If this doesn’t meet those standards I can’t imagine what does.
Archimedes on February 1, 2010 at 10:45 PM
Need new keyboard.
Electrongod on February 1, 2010 at 10:45 PM
Grammy tired of them staying up all night and cut the power to the cellar.
CWforFreedom on February 1, 2010 at 10:46 PM
yeah, that stuff. I don’t know what that be but it sounds like it might cost the NYT and a few others a whole lot of $$cha cha ching$$.
ted c on February 1, 2010 at 10:47 PM
alrighty peeps, tappin’ out ova heah. peace. tomorrow. kick it. *fist bumps*
ted c on February 1, 2010 at 10:48 PM
But…but…but I thought this was “Watergate Jr”?
You’re on to something. This is Breitbart’s MO. He’s declared war on the MSM, and said today (as he has in the past), they “can’t help themselves”, i.e., they will go after any lead that suggests a scandal and without any evidence convict the conservative. Just look at the string of false and even lunatic extrapolations this one story has incited. “They can’t help themselves.” Breitbart could be helping them destroy themselves. As he implies, it’s ridiculously easy once you know the formula.
rrpjr on February 1, 2010 at 10:48 PM
alrighty peeps, tappin’ out ova heah. peace. tomorrow. kick it. *fist bumps*
ted c on February 1, 2010 at 10:48 PM
Word. Peace out.
kingsjester on February 1, 2010 at 10:49 PM
In my local paper the arrest was the first mention of anything about ACORN. Just a little side bit of red meat.
jukin on February 1, 2010 at 10:49 PM
The pantybomber gets 50 minute interrogation and a lawyer.
James get 28 hour interrogation and no lawyer?
WTF??!!!??
elclynn on February 1, 2010 at 10:51 PM
From the comments at Free Republic:
Apparently the Bush appointed Letten is being appointed to the Attorney General’s Advisory Board…
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/02/sen_david_vitter_to_lift_holds.html
Whippet on February 1, 2010 at 10:53 PM
alrighty peeps, tappin’ out ova heah. peace. tomorrow. kick it. *fist bumps*
ted c on February 1, 2010 at 10:48 PM
ted c;Catch you on zee flip side:)
canopfor on February 1, 2010 at 10:54 PM
Someone made great point that is a coup de grace for na RNC commercial.
Industrious journalism student, an American citizen, seeking to uncover Gov’t malfeasance goes 28hrs w/out due process.
Foreign Jihadi seeking to take the lives of 300+ American citizens, full American rights & due process and being offered immunity deals in less than 1hr!
Archimedes on February 1, 2010 at 10:56 PM
yes, that would be Attorney General Eric Holder…coincidence or planned?
Whippet on February 1, 2010 at 11:00 PM
One thing for sure BigJournalism has loads of requests for retractions from the media. Names them all on the web site. The list seems huge and grows each day.
elclynn on February 1, 2010 at 11:00 PM
How long did it take the underwear bomber to get an attorney?
Vincenzo on February 1, 2010 at 11:02 PM
oh no… what the hell will Olbermann and Maddow talk about now??
D2Boston on February 1, 2010 at 11:03 PM
happyfeet isn’t a troll if it is the same happyfeet that posts at Proteinwisdom. Hold your friendly fire.
DWB on February 1, 2010 at 11:03 PM
Someone made great point that is a coup de grace for na RNC commercial.
Industrious journalism student, an American citizen, seeking to uncover Gov’t malfeasance goes 28hrs w/out due process.
Foreign Jihadi seeking to take the lives of 300+ American citizens, full American rights & due process and being offered immunity deals in less than 1hr!
Archimedes on February 1, 2010 at 10:56 PM
Archimedes: Either an RNC ad,or a movie,great point and
idea!:)
canopfor on February 1, 2010 at 11:04 PM
Forget it. They’re too stupid to figure it out and/or timid to try it.
rrpjr on February 1, 2010 at 11:06 PM
That’s what I’ve been wandering. Isn’t that a violation of his Constitutional rights? If so, then the case is thrown out. And the media have major egg on their faces.
You know, after the false quotes attributed to Rush and now this episode with O’Keefe, they may wanna stop jumping to conclusions whenever any alleged controversy arises with a famous conservative figure or else it’ll be strike three.
Doughboy on February 1, 2010 at 11:08 PM
I like it! Breitbart said he’s declaring war on the mainstream media. This could be huge.
Knucklehead on February 1, 2010 at 11:10 PM
So how’s that humble pie Shuster.
Bet it tastes like A$$
Iblis on February 1, 2010 at 11:10 PM
Is no one else the least bit curious that the day Letten recuses himself from the case he gets appointed to Holder’s advisory board?
Whippet on February 1, 2010 at 11:12 PM
Forget it. They’re too stupid to figure it out and/or timid to try it.
rrpjr on February 1, 2010 at 11:06 PM
rrpjr:If only the RNC had a staff that reads H/A
through the day,they might get the point
and implement the ideas!!:)
canopfor on February 1, 2010 at 11:13 PM
I hought that that read “Attorney General Electric Holder”.
thomasaur on February 1, 2010 at 11:14 PM
O.T.
I knew Joe klein was a liberal duffus. . .But not as
jerky as he was on O’Reilly’s show tonight.
The guy is mumbling idiot.
Texyank on February 1, 2010 at 11:16 PM
Where is Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein when you need them…
Oh, wait!
Seven Percent Solution on February 1, 2010 at 10:25 PM
Seven Percent Solution: Its a sad state of affairs,if they
were on the job,Obama wouldn’t be
President!!:)
canopfor on February 1, 2010 at 11:18 PM
Actually its because they and their ilk are the only ones manning the desks in newsrooms that Obama managed to go unvetted.
The pre-election dirt on Obama is voluminous and spread U of Columbia-to campaigning for Odinga in Kenya-to zero documentation of Obama from Jakarta forward.
Yet they went through Palin’s trash with a fine tooth comb. The problem her is not lack of journalism, but selective journalism!
Archimedes on February 1, 2010 at 11:25 PM
O.T.
I knew Joe klein was a liberal duffus. . .But not as
jerky as he was on O’Reilly’s show tonight.
The guy is mumbling idiot.
Texyank on February 1, 2010 at 11:16 PM
Texyank: Is this the video!!:)
=======================================
Joe Klein to O’Reilly: “Glenn Beck Is Peddling A Lot Of Hateful Crap” – 02/01/10
—————————-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqmMKCzxThs
canopfor on February 1, 2010 at 11:26 PM
Anybody else notice the big lie he told about Beck at the tail end? He said that Beck claimed Obama was not an American citizen. That is completely false. In fact, last week, Beck started off his show by stating that he believes Obama is an American citizen, and that he doesn’t buy into the conspiracies about him.
Narutoboy on February 1, 2010 at 11:35 PM
Moon-daddy keep on steaming.
Puff Mary keep on squirming.
Spinning, spinning, spinning down the River.
viking01 on February 1, 2010 at 11:37 PM
I think this is directly related to the ACORN invesitgation…
lovingmyUSA on February 1, 2010 at 11:38 PM
If anything Jim Letten has been a stalwart corruption fighter putting away a number of Democrat corrupt politicians behind bars.
The local business community forced Landrieu into recommending him to Zero.
You need to remember that one of the defendants is the son of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern side of the state, in Shreveport and is also a GOP guy, just like Letten.
Kermit on February 1, 2010 at 11:39 PM
http://soitgoesinshreveport.blogspot.com/2009/08/louisianas-acorn-investigation.html
lovingmyUSA on February 1, 2010 at 11:39 PM
As usual that national pundits really don’t have a clue as to what is going on in Louisiana. They don;t even report that the “Louisiana Purchase” was not landrieu’s deal but Jindal’s.
Kermit on February 1, 2010 at 11:41 PM
You know what this seems like to me? Consider this:
O’Keefe and his crew show up at Landrieu’s office to do their hidden-camera investigation. Somehow, O’Keefe is found out as not-quite-the-average-joe-looking-to-chat innocently-with-his-US-senator’s-aides, but instead, ACORN’s nemesis. (Hey, that guy…seems awfullly familiar…)
Now, rather than kindly inform the sleuthing crew that the jig is up and that they’d best quickly and quietly take their leave, someone decides to call the feds. As or shortly after the suspects are arrested and processed, interested parties begin the media smear campaign…
I could be wrong, but when we’re privy to leaked FBI affidavits, hot off the presses, something’s not quite in order.
Prediction: Given how this affair looks so far, charges are dropped, but O’Keefe’s video never sees the light of day. They said, they said. End of story. (Unless the videos are released or, more interestingly, leaked by opposing interested parties!)
ConScribe on February 1, 2010 at 11:55 PM
That whole Odinga incident, Obama with his bull-horn inciting violence, spawned a major riot; What was a sitting US senator doing sticking his nose into foreign elections (backing his cousin no less) using the tax payers dime?
And the media missed it in spite of raw footage from several sources. I will never get over that one.
Geochelone on February 2, 2010 at 12:09 AM
So, this didn’t happen on Monday.
YYZ on February 2, 2010 at 12:09 AM
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