Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!execu!sequoia!rpp386!jfh
From: jfh@rpp386.cactus.org (John F. Haugh II)
Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk
Subject: Re: Len Rose and problems in Illinois
Summary: be very careful what you say about len or me.
Message-ID: <18663@rpp386.cactus.org>
Date: 31 Oct 90 18:39:41 GMT
References: <1990Oct29.175540.23987@uncecs.edu> <1990Oct30.035606.1282@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> <4576@rsiatl.UUCP>
Reply-To: jfh@rpp386.cactus.org (John F. Haugh II)
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In article <4576@rsiatl.UUCP> jgd@rsiatl.UUCP (John G. DeArmond) writes:
>gl8f@astsun7.astro.Virginia.EDU (Greg Lindahl) writes:

	[potentially libelous stuff deleted]

>>But I have doubts about either.
>
>As long as we are talking about doubts, let me pose a couple.  If:

	[potentially libelous stuff deleted]

first, i would like to state that i'd prefer to be left out of this
latest round of len/john bashing.  i am certain that len has many
friends in this group who would like to see him found innocent, and
i can say that continuing to keep the len/john bashing fight alive
will only hurt his chances.  len cannot comment on his situation
for legal reasons, and i will not make any futher comments for the
same reasons.

second, i would like to repeat the advice of an attorney who told
me that repeating a libelous statement is libel.  you can attribute
it to anyone you want, but you accept the legal liability for your
own statements and for repeating the statements of others.  mike
godwin, the resident EFF attorney, can elaborate on this if you
have any questions.  i have been collecting postings by those
people who continue to re-post information which they allege that
i posted, and will use it in my defense should any legal action
be brought.  by getting involved in this discussion you are making
yourself a potential party to a lawsuit.

third, i have provided the secret service with the information
which i have.  merely having information does not make it true
or false, i have simply complied with the recommendations of
legal counsel.  i have no comment on whether the information is
true or false, that is for the judicial system to determine.
i have no comment as to the content of what i told them, only
to say that i believe that i have fulfilled my obligations under
the law.

fourth, i do not have the time to read every article which appears
here, and for that reason will begin archiving them all.  it
would be wise to refrain from making any statements concerning any
of len's or my troubles as they may be used against either len or
yourself.  do not repeat a statement as being true simply because
someone else said it.  if the statement is libelous, you have just
potentially committed libel.  some of you think you may repeat
anything which len or i said without fear of being sued, and that
just isn't so.  this is one of those times when silence is the
best course of action.

finally, i am sorry that len was arrested recently.  it is
unfortunate that he continues to have problems.  just keep
in mind that his being arrested does not mean that he is guilty
of anything.  i will say that my initial impression of len several
years ago was that he was a very friendly and helpful person, and
i was shocked when i heard of his arrest and investigation by the
secret service.  i tend to be very trusting of people and
unfortunately may have placed too much trust in what the secret
service was telling us.
-- 
John F. Haugh II                             UUCP: ...!cs.utexas.edu!rpp386!jfh
Ma Bell: (512) 832-8832                           Domain: jfh@rpp386.cactus.org
"SCCS, the source motel!  Programs check in and never check out!"
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