Federal Judge Denies 'First Amendment' Defense by O'Keefe, Giles in ACORN Worker Law Suit

[BradBlog]

Federal Judge Denies 'First Amendment' Defense by O'Keefe, Giles in ACORN Worker Law Suit

Rightwing activists and propagandists James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles, employees of con-artist and propagandist Andrew Breitbart, may not use the First Amendment as an excuse for breaking the law in California, according to a federal judge's ruling this week.

Judge M. James Lorenz rejected the defendants' argument and motion for summary judgment in federal court, as part of the civil lawsuit filed against them by former San Diego ACORN worker Juan Carlos Vera.

Giles had previously thrown O'Keefe under a bus by arguing that she should not be held accountable at all for violating California's Invasion of Privacy Act (CA Penal Code § 632), since he, not she, was actually wearing the hidden video camera used to secretly tape their conversations with Vera, even after they had asked if their meeting would be kept confidential.

For his part, O'Keefe, a convicted federal criminal, argued that he was allowed to violate the law because the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment protected him as a "journalist". The judge ruled against the defendants on all points...

MORE: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=8542

[annabanana]

1. lock the little pissant up. . . n/t

[Bandit]

14. It isn't a criminal matter, it is a civil suit.

I hope she gets a million or two though..

[Sonoman]

2. I wonder if the same judge will sentence the little punk.

Don't fuck with your Judge.

I learned that lesson the hard way.

Sonoman

[CelticThunder]

3. k&r

[pscot]

4. A couple years in San Quentin

should remind O'Keefe he's working on 3 strikes.

[BradBlog]

7. He won't get them here (it's a civil case, unfortunately)...

...Because Jerry Brown traded immunity from criminal charges in exchange for the unedited video tapes, instead of just subpoenaing them via a grand jury.

So he's off the hook from criminal charges in CA, for now, at least until he breaks them again as he did previously, and as he did in Louisiana and likely elsewhere.

[marmar]

5. Good. I want to see this little rhinoceros pizzle suffer.

nt

[Dawson Leery]

6. K/R

Both need jail time.

[Avant Guardian]

8. But your honor, they were just wacky hijinks!

That is like calling 'Pranked' or 'Candid camera' journalism. What an asshat.

[BradBlog]

9. Late night kick. For democracy.

[deacon]

10. K + R

[mzmolly]

11. Go Mr. Vera!

:toast:

[Kingofalldems]

12. Kick and Rec one time for the teabaggers

[sufrommich]

13. Even the court balks at his claim to be a "journalist".nt