The Jim Taricani Case
Providence Journal media writer Andy Smith has an update on the Jim Taricani situation in Sunday’s paper.
For those unfamiliar with the events, here is the background. Jim Taricani is a political reporter for the local NBC affiliate, WJAR-10. In 2001, about two months before the (former) Mayor of Providence was indicted on federal corruption charges, an anonymous source provided Taricani with a videotape showing one of the Mayor’s aides taking a bribe. Taricani showed the tape on WJAR.
The judge presiding over the case, Judge Ernest Torres, ordered Taricani to reveal his source. Taricani refused. Beginning in March, Torres imposed a $1,000-a-day fine on Taricani. This Thursday, Taricani goes to trial for criminal contempt, and, according to Smith, could face six months in jail.
There is a solution to this problem, though it will not fully please everyone. The case is a federal matter. As such, it is possible for President George W. Bush to use his power of the pardon to end it. This week, I will lay out the reasons why President Bush should pardon Jim Taricani…
I’ll look forward to seeing that.
As of right now, I don’t see why a person with evidence of a crime shouldn’t be forced to cough up that evidence or be sent to cool his jets in jail for a while. Just because Taricani has a press pass, that doesn’t give him any special Constitutional rights that I wouldn’t have if I knew something about a crime.
I’m also not sure why the President should involve himself in such a minor matter as a reporter with a martyr complex. But, as I said, I’ll look forward to reading your arguments.
~ Pseu.
PS – Just found out about this blog from Ramesh Ponnuru’s post on The Corner. As an RI conservative, I wish you much success.
Your questions, both on the substance and the politics, are valid. I hope to answer them in my next several posts on the subject. And you may rest assured, my arguments will be thoroughly conservative…