Sept. 22, 2010
Stonewall Manchin: Why Won't Administration Cooperate with Press on Subpoenas?
By Huntingtonnews.net Staff
WSAZ-TV's investigative unit has blown the lid off of the Manchin
Administration's two federal subpoenas with a story that aired
Tuesday. Click here for the complete story from WSAZ.
Citing a source within the Manchin Administration, WSAZ reports that a $150 million highway project in Fairmont is one major target of a broader probe, with Governor Manchin's former Chief of Staff Larry Puccio possibly part of the probe. WSAZ notes that Fairmont is Governor Manchin's hometown and further notes that Puccio has a real estate business there.
Despite repeated attempts to obtain information about the two federal subpoenas, WSAZ has been stonewalled by the Administration. Officials for both the Governor and the Attorney General claim that situations like this fall under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 6(3), which prohibits "government attorneys" from disclosing a case before the grand jury.
However, WSAZ cites media law expert Dave Barnette as saying that this code section applies to U.S. prosecutors, not defense counsels.
"Manchin is playing games with WSAZ, as well as other members of the press and the public, too," said Jack Ellis, HNN's chief political consultant. "I had to laugh when WSAZ noted that Manchin's stonewalling strategy was precisely what former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojovich used to keep subpoenas away from the press. The courts overruled Blagojovich, and I suspect they will rule the same way here against Manchin."
"Manchin has either done something bad or is the clumsiest politico I've seen in a while," Ellis said. "Everyone knows that if you have nothing to hide then you cooperate with the press in a transparent manner-- not all this mysterious stuff. This has to be part of the reason that Raese is pulling ahead in the polls. People are getting wary of Manchin. They don't want to see another West Virginia public official led off in chains.
In addition, First Lady Gayle Manchin was served with a Freedom of Information request, too, through her offical secretary
"This investigation has all the looks of a humdinger," said Ellis. "With so much riding on it, the Manchins and their staffers must be under enormous stress right now. The Manchins need to have good lawyers about now."
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Stonewall Manchin: Why Won't Administration Cooperate with Press on Subpoenas?
By Huntingtonnews.net Staff
WSAZ-TV's investigative unit has blown the lid off of the Manchin
Administration's two federal subpoenas with a story that aired
Tuesday. Click here for the complete story from WSAZ.
Citing a source within the Manchin Administration, WSAZ reports that a $150 million highway project in Fairmont is one major target of a broader probe, with Governor Manchin's former Chief of Staff Larry Puccio possibly part of the probe. WSAZ notes that Fairmont is Governor Manchin's hometown and further notes that Puccio has a real estate business there.
Despite repeated attempts to obtain information about the two federal subpoenas, WSAZ has been stonewalled by the Administration. Officials for both the Governor and the Attorney General claim that situations like this fall under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 6(3), which prohibits "government attorneys" from disclosing a case before the grand jury.
However, WSAZ cites media law expert Dave Barnette as saying that this code section applies to U.S. prosecutors, not defense counsels.
"Manchin is playing games with WSAZ, as well as other members of the press and the public, too," said Jack Ellis, HNN's chief political consultant. "I had to laugh when WSAZ noted that Manchin's stonewalling strategy was precisely what former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojovich used to keep subpoenas away from the press. The courts overruled Blagojovich, and I suspect they will rule the same way here against Manchin."
"Manchin has either done something bad or is the clumsiest politico I've seen in a while," Ellis said. "Everyone knows that if you have nothing to hide then you cooperate with the press in a transparent manner-- not all this mysterious stuff. This has to be part of the reason that Raese is pulling ahead in the polls. People are getting wary of Manchin. They don't want to see another West Virginia public official led off in chains.
In addition, First Lady Gayle Manchin was served with a Freedom of Information request, too, through her offical secretary
"This investigation has all the looks of a humdinger," said Ellis. "With so much riding on it, the Manchins and their staffers must be under enormous stress right now. The Manchins need to have good lawyers about now."
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Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
