Re: Ex Underground

Michael Lorrey (mike@lorrey.com)
Tue, 10 Mar 1998 20:56:47 -0500


Dan Clemmensen wrote:

> Yak Wax wrote:
>
> > Dan Clemmensen wrote:
> >
> > > At least in the U.S., it is a felony to
> > > participate in a conspiracy. If you make
> > > an exhortation in an e-mail that somebody
> > > else do simething illegal, and the person
> > > enetes into a discussion with and
> > > subsequently performs that illegal act,
> > > then you have technically committed
> > > conspiracy. I'm less clear on whether or
> > > not the other participants in the
> > > discussion are also guilty of consciracy,
> > > but they might be. In light of this,
> > > please hold such discussions only among
> > > those who wish to be involved. Thanks.
> >
> > Dan Clemmensen and other members of the extropian list - use software
> > beyond it's expiration period, now! Alternatively, make illegal
> > recordings of copyright material for purposes other than your
> > individual use! Or, keep recordings of copyrighted broadcast material
> > for periods of time exceeding the legal limit. Or park in a no
> > parking zones. Or run a stop sign...
>
> Yak, one of the most ridiculous elements of the conspiracy
> law, as I understand it, is that conspiracy to commit a
> misdemeanor is, you guessed it, a felony.

How about, since being held in contempt for refusing to testify is not a
criminal act at all (the witness is considered to 'hold his own keys' in
that they are free to go any time by cooperating), can conspiring to refuse
to testify be a felony? In Clinton's case, apparently so......

Since you don't even have to be in communication then, does this mean that
if I wrote an article in the news that recommended that, say Susan MacDougal
refuse to testify, prior to her testimony, then I could be charged with
conspiracy? I think there are significant limits related to the concept of
'proximate cause' in play here that are not being considered.....

--
TANSTAAFL!!!
   Michael Lorrey
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mailto:retroman@together.net Inventor of the Lorrey Drive
MikeySoft: Graphic Design/Animation/Publishing/Engineering
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How many fnords did you see before breakfast today?