Since several have been sending notes/comments asking, I’ll answer all at once: No hard updates yet on the release of either the video or transcript of Saturday’s explosive deposition of FBI whistleblower Sibel Edmonds.
We’ve been in close touch with both the National Whistleblowers Center (Edmonds’ attorneys), as well as the court reporter’s office. The NWC is similarly trying to assist in getting a copy of the video, and has been told, as we have, that the text transcript would take more time to finish up and be made available.
So, the video of the depo would seem to be coming first, before the transcript which supposedly will come later. No actual idea about what the hold up for release of the video is at this moment. It seems to be a question of who needs to authorize the release or something. Either way, I have no reason at this time to believe there’s anything nefarious going on here, just to preempt that suggestion for the moment, but wanted to give you an update, since folks have been asking.
Furthermore, complicating matters, I’m now on the road, towards a long-planned vacation, which we actually pushed back for several days to accommodate the weekend’s unexpected turn of events. So trying to keep up with all while on the move. Nonetheless, will update here as/when warranted…
UPDATE 8/11/09: Spoke again with the folks at the National Whistleblower Center today who say they are now in close touch with the court reporter’s office, and are optimistic they will be able to receive a copy of the video soon. As soon as they have it, I’m told, we’ll also be able to get a copy. (Remember, even after we get one, it may take some time to render, upload, etc. as there are some five hours, or so, of testimony. In the meantime, if you’re hungry to plow through important depo material, a few thousands pages on Rove and Mier’s recent Congressional depositions have now finally been released here. My rolling schedule, at the moment, does not allow me to plow through them myself, as much as I wish I could!) Anyway, I’ll continue to update here as I get any new news…
UPDATE 8/14/09: I’m told that “there is no conspiracy” as to the release of the video-taped deposition, and that it is still forthcoming. That’s the good news. The bad news is that I’ll be taking some down time, off the grid, in the mountains, camping all next week. So I hope I don’t miss the release! Otherwise, I suspect it won’t be long after I’m back in town the following week. So, I don’t believe there’s anything to worry about (as some have suggested). But we’ll still have to “stay tuned” for a while longer. I certainly will, since I won’t even be around, by and large, at all next week! 🙁
UPDATE 8/25/09:The complete video deposition, along with transcript, is now posted in full here. Thanks again for all of your patience on this!
Not a whisper about this at Huffington Post, Crooks and Liars, Raw Story, Daily Kos. Of course no mention on NPR, MSNBC, CNN, too much town hall “screamers” still Micheal Jackson Etc.
Several post over at Seminal at Firedoglake but none of the heavy hitting bloggers have touched it as far as I know
Have a great trip.
That link to Valerie Plame at the radio station in Florida was a much listen. Wonder what she will say tonight down there in Florida
FWIW, Kathleen, Saturday’s depo was covered over at HuffPo by Andrew Kreig.
Don’t know whether or not they highlighted it there, however (which usually makes all the difference with HuffPo coverage of anything).
Oh, and Mike Finnigan at Crooks & Liars did link over to our Saturday coverage in his “Blog Roundup” item today over there. Just for the record.
Brad saw that link at Crooks and Liars. Just can not figure out why those sites would rather post something big about Kate and John rather than something significant about Sibel?
Where did that post about Valerie go. I linked it over at Firedoglake along with the radio interview with Valerie in Florida
Wayne Madsen is covering it, as I noted in my post on FDL. I gave kudos to Brad’s coverage/live-blogging, too.
Brad Friedman sitting in for Mike Malloy interviews Sibel Edmonds, former FBI translator, on July 31, 2009
Listen
This blog censors comments it doesn’t agree with.
Good coverage of Saturday’s depo in Armenian newspaper Asbarez right here…
As to Madsen’s coverage, Styve, suffice to say I am no fan of his work. Not in regard to his particular coverage of this story, but rather in general. I have found him, from my own first-hand experience to be, um, not particularly reliable or responsible, just to put it kindly.
Don’t be such a baby, Gos. It’s perfectly
possible to have a very lively disagreement
with the editors here even while being moderated.
Try it 🙂
An article in the Armenian Reporter now to here.
Perhaps someone can ask the writer through the comments section in the Dayton Daily News on this article why they didn’t discuss Sibel’s testimony from this weekend.
Brad…
What do you think of the following paragraph from WMR, about the Schakowsky situation, and what it could mean for the compromise of US Intelligence, particularly with regard to Iranian nuclear program and Israel’s insistence that it be destroyed?
Talking Points Memo’s Reader Blog has a good new post on this, even though it doesn’t show up on Google News, and it points to a good 25 minute video here from Erik Larson that augments the other video with interviews also with Bruce Fein, Steve Kohn, and Sibel Edmonds after the cross-examination too.
Bruce Fein claims that Sibel Edmonds didn’t know anything about the recent election and the case Schmidt had that David Krikorian lied when he was claiming she took “blood money” from the Turkish government and entities, implying that what she knew about earlier times doesn’t apply now.
Tell me Brad! Do we Canadian cousins really have anything to worry about with this so called NWC or are they simply just blowing bubbles with U>S Canadians?
I hear ya! Hey sinner vic when they start a love center list, you’ll be on the top of “IT”
Really! You don’t say! 🙂
I have tried it zapkitty, but they’ve removed 3 out of the last 4 posts when I link to a thread questioning their legitimacy. So I really don’t think that’s a debate.
There’s different types of coverage. It’s prominently featured, or it’s a “blurb”, just like when the NYTimes doesn’t want to get your attention with something important. They’ll put “terrorist ring caught” on page 1 with pictures. When the case is thrown out, it’s on page 98.
Also, repeating coverage. They keep relisting an important story, as it rolls off the blog or website.
It is strange that Antiwar.com had nothing today (Monday) about the Sibel Edmonds/Krikorian deposition.
Antiwar had been covering the Edmonds case for quite a long time, and yet today I see nothing today.
Does anyone here have any idea of what is going on at Antiwar?
Styve @ 12 asked:
I think it’s damned irresponsible to go on record with that based on an anonymous source. Particularly when there is no evidence, that I’m aware of, that the Congresswoman in question (whether Schakowsky or anybody else) necessarily knew she was even being set up for blackmail. She may not have even known it do this day, unless WMR has evidence to the contrary. If so, he should present it.
If you’re gonna name names on something as damning as that, and state is as fact, it seems you should offer some actual evidence as to wrong-doing by the person you’re naming. Otherwise, you’re just “outing”, as far as I can tell. And offering no evidence to back up your outing in the bargain.
David @ 18:
Good catch, David. I’ll drop Scott H. a note to see what’s up. Guessing many may be on vacation right about now (as I was supposed to be by now!)
It looks like two congresscritters may fit Sibel’s criteria on the Armenian Genocide resolution….
Jean Harmon (D-CA)
or
Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI)
Hmmm… Rep. Harmon DID attend Smith College after all.
Re David and Brad:
If you look at Balkanalysis.com’s home page, it looks like Antiwar.com contributor Chris Deliso might be on vacation until mid September.
or democracynow.org
this begs the question….wtf?
The next post is about the blackout of coverage on the Blackwater/Erik Prince issue. Need a post of the blackout of Sibel issue.
And the MSM wonders why they get a D when it comes to coverage
You have to wonder about the blackout on what Sibel stated about Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
Is this the work of Rahm Emmanuel the blackout? Nothing about the Sibel testimony her claims about Schakowsky…nothing..
The same thing happened when the I lobby went after Charles Freeman…nothing on the MSM nothing
Brad, Clemons seemed receptive to a chat. Perhaps you can pry the door open a bit.
I thought NWC had their own cameras recording the deposition. Wasn’t that the case?
If not I hope the video doesn’t have to go through the DOJ first to be censored.
Why pick on poor, ol’ Wayne? He’s just a little into the drinkie-poo?
Alot of the same criticisms could have been made of Jack Anderson. Not that Wayne will ever make it to that level…we can hope….
You have to know how to read Wayne and his character. He’ll pull some good stuff out of his hat every once in a while. But…no…he’s not an academic, nor is he the Public Library.
The bottom line is the Turks (who have had their hands into everything from nuclear smuggling to 911) have their hooks into one of our key progressives on the Hill. Either we blow open the whole sexual-blackmail-as-national-security-policy wound (because it is a BOTTOMLESS PIT), or we watch the intelligence services pick off our leaders one by one.
I’ll opt for scorched Earth. Everyone’s skeletons out of the closet right here, right now. Mass confession. Mass absolution. No one should have to be a saint to hold public office, you should just be reliable and take representing your mass constituency seriously and with integrity. If you slip, fall and end up coming into close contact with the nether regions of another adult…I’m with the French — no big whoop.
Don’t know if anyone is reading this now, but WMR reports that Schakowsky’s son-in-law died on 8/9 in a snorkeling accident”¦
August 17 — still no release of Sibel’s testimony. Anyone else tired of this BS??
Hmm.. Maybe now that Robert Novak died today, someone out there will feel safer with the testimony regarding Grossman being released! Curious timing of that event. Kind of like Ken Lay dying before sentencing…
Sibel Edmondss testimony has been released in its full unedited form as a video deposition. The link is at her blog 123realchange. Now Mainstream media and fake alternative media have no excuse.