September 6, 2001
Narco News 2001
McKinney
Defends
Narconews.com
Letter
to Strauss
of Akin
Gump:
"A respected
journalist telling the truth, at risk to his own safety, should
not be facing a lawsuit meant to silence him. The lawsuit is
without merit. Cease the case immediately and issue a formal
apology."
-
U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Georgia)
Drug War on Trial,
Now,
in United States
Congress
The Honorable Robert S. Strauss
Senior Executive Partner
Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP
Robert S. Strauss Building
1333 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
Dear Ambassador Strauss:
I am writing to express my deep
concern and protest over a lawsuit
that your firm, Akin,
Gump, Strauss & Feld, LLP, has brought in New York State
Supreme Court on behalf of the National Bank of Mexico (Banamex)
against an Internet news Agency, The
Narco News Bulletin, published by Mr. Al Giordano and
the Mexican journalist Mr. Mario Menendez.
I am disappointed that a lawsuit was brought
by a firm bearing your name and is clearly, as
many of the most-respected media critics in the country have
noted, aimed at chilling the free speech of Narco News.
Every one of these respected journalists has found only ethical
and truthful practice of journalism by the defendants being sued
by your powerful clients.
Because Narco News is a shoestring,
non-profit project in journalism, the lawsuit on behalf of your
billionaire clients threatens not only its continued publication,
but also the freedom of speech on the Internet throughout the
world, as the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) recently noted
in its amicus brief on behalf of
Narco News.
Mr. Giordano is a respected
journalist telling the truth from Latin America about the
war on drugs, espousing concerns
with which you are familiar. Mr. Giordano documents events
of concern to Americans on whose behalf the drug war is being
waged in Latin America, at risk to his own safety. He should
not be facing a lawsuit meant to silence him and shut
down his web site.
I write to bring this to your attention
because, as a senior partner in a large law firm and former Chairman
of the Democratic Party, you should be aware that attorneys from
your firm are engaging in this transparent attack on freedom
of the press, on behalf of billionaire
corporate clients, in your name.
If
a billionaire client with voluminous
resources disagrees with the words posted by a journalist of
modest means on a web site, that client has ample resources to
publicize its own side of the story. This kind of dispute does
not belong in our nation's already-overburdened court system,
and will only lead to the ultimate vindication of the material presented
on Narco News, but only
after a costly and chilling episode of judicial harassment.
Given the recent agreement to sell Banamex
to Citigroup
for $12.5 billion, the claims made of economic damage to Banamex
by a low-budget web site and by valiant independent journalists
are ludicrous. This case should never have been brought to Court.
There is no libel to be found in this situation, and the lawsuit
is without merit. A difference of opinion in the characterization
of a person or persons, based on documented fact, does not constitute
libel, as the courts have established. The only purpose of this
lawsuit is to stifle Mr. Giordano from continuing his
activities.
I urge you to correct this injustice of
economic might contravening our nation's most sacred right, the
right to free speech. Please direct the managers of this lawsuit
to cease the case immediately, and issue a formal apology to
Mr. Giordano.
Sincerely,
Cynthia McKinney
Member of Congress
CC: Justice Paula Omansky, New York Supreme Court
New York Congressional Delegation
Massachusetts Congressional Delegation
Al Giordano, Publisher, The Narco-News Bulletin
Lee Tien, Electronic Frontier Foundation
Robert
Strauss of Akin Gump
A Legacy
Tarnished by his lawfirm's inept attack on Internet free speech
See
Latest Narco News on Page One, and
From América
to Banamex-Citigroup:
Another
Cease and Desist Order