Posted on 10/16/2003 10:54:35 AM PDT by nickcarraway
Former Prosecutor of Jack Kevorkian Delivers Emergency Letters To Governor Jeb Bush in Terri Schiavo Euthanasia Case
ANN ARBOR, MI –Richard Thompson, responsible for the initial prosecutions of Jack Kevorkian, now Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center, delivered two emergency letters to Florida Governor Jeb Bush Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, outlining the constitutional authority of the Governor to intervene in the case of Terri Schiavo, including a factual basis for initiating a criminal investigation. The letters were prepared hours after a feeding tube was removed from Schiavo, depriving her of food and water, leaving her to starve to death unless immediate action is taken.
Recognizing the emotional and political issues involved, the two letters explain that the Florida Governor has authority under the Florida Constitution to intervene, and urged him to initiate a criminal investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement based on a growing list of facts which suggest criminal wrongdoing and a conflict of interest on the part of Terri Shiavo’s husband and guardian Michael Shiavo.
Joining Thompson in the letters were former federal prosecutors Edward White III and Robert Muise. White served as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, and Muise served as Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Both now work under Thompson at the Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, MI. Based on the extensive law enforcement experience of the attorneys involved, the letters set forth facts and steps upon which a formal criminal investigation should be initiated.
The letters assert that the facts of the case clearly establish probable cause to initiate a formal criminal investigation, and call on the Governor to direct the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to conduct a full investigation of the facts and circumstances of the case, including securing search warrants, interviewing witnesses and medical experts, and to take measures to prevent future harm to Ms. Schiavo pending the outcome of the investigation.
Thompson noted in the supplemental letter that he was responsible for the initial prosecutions of Jack Kevorkian, and that in at least one case of physician-assisted suicide, the wife was a victim of domestic violence, and her death was used as a cover-up for the husband’s wrongdoing.
In a statement Thursday morning, Thompson urged the Florida Governor to review the letters, and take immediate steps to intervene in the case. “It seems prudent under the circumstances that the presumption for life should prevail and a formal “time-out” should take place, allowing for a formal criminal investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and allow Terri’s parents to administer the necessary rehabilitation services to determine if Ms. Schiavo is able to ingest food on her own.”
ggreer@co.pinellas.fl.us
I received this email:
If you are convinced that what Terri Schiavo has been experiencing over the last several years and now is cruel and inhumane, call the FL Abuse Hotline 1 - 800 - 962 - 2873FL Statue 415.103 -- A "vulnerable adult" is an individual 18 years old or more whose daily living is compromised due to mental, physical, or developmental disabilites.
"Abuse" is defined by the statute as "any willful act or threatened act taht causes or is likely to cause significant impairment to a vulnerable adult's physical, mental, or emotional health." -----
At a certain point, you will hear this message: "The safety and well being of Florida's most vulnerable citizens is very important to us. Persons making reports in good faith are not subject to prosecution. Intentional false reporting is a violation of FL law."
This is when you need to carefully consider if you truly believe this is abuse or neglect.
You will be asked a number of questions on this long form -- all allegations are truly taken seriously! Most of us know those answers from our visits to the http://www.terrisfight.org website (address of victim, age, what your concerns are). Some I didn't know (phone number of facility).
The person taking the information was businesslike but sympathetic ("trained counselors" take the calls).
I am convinced that a precious citizen of the state of FL is being abused -- so I made the call. I'd expressed my concerns to the governor, and he said he's concerned, too, so I figure I'm in good company.
I started a food fast yesterday morning (by accident at first; funny how things work). I had to break it just now for the discomfort, and I've been taking fluids.
Tick-tock, Jeb.
The clock has stopped.
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/7032005.htm
"The legal office has been talking to people trying to find some strategy where my office can intervene in a different fashion that will yield a different result," Bush said Thursday. "So far we have not found that option."So there you have it.
It is now confirmed. The cowardly scoundrel has simply dismissed the very advice he solicited.
What Bush is saying translates to, "No votes for me!"
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