Posted on 09/08/2001 8:01:40 PM PDT by Aerial
Lawyers for CBS Broadcasting, Inc. filed a motion in U.S. district court in Denver Wednesday asking a federal judge to lift a gag order that prevents witnesses associated with the Oklahoma City bombing case from talking to the press or releasing OKC-related documents.
"Time has passed; circumstances have changed; the fair trials considerations properly taken into account by the court in entering the non-disclosure order in 1996 no longer apply," reported Internet newspaper WorldNetDaily.com, quoting the motion, in Friday editions.
The Internet paper said the story was first reported by The McCurtain Daily Gazette, a small Oklahoma newspaper.
"As a result of the non-disclosure order, the information available to the public about the Oklahoma City bombing has generally been limited to the public record or developed through enterprise journalism from sources not participating in these criminal proceedings," said the motion, which was filed with U.S. District Judge Richard P. Matsch in Denver - the judge who issued the non-disclosure ruling and who presided over the OKC bombing trials.
The Oklahoma City-based law firm of Hall, Estill, Hardwick, Gable, Golden and Nelon is handling the case. Robert Nelon is the attorney coordinating the case, said the web-based paper.
"CBS seeks to lift the barrier that prevents those willing to discuss the bombing from doing so or those in possession of documents about the bombing from disclosing them," the motion said, according to WorldNetDaily. "Whatever questions may linger" about OKC, the motion continued, "and whatever the court's view may be of the wisdom of asking them, there is no longer any reason to require the non-disclosure of information as ordered on June 13, 1996."
A ruling by Matsch is expected soon, the web paper said.
There was no reported response from CBS officials.
"CBS and other media cannot effectively report in depth on issues of public concern like that Oklahoma City bombing if sources of information are prohibited from speaking," said the motion.
Speculation?...perhaps..
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