Free Republic

Rep. Jim McDermott has paid more than $1 million to House Minority Leader John Boehner, ending a decade-long dispute over an illegally taped telephone call. McDermott, a Seattle Democrat, paid $1,093,297 to the Ohio Republican's campaign committee earlier this month, spokesman for the two men said Monday. The payment is in addition to $64,000 McDermott paid Boehner in January, as part of court-ordered punitive damages in the long-running case. A federal judge ordered McDermott to compensate Boehner for attorney's fees after Boehner sued McDermott for leaking the contents of a cell phone call that was illegally recorded in 1996. A...

In 1998, Congressman Jim McDermott...obtained and distributed to the media an illegally-obtained tape of a private conversation of Representative John Boehner. After litigating the dispute for ten years, and losing each step of the way, McDermott is now being forced by a federal judge to pay Boehner some $1.6 million in damages and legal fees: Still, it's amazing that House Democrats have stood with McDermott in his attempts to prod the courts to authorize warrantless wiretaps by private citizens against other law-abiding private citizens, while they continue to refuse to authorize government wiretaps of terrorist communications. And unfortunately for McDermott,...

A federal judge has ordered Rep. Jim McDermott to pay House Minority Leader John Boehner more than $1 million in legal fees in a decade-long dispute over an illegally taped telephone call. Chief Judge Thomas Hogan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered McDermott to pay Boehner $1.05 million in attorney's fees and costs, plus about $40,000 in interest. McDermott, a Washington Democrat, also had to pay more than $60,000 in fines and damages, as well as nearly $600,000 in fees to his own lawyers. McDermott said Tuesday he would not appeal the judge's ruling. "It's...

Before he was alleged to have become a spy for Saddam Hussein's regime, Muthanna Al-Hanooti's charity work and political activism provided him with access to the highest echelons of government. Newsletters collected by the Investigative Project on Terrorism, some published now for the first time, show Al-Hanooti photographed with dignitaries ranging from First Lady Hillary Clinton in 1996 and Vice President Al Gore along with significant members of Congress. That may explain why Iraqi intelligence agents had confidence that Al-Hanooti would be able to persuade Congress to lift economic sanctions against Iraq. A federal indictment unsealed Wednesday accuses him of...

DiplomacyThree congressmen were caught traveling to praise prewar Iraq on Saddam Hussein's dime in 2002. Others have made pilgrimages to pay tribute to Venezuela's Hugo Chavez. This is getting out of control.As the U.S. prepared for war in October 2002, Washington state's Jim McDermott flew to Iraq on a Saddam-praising junket with fellow Democrats Mike Thompson of California and David Bonior of Michigan. Rather than support the U.S., they condemned U.N. sanctions, vouched for Saddam's probity and publicly declared America's democratically elected president a liar. None of it had anything to do with the congressmen's claimed concern for Iraqi children,...

  When a vicious dictator wants a fifth column of Congressmen to run interference, he knows to call the Party of Defeat.  Saddam's Salesmen   By Ben Johnson FrontPageMagazine.com | Thursday, March 27, 2008 “If being used means that we’re highlighting the suffering of Iraqi children, or any children, then yes, we don’t mind being used.” – Rep. James McDermott, D-WA, on his 2002 trip to Iraq, financed by Saddam Hussein. We’ve long contended the terrorists could not buy better representation than the Democratic Left gives them for free. We never knew how right we were. The media revealed last...

"..........In any case, they knew well that they would be used as propaganda tools before they left. This is how we put it in a piece on the trip back in October 2002: EVEN BEFORE the Baghdad boys left Iraq, media outlets throughout the Middle East gleefully highlighted divisions in the U.S. government and the travels by the "antiwar" congressmen. The Iraq Daily, for example, published by Saddam's Ministry of Information, printed daily updates of the trip and posted them in English on their website. For example, a September 30 report says, "the members of the U.S. Congress delegation has...

WASHINGTON — Saddam Hussein's intelligence agency secretly financed a trip to Iraq for three U.S. lawmakers — possibly including Rep. Jim McDermott — during the run-up to the U.S.-led invasion, federal prosecutors said Wednesday. The three anti-war Democrats made the trip in October 2002, while the Bush administration was trying to persuade Congress to authorize military action against Iraq. While traveling, they called for a diplomatic solution. Prosecutors say that trip was arranged by Muthanna Al-Hanooti, a Michigan charity official, who was charged Wednesday with setting up the junket at the behest of Saddam's regime. Iraqi intelligence officials allegedly paid...

Long before the news flash today ('US: Saddam Paid for Lawmaker's Iraq Trip, March 26, 2008 by Matt Apuzzo Associated Press) a series of Seattle radio advertisements revealed, in 2002 and 2005, this and other 'Hate America First' activities Congressman Jim McDermott (D)engaged in. You can listen to them at www.houndbite.com.

Follow the Money: Towards Treason Written by Melanie Morgan    Wednesday, 26 March 2008 And now for our trip in today's Way Back Time Machine.Let's visit Iraq, shall we? That's where three United States Congressmen traveled in 2002, in the days before the Bush administration launched a war to depose Saddam Hussein, sparking a huge controversy.  Following Ben Bradlee's excellent advice to Woodward and Bernstein during the Watergate era to 'follow the money', the Associated Press has learned that Saddam Hussein's secret agents financed the trip towards treason.          "An indictment unsealed in Detroit accuses Muthanna Al-Hanooti, a member of a...

... I listened last night to syndicated talk-radio host Mark Levin report the breaking news that an Iraqi-American had been indicted as a spy. In addition, he stands accused of secretly funding the October 2002 pre-invasion trip to Iraq of three antiwar House Democrats, Congressmen Jim McDermott (D-WA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), and David E. Bonior (D-MI, now retired). I first posted a clip of that audio on MarkLevinFan.com and then I followed the money. Always follow the money. You just think that you have read all where it led in this case.

WASHINGTON - Federal prosecutors say Saddam Hussein's intelligence agency secretly financed a trip to Iraq for three U.S. lawmakers during the run-up to the U.S.-led invasion. An indictment in Detroit accuses Muthanna Al-Hanooti of arranging for three members of Congress to travel to Iraq in October 2002 at the behest of Saddam's regime. Prosecutors say Iraqi intelligence officials paid for the trip through an intermediary. In exchange, Al-Hanooti allegedly received 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil. The lawmakers are not mentioned but the dates correspond to a trip by Democratic Reps. Jim McDermott of Washington, David Bonior of Michigan and...

WASHINGTON -- Democratic Rep. Jim McDermott has paid more than $64,000 in damages to House Republican leader John Boehner -- the first payment in a decadelong dispute over an illegally taped telephone call involving Boehner and other GOP leaders. The payment, which includes $50,000 in court-ordered punitive damages, $10,000 in statutory damages and $4,169 in interest, is the first of what could be more than $850,000 in fines and fees owed by McDermott, D-Wash.

In case we forgot Harry Reid's fantasy of al-Qaeda "civil war" in Iraq from yesterday, Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) reminds us why Democrats have gone out of their minds on the Iraq debate. Moran tells Congress during the funding debate that American troops "ethnically cleansed" Baghdad. No kidding (via The Corner): "Sure, there's less violence, but that's because we've ethnically cleansed most of Baghdad." The UN and most of the rest of the world define ethnic cleansing as a form of genocide. Moran believes that American troops have conducted that crime in Baghdad as part of a pacification program. His...

Congressman backed Ramadan, Diwali, But the Washington Democrat drew the line at Christmas.

Ten years ago Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA7), known in more recent years as Baghdad Jim for his unqualified support of that city's former tyrant, was serving on the House Ethics Committee. Two Democratic Party activists, who had illegally recorded a telephone conversation between Representative John Boehner and then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich, delivered the hot tape to McDermott. McDermott made a the first of a series of truly bad choices. Rather than pursuing his passion for Gingrich through the channels of the Ethics Committee, he delivered the tape to a reporter in what the trial judge ruled was a malicious attempt...

<p>Rep. Jim McDermott filed court papers today asking the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether he had a right to disclose contents of an illegally taped telephone call involving House Republican leaders a decade ago.</p> <p>A federal appeals court ruled against the Washington state Democrat in May, saying he should not have given reporters access to the tape. McDermott's offense was especially egregious since he was a senior member of the House ethics committee, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said in a 5-4 ruling.</p>

Healthcare has been the single biggest domestic crisis facing America for at least the last decade, and yet time and again Congress has applied Band-Aids to cover a gaping wound. Every other American, not including members of Congress, is one accident, illness or diagnosis away from financial ruin in the richest nation on Earth. If that isn’t an embarrassment as well as a call to action, then Congress has truly become indifferent to the American people. Every time we apply a Band-Aid, more Americans get hurt or die because of our lack of vision and political will. A Health Savings...

Universal Healthcare on its Way (Rep. Jim McDermott) September 13th, 2007 In this video, Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) envisions implementing a universal healthcare system in the U.S. by 2009. Video is at this link: The Hill Blog» Blog Archive » Universal Healthcare on its Way (Rep. Jim McDermott)

McDermott to Cheney: ‘Resign or face impeachment’ By Chris Good June 29, 2007 Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) told Vice President Dick Cheney to “resign or face impeachment” Thursday night as three more House Democrats lent their support to a plan to impeach the vice president. “The vice president holds himself above the law, and it is time for the Congress to enforce the law,” McDermott said in a floor speech. “For the good of the nation, the vice president could leave office immediately.” McDermott was one of three House Democrats to come out in favor of impeachment Thursday, along with...

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Jim McDermott has had the luxury of winning big and cheaply in recent elections, facing only token opposition But that fortunate history could pose a problem for McDermott if the Seattle Democrat is forced to pay more than $1 million in legal fees and penalties to settle his long-running legal battle with House Minority Leader John Boehner. Unlike colleagues who have been able to tap into campaign funds for legal costs, McDermott doesn't have enough cash in his coffers to cover his bills. The prospect that McDermott soon will be liable for a huge payout became a...

WASHINGTON - As a senior member of the House ethics committee, Rep. Jim McDermott (news, bio, voting record) had an obligation not to disclose the contents of an illegally taped telephone call involving House Republican leaders, a lawyer for one of the House Republicans said Thursday. Just as a federal judge should not reveal confidential information about a case, McDermott should not have given reporters access to the taped telephone call, regardless of how it was obtained, said lawyer Michael Carvin. "He had a duty not to disclose, therefore he can't claim First Amendment rights" allowing him to make the...

Bill Clinton in Seattle to raise money for Cantwell, McDermott 10:22 PM PDT on Monday, July 31, 2006 Associated Press SEATTLE - Former President Bill Clinton came to town Monday night to raise money for freshman U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, who has struggled to get her re-election campaign in gear while fielding complaints about her stand on the Iraq war and the hiring of a former challenger. "She has proven she will stand up and be counted" and is a Senate leader in energy independence, the former president said of Cantwell. "You have a clear choice," Clinton said. "Are you...

McDermott: A well-caucused congressman THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Here is a list of the 71 caucuses Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., belongs to: Ad Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus After School Caucus Biomedical Research Caucus Bipartisan Pro-Choice Caucus Child Care Caucus Congressional Arts Caucus Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Congressional Bike Caucus Congressional Biotechnology Caucus Congressional Boating Caucus Congressional Brazil Caucus Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans Congressional Caucus on Korea Congressional Caucus on Nigeria Congressional Caucus on Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan...

WASHINGTON--A federal appeals court has agreed to hear new arguments in a case involving an illegally taped telephone call leaked to reporters by Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash. In an announcement late Monday, the U.S. Circuit Court of appeals for the District of Columbia said all nine judges will hear an appeal of the taped call case, which dates back nearly a decade. Arguments will be heard in late September, the court said. A three-judge panel of the appeals court ruled in March that McDermott violated federal law by turning over the tape recording of a 1996 call involving then-House Speaker...

He will fill in for vacationing Dave Ross -------------------------------------------------- Seattle's liberal, never-bashful Rep. Jim McDermott has found temporary work that, like his day job, consists largely of saying what he thinks. The nine-term Democratic incumbent will fill in as host of "The Dave Ross Show" on 710 KIRO Radio next week while Ross -- himself an unsuccessful Democratic congressional candidate two years ago -- goes on vacation. McDermott's first guest Monday will be Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., an outspoken advocate for the military but one who, like McDermott, has become a harsh critic of the Bush administration's Iraq war policy....

Rep. Jim McDermott doesn't need to raise money for another term in the House. It's his Queen Anne home that could be in financial jeopardy. Mired in the first lawsuit among members of Congress, McDermott is enlisting the star-power of former President Clinton to help fill the coffers of his legal defense fund. While details aren't firm, the Seattle Democrat said Clinton will appear at the Seattle Center on June 3 for a conversation about the First Amendment. He said neither ticket prices nor fundraising goals have been determined. Earlier that day, Clinton will attend a fundraising luncheon for Democratic...

President Clinton will attend a fundraising event for Rep. Jim McDermott in Seattle on June 3. Rep. Jim McDermott doesn't need to raise money for another term in the House. It's his Queen Anne home that could be in financial jeopardy.

In a tremendous show of support for a congressman who has risked his personal finances to defend the First Amendment, former President Bill Clinton will join Rep. Jim McDermott on stage, for a town hall style, grassroots discussion, on June 3, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Unlikely the ritzy, high-priced events former presidents usually headline, general admission seating is only $50.00, while a limited number of VIP seats will be available for $100.00. All proceeds will benefit Rep. McDermott’s campaign committee, Friends for Jim McDermott Committee. Why is President Clinton going out of his way to raise money for...

McDermott Files Appeal in Taped Call Case By MATTHEW DALY, Associated Press Writer 8 minutes ago Rep. Jim McDermott (news, bio, voting record) on Wednesday asked a full nine-member appeals court to hear an appeal of a case involving an illegally taped telephone call that was leaked to reporters nearly a decade ago. A three-judge appeals court panel ruled last month that McDermott, D-Wash., violated federal law by giving the news media a tape recording of a 1996 call involving then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga. The 2-1 opinion, by judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of...

McDermott's leak is no better Sunday, April 9, 2006 - Page updated at 12:00 AM Editorial Ethical leadership should include members of Congress. Rep. Jim McDermott, Seattle Democrat, was not acting ethically a decade ago when he leaked an illegally taped phone conversation to The New York Times. The couple who taped it pleaded guilty and paid fines of $500 each. Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, and now House majority leader, was one of the men on the tape, and sued McDermott. He says he offered to drop his lawsuit three years ago if McDermott would apologize and donate $10,000 to...

WASHINGTON -- A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that Rep. Jim McDermott violated federal law by turning over an illegally taped telephone call to reporters nearly a decade ago. In a 2-1 opinion, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that McDermott violated the rights of House Majority Leader John Boehner, who was heard on the 1996 call involving former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. The court ordered McDermott to pay Boehner more than $700,000 for leaking the taped conversation. The figure includes $60,000 in damages and more than $600,000 in legal costs. McDermott, D-Wash., leaked a...

Democrat Rep. Jim McDermott of Seattle, who leaked the contents of an illegally recorded cell phone conversation between former House speaker Newt Gingrich and Rep. John A. Boehner, is complaining about the NSA's warrantless surveillance progam. Audio clip here. Chutzpah.

On second thought who was Charles Manson a prelude to Jihad? ALI ATWA This Terrorist is about 45 yrs!

Of our efforts to expose Air America's sleazy Enron-like corporate behavior, is it safe to assume conservatives are united in support? To a point, yes. There certainly are some, though, who'd rather not see this investigative effort become too successful. That's because the liberal radio network's programming has gone so far off the deep left end, it's now a GOP gold mine. By the same token, would Republicans want Rep. Jim McDermott of Seattle, or Sen. Ted Kennedy defeated? While having no impact on national political trends, the moonbat wing of the Democrat party provides a bounty of choice quotes...

Paris Hilton's parents; the Rev. Al Sharpton; the guy who gave us "Fear Factor;" and Rep. Jim McDermott. At first glance, they don't have a lot in common. But they are linked for eternity in a new book, "100 People Who Are Screwing Up America (and Al Franken Is # 37)." McDermott, as it happens, is No. 38. The Democratic congressman from Seattle apparently doesn't pose as big a threat to democracy as comedian-and-leftist radio talkster Franken. But McDermott presents more of a problem than, say, feminist Gloria Steinem, at No. 42, or Enron's disgraced chief executive, Kenneth Lay, who...

Paris Hilton's parents; the Rev. Al Sharpton; the guy who gave us "Fear Factor;" and Rep. Jim McDermott. At first glance, they don't have a lot in common. But they are linked for eternity in a new book, "100 People Who Are Screwing Up America (and Al Franken Is # 37)." McDermott, as it happens, is No. 38. The Democratic congressman from Seattle apparently doesn't pose as big a threat to democracy as comedian-and-leftist radio talkster Franken. But McDermott presents more of a problem than, say, feminist Gloria Steinem, at No. 42, or Enron's disgraced chief executive, Kenneth Lay, who...

THE WASHINGTON TIMES When the partisan impasse over rules and procedures on the House ethics committee ends, the first member to face the panel won't be House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, but rather Democrat Jim McDermott of Washington. The Seattle-area congressman, one of the most vocal critics of Republicans, has been under investigation by the panel since last year over his role nearly nine years ago in the illegal taping and distribution of a phone conversation involving then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich. A federal court already has determined, for a civil lawsuit against Mr. McDermott, that the liberal lawmaker illegally distributed...

When the partisan impasse over rules and procedures on the House ethics committee ends, the first member to face the panel won't be House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, but rather Democrat Jim McDermott of Washington. The Seattle-area congressman, one of the most vocal critics of Republicans, has been under investigation by the panel since last year over his role nearly nine years ago in the illegal taping and distribution of a phone conversation involving then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich.A federal court already has determined, for a civil lawsuit against Mr. McDermott, that the liberal lawmaker illegally distributed the tape, a judgment...

In late 1996, Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, engaged in a conference call with other Republican congressmen, including then-Speaker Newt Gingrich. Their conversation was illegally wiretapped by two Florida Democrats, Alice and John Martin, who, when caught, were tried and fined $500 apiece. Before they were caught and fined, these two wiretappers actually took their purloined tape recording to Washington, D.C., where they gave it to a then-member of the House Ethics Committee, Washington state's Democrat, James McDermott of Seattle. McDermott leaked this private conversation to the New York Times and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution – neither of which newspapers were ever...

The House ethics committee will investigate Rep. Jim McDermott, Washington Democrat, to determine whether he violated standards of conduct when an illegally recorded telephone conversation was leaked to reporters during a committee investigation. [snip] The incident began when a Florida couple taped Rep. John A. Boehner of Ohio, who was using his cell phone to discuss the Gingrich case with other Republicans. The tape ended up in Mr. McDermott's hands and subsequently was leaked to reporters.     Mr. Boehner sued Mr. McDermott in federal court. U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan concluded earlier this year that Mr. McDermott was responsible for the leak...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The House ethics committee will investigate Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., to determine whether he violated standards of conduct when an illegally recorded telephone conversation was leaked to reporters during a committee investigation. Committee Chairman Joel Hefley, R-Colo., and ranking Democrat Alan Mollohan of West Virginia formed a four-member investigative subcommittee Tuesday to investigate the 1997 incident. McDermott was ranking Democrat on the ethics committee at the time, and the panel was investigating the conduct of then-Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga.The incident began when a Florida couple taped Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, who was using his cell phone...

McDermott to appeal rulingJudge ordered Democrat to pay $600,000 in cell phone caseBy CHARLES POPE SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENTWASHINGTON -- Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., said yesterday he would appeal a federal judge's ruling ordering him to pay more than $600,000 to a Republican congressman whose taped cell phone conversation McDermott gave to reporters.McDermott's decision extends the long-running and expensive legal skirmish between him and Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio.The appeal aims to reverse an Oct. 22 ruling by U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan concluding that McDermott acted "maliciously" when he gave reporters an "illegal intercept" of a cell phone conversation...

McDermott's allies line up to help him pay damagesBy CHARLES POPE SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENTAs lawyers for Rep. Jim McDermott yesterday sifted through a federal court ruling that could force him to pay $600,000 or more in damages to a Republican congressman, his political allies said they were prepared to launch an aggressive campaign to raise the money."I will do anything I need to do to help Jim overcome this difficulty," said Paul Berendt, chairman of the Washington State Democratic Party. "It's going to be heavy lifting, but I think people will be generous."The likelihood that McDermott will be...

D.C., has ordered Congressman Jim McDermott to pay $60,000 plus attorney fees that could total more than $545,000 to a Republican congressman who sued McDermott for leaking his cellphone conversations to news reporters. In a harshly worded decision received by attorneys this week, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Hogan said McDermott's "willful and knowing misconduct rises to the level of malice in this case." It is unclear how McDermott, a Seattle Democrat, will pay for the award if he decides not to appeal it further. He turned down an offer to settle the case for $10,000 last summer. McDermott's lawyers...

The Democratic Socialists of America, Progressive Caucus members lists the following elected Representatives in the US House of Representatives as members: OFFICERS Dennis Kucinich (CO-CHAIR, OHIO-10) Barbara Lee (CO-CHAIR, CALIFORNIA-09) Lynn Woolsey (VICE-CHAIR, CALIFORNIA-06) Peter DeFazio (OFFICER, OREGON-04) Jesse Jackson, Jr (OFFICER, ILLINOIS-02) Major Owens (OFFICER, NEW YORK-11) Bernie Sanders (OFFICER, VERMONT) Hilda Solis (OFFICER, CALIFORNIA-31) MEMBERS Neil Abercrombie (HI-01), Tammy Baldwin (WI-02), Xavier Becerra (CA-30), David Bonior (MI-10), Corrine Brown (FL-03), Sherrod Brown (OH-13), Michael Capuano (MA-08), Julia Carson (IN-10), William Clay (MO-01), John Conyers (MI-14), Danny Davis (IL-07), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Lane Evans (IL-17), Eni...

Jim McDermott believes in conspiracies. You may remember Baghdad Jim. The Seattle area Congressman went to Baghdad two years ago in a show of support for Saddam Hussein. While there, he denounced U.S. foreign policy and UN sanctions. His constituents must be so proud. When Saddam was captured last December, McDermott argued that U.S. troops knew of Saddam's whereabouts for a long time, but delayed capturing him in order to achieve a public relations coup on behalf of President Bush. Jim McDermott also participates in conspiracies -- at least according to the courts. A federal judge found McDermott guilty in...

McDermott Co-Sponsors Legislation to Reinstate the Draft January 7, 2003 - For Immediate Release Washington, DC-- Congressman Jim McDermott (Democrat) has announced his co-sponsorship of Congressman Charles Rangel's (Democrat) legislation to reinstate the military draft and other forms of national service. The bill would require Americans between 18 and 26 to serve two years in the military or in civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security. The bill, HR 163, is intended to ensure that the burden of military service is not borne disproportionately by the poor and numbers of minority groups. Congressman McDermott commented that...

Justice sometimes proves elusive, but it's nearly always worth waiting for. Consider the eight-year legal battle waged by Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) to hold one of his more fanatical colleagues, Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), culpable for blatantly breaking the law. Back in 1996, McDermott leaked to the media the tape of a cell-phone conference call between Boehner, Newt Gingrich and other GOP congressional leaders; the group was discussing a House Ethics Committee investigation of then-Speaker Gingrich. McDermott, who was the committee's ranking Democrat, was given the tape by a couple of politically active Democrats who said they'd made it —...

Dirty tricks aren't exactly unheard of in politics. But one of the more notorious examples in recent memory neared a conclusion Friday when a federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled that the First Amendment doesn't apply when the information in question has been stolen. Judge Thomas Hogan ruled that Seattle-area Congressman James McDermott had no constitutional right to leak to the press a tape of cell-phone conversation he knew had been obtained illegally. The case dates back to 1996 and the House ethics committee's investigation into then-Speaker Newt Gingrich. Representative John Boehner, a Republican, sued Mr. McDermott, a Democrat, after...