"Red October", "Die Hard" Director McTiernan Charged by FBI for False Statements

[Guest]

Lawyer also charged

Hollywood director charged in Pellicano case
Monday April 3 7:11 PM ET


John McTiernan, director of "The Hunt for Red October" and "Rollerball," was charged on Monday with lying to the FBI in the Hollywood wire-tap investigation surrounding celebrity sleuth Anthony Pellicano.

McTiernan, who also produced and directed "Die Hard 3," became the 14th defendant to face charges in a far-reaching federal case that has become a major Hollywood scandal and threatens to spill the motion picture community's secrets.

The 55-year-old filmmaker was charged with a single count of making false statements to federal agents and ordered to appear in court on April 17. His attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.

The two-page charging document accuses McTiernan of lying to the FBI when he told agents during an interview that "he had no knowledge of any wiretapping conducted by Anthony Pellicano and had never discussed wiretapping with Anthony Pellicano."

"In fact, as defendant McTiernan well knew, he had hired and paid Anthony Pellicano to conduct a wiretapping of Charles Roven and Anthony Pellicano had discussed with defendant McTiernan his interception of Charles Roven's telephone calls and the information that Anthony Pellicano had obtained from that wiretap," the court papers say.

The documents do not elaborate on the eavesdropping but Roven is a Hollywood producer who worked with McTiernan on the film "Rollerball." Prosecutors declined to comment on the charges.

Pellicano, who has worked for some of the biggest names in Hollywood, was charged in a 110-count racketeering and conspiracy indictment, which alleges he illegally wiretapped and obtained the confidential records of performers, journalists and business executives.

He has pleaded not guilty to the indictment, which was unsealed just before he completed a 30-month term in federal prison for firearms violations.

The former private detective faces up to 20 years behind bars on each of the racketeering charges.

Among those whose privacy he is accused of breaching through wiretaps or illicit database searches were entertainers Sylvester Stallone, Garry Shandling, Kevin Nealon and Keith Carradine.

Terry Christensen, a partner in a law form that has represented such entertainers as Barbara Streisand, Elton John, Sean Connery and Kim Basinger, was indicted on charges of hiring Pellicano to eavesdrop on the ex-wife of his longtime client, billionaire Kirk Kerkorian.

Story here.

Harju's opinion: It's about time that some of the rot and corruption in Tinseltown is finally seeing the light of day - sunshine really is the best disinfectant.

It's interesting how little press attention this is getting. Can it be that Hollyweird's butt-buddies in the liberal media are shilling for them? The lawyer charged in this flap has represented Babwa Stweisand, among others. Harju rests his case.

mh

"The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat."

[Amazon 7]

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Harju's opinion: It's about time that some of the rot and corruption in Tinseltown is finally seeing the light of day - sunshine really is the best disinfectant.

Could it be a very overzealous government going after...... people who do not agree wiht the Administration... things that make you go HMMMMMM


But illegal wiretaps by the government.. no problem....

[akarunway 1]

"He has pleaded not guilty to the indictment, which was unsealed just before he completed a 30-month term in federal prison for firearms violations"> Nothing like all the charges at once. Not that I care about Hollywierd BUT, typical govt. tactics. RICO comes to mind

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[lawrocket 3]

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Harju's opinion: It's about time that some of the rot and corruption in Tinseltown is finally seeing the light of day - sunshine really is the best disinfectant.

Could it be a very overzealous government going after...... people who do not agree wiht the Administration... things that make you go HMMMMMM


But illegal wiretaps by the government.. no problem....

This Pellicano case has A LOT of high-power attorneys shaking. Here's a little history:

Pellicano was originally indicted in 2002 for having illegal explosives in his office. This was the result of a threat he made to an LA Times reporter investigating Steven Seagal. She ratted him out after one of his associates left a dead fish on her windshield. Of course, this was the sort fo stuff going on for most of the people he was investigating - and he was working for the Hollywood lawyers on the Westside and their Hollywood clients.

Unfortunately for many, Pellicano's reputation was as a PI for hire - and an enforcer - for Hollywood types and their attorneys. It turns out Pellicano was paying off people like a Beverly Hills Cop for access to sensitive information. He also used wiretaps and other less-than-ethical means of gathering information. When he was under the federal rap for explosives is when the FBI learned about his penchant for wiretapping, which is within their jurisdiction.

Because he was able to dig up such dirt that others could not, he was widely used by the attorneys for the most powerful people around - so many attorneys used him that any number of lawyers could end up going down for this. Most of these lawyers are the kinds of lawyers that speak through their publicists - entertainment lawyers who handle divorces for their clients, contract deals, etc.

Obviously, these were the folks with the most to lose in the land of public opinion. People like Kirk Kekorian and his attorneys used Pellicano to eavesdrop on his wife during divorce proceedings. Another of his clients was a record producer - his ex-girlfriend (the target) is a named plaintiff in a class action (so she's being used again).

Part of the problem with the investigation was that Pellicano had his files encrypted, and it took about a year for the feds to decipher the encryption. Once the files were cracked, it led to a lot of nervousness from those attorneys and their clients. Attorneys are being indicted now, and more attorneys are worried about the contact letters that may be expected from the DOJ.

Why? Because the encrypted conversations were between Pellicano and his clients. And if Pellicano was talking to someone and it is clear that the client knew about the wiretaps, say hello to a federal crime!



Obviously, with the stuff that was figured out, like cracking the encrypton, the FBI itself might not have had the expertise and resources to crack these codes. It probably needed help.

There is some fairly widespread speculation that the NSA was utilized for this. So Jeanne might not be too far off track - she's heading in the right direction but facing the wrong way.

Now, this case doesn't have the sex appeal to put it on the Enquirer. But we lawyers follow stuff like this, especially when askign ourselves, "If faced with the same situation, what would I do?" I'd be outta that firm so fast it'd make their heads spin. I don't need that association following me around, and my guess is others don't, either.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[freethefly 6]

This is going to make a great movie someday! Real life crime story. Chances are scriptwriters are keeping notes as this unfolds.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[Amazon 7]

It seems a FEW cases have had some interesting.. uh.. intelligence found out by things allowed under the Patriot Act.

I am not saying it is wrong to put poeple in jail for breaking the law.. I just want it to be with equanimity.

Just think how far Nixon could have gone with this kind of access to information.. we would have a HUGE "enemies list" of people who do not agree with the administration.....hmmm never could happen....RIIIIIGGGGGHHHHHHTTTTTTT

[lawrocket 3]

Jeanne, this all started with a threat against a reporter. The sezied documents, data and recordings have led to this.

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Just think how far Nixon could have gone with this kind of access to information

Or Clinton? No need for those tax documents from the enemies, or even for the "Bimbo Eruption" squad.

Or maybe LBJ? Show those anti-war protestors a thing or two.

Or J Edgar Hoover? It'd moisten his panties, in a figurative and very literal sense.

The same can be said for all people in power, Jeanne. Dubya is just the one on top now.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[Amazon 7]

Right.... and he should be prosecuted for that.. but does it not worry you in any way that the weight of the NSA and their ability to datamine information and to break encryption was apparently used in this case.

Knowledge has always been power( you brought up J.Edgar Hoover) and having the power to spy on whoever the government wants... for WHATEVER reseaon they deem vital to National Security.

With the defacto theocracy that is extant in this country... how long do you think it will be till the list of punishable "crimes" include things that the religeous right determines to be worth of prosecution.

Personally I do not do drugs... but you only have to look at the drug laws pertaining to marijuana ..

Can anyone else name some laws that are based on Theocratic ideals???

[lawrocket 3]

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does it not worry you in any way that the weight of the NSA and their ability to datamine information and to break encryption was apparently used in this case.

Sure it does. I don't have a problem with them helping on legally obtained effects.

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having the power to spy on whoever the government wants... for WHATEVER reseaon they deem vital to National Security.

An average person in New York is caught on camera 10 times er day. An avergae person in London is caught on camera 300 times per day.

In terms of my opinions on warrantless searches, I've posted sevreal times about my problems with them. I've also posted my idea about how we got to where there may be a legitimate argument for it under the Commerce Clause. And as an FYI, I DESPISE that argument as much as I have a problem with most commerce clause jurisprudence over the last 60 years.

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With the defacto theocracy that is extant in this country

That's hyperbole, and I don't find that to be a very supportable position.

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how long do you think it will be till the list of punishable "crimes" include things that the religeous right determines to be worth of prosecution.

Well, it happens all the time. The Secular LEft was doing the same thing back when Carter was in power, and when Johnson and Kennedy were in power, although some of them were the old southern democrats.

We see the secular left passing laws and approving prior restraints of speech, hate crime legislation, generally codifying "political correctness." I've got the same problems with that that I have with it coming from the "religious right."

Do YOU have problems with anti-speech legislation such as "offensive speech?" Does it strike you as at all ironic that "offensive hate speech" that is not tolerated by the secular left because it is offensive is the absolute functional equivalent of "offensive smut" that the religous right finds offensive?

BOTH sides do it, Jeanne. It has happened and will continue to happen in perpetuity.

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Personally I do not do drugs... but you only have to look at the drug laws pertaining to marijuana ..

I've never done drugs. But, those laws go back to before the 60's, don't they. Republicans didn't get control of Congress intill 1995, and yet those laws were there before.

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Can anyone else name some laws that are based on Theocratic ideals???

What, like laws against murder, theft, incest, rape, etc? Yeah, I can name some big ones...

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[Dolph 0]

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What, like laws against murder, theft, incest, rape, etc? Yeah, I can name some big ones...

Hm yes. Before Christ was born, died and sort of got himself living again, people thought murdering, raping and pillaging was generally a good idea and pretty moral overall. After Christ it was a different matter. Well, sort of. It took us a little while to get there with all the heathens being spread out over the world.

The Vikings had laws about murder, incest and whatnot as well. Then around a thousand years ago, Christianity forced its entry. More laws were added, but the fundamental ones such as laws against murder, stealing etc. were already there.

Seriously though - just which religions do these laws originate from? Rewarding/punishing certain behaviour in social groups have been around for a long time and with all probability predates human intelligence. If this codified into law or theology, that would require some set amount intelligence but that is not the same as to suggest this codified knowledge arrived before, well, the knowledge that was codified.

And such behaviour seem to me to have been - up until very recently - directed internally in a group. Such restrictions have not applied for outside groups. If external, it has been quite OK to rape, plunder and pillage. Even if you were a Christian.

I dunno - these claims "morality and laws all come from religion" seem to ignore some easily observable things, such as the behaviour we see in pack animals.

[Amazon 7]

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What, like laws against murder, theft, incest, rape, etc? Yeah, I can name some big ones...

Aww come on Law my dear...... I was going after the myriad other laws that involve morality.. not crimes againt others....

Come on now..think about it... in the not too distant future they are going to be very very important to us all in this country.

[lawrocket 3]

Actually, Jeanne, recent history has overturned most of those laws. They were quite common in the 17th, 18th, 19th and even 20th centuries.

Sodomy was grouped with bestiality as an "infamous crime against nature." There was a tort for "alienation of affection" when someone had an affair with another's spouse.

We had decency laws, etc. And a great deal of these laws - based on religion, have fallen by the wayside.

Jeanne - look at the evidence. We're going the OTHER way with these laws. They are being treated as vestiges.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[Amazon 7]

You live in CA.. the land of fruits andnuts.....

BUT in most of the flyover states..... You know the ones in the big RED heartland they are alive and well


You cant project the liberal leanings of your state laws onto the rest of America... especially with the way the laws are being applied on a local level in a hell of a lot of the local courts in the Heartland of America.

[lawrocket 3]

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You live in CA.. the land of fruits andnuts.....

You forgot the "flakes."

There's nothing wrong with California that a giant tsunami won't cure.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[Amazon 7]

Hell right now it sounds like its washing away again....

[lawrocket 3]

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Hell right now it sounds like its washing away again....

We are. I'm right in the middle of it. Flooding, etc. You'd think we were in Washington or something with the way this is coming down.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[Amazon 7]

I guess I should not tell you about the 60 degree+ and sunny here in Seattle when I went out to lunch....