How the reporter got Diebold lawyer to admit they were his memos

[BevHarris]

I wondered how Ian Hoffman, the writer from the Oakland Trib, got Daniel McMillan, the Diebold lawyer who was involved with many of the Diebold lawyer memos, to admit that the memos were authentic.

Here's the inside story:

News reporters usually call the other side for comment. But, if Hoffman called the law firm for comment they might end up with a temporary restraining order preventing them from going to print with the story.

So, Hoffman waited until the last minute before sending the paper to print. He called McMillan at home, reached the wife. McMillan wasn't there, and she gave Hoffman his cell phone.

Now, let me preface this by saying that Daniel McMillan is a fancy suit and a corporate bully with a carefully trimmed yuppie beard who ridicules voting activists in public, calls us conspiracy nuts and says I have been engaged in the whole voting investigation solely for personal publicity. He's gone far enough that I once put him on notice in front of an NBC camera that he had strayed into libel territory -- the cameras zoomed in, and he scurried away. Suffice it to say, I have no sympathy for him. Back to our story.

Hoffman reached McMillan at a Lakers game. It went something like this:

IH: "I have a few questions for you."
DM: "You'll have to call me tomorrow."
IH: "I don't think you want to do that."
DM: "Okay. What do you have?"
IH: (Begins reading him one of his own memos, perhaps the one about the 8-week $1 million Diebold budget for lawyers)
DM: (sound of loud scream above the din of the Lakers crowd): "Jeeezus! They've got our documents!!! We've gotta go NOW!"

IH: (writing his story) "Jones Day partner Daniel D. McMillan declined to comment on the content of the documents except to confirm they were internal papers from his office..."

Every now and then, one needs a smile. I can't help but see the above as a clip in a movie. After seeing the smarmy bastards in action, you'd laugh, too.

Bev Harris

[Failure]

1. That's awesome bev..

o'dell is slime..i've actually been in his house...:puke:

[BevHarris]

3. Was that you in LBN describing the fat guy munching Oxycontin?

Now that was funny. But rude of him to hog Wally O'Dell's bathroom, wasn't it?

Bev

[Failure]

7. lol, yep that was me.

it's an honor to meet with and talk to you, bev.

[BevHarris]

9. Do you live in Ohio? Just got back from Ohio and,

as Ah-nold says,

"I'll be back."

Bev

[Failure]

12. I'm in Columbus...

When are you comin' back? We'll go to Graeter's.

[BevHarris]

14. Cool. Email me your contact info

[email protected]

I'd love to meet you.

[FizzFuzz]

2. Great Story!!

Thank you. I for one needed that smile. Nice to see some justice somewhere.

[Jacobin]

4. Shades of Watergate

Hats off to you Bev and the intrepid reporter.

[BevHarris]

21. There is a film coming out (independent) called "Votergate"

The folks doing it have some new stuff. Very good investigative documentary producers.

Bev

[aquart]

5. I believe John Mitchell had a similar outburst

in All The President's Men.

[BevHarris]

11. Made a comment about tits in a wringer

I believe something to the effect of "Jeezus! If you guys print that, Kate Graham will have her tits in a wringer."

Katherine Graham was the publisher of the Washington Post. Mitchell's outburst didn't go over well with the senior editorial board, who became all the more committed to the Watergate story.

[AP]

6. I remember reading a book about Stephen Biko and reading...

...about the things the fascists in SA thought and did to destroy people.

I remember thinking that in addition to being evil, the racists fascists were STUPID.

This story reminds me of that feeling.

[Melsky]

8. Thanks for the great story

That made my day.

[Beetwasher]

10. The Best Part (Aside from Hopefully Saving Democracy that is):

It ruined the douchebags night at the Laker Game!

Bwhahahahahahaahqhaahahahahhahahah! PRICELESS!!!

[BevHarris]

13. I would bet they didn't sleep much that night.

And, "that night" was Monday April 19 -- it was just 36 hours before the formal voting panel hearings were to begin.

If Daniel McMillan had planned to be there, he sure couldn't show his face now could he? Reporters would have crawled all over him.

- helped save democracy
- ruined the man's Lakers game
- Diebold had to go with the second string from Jones Day. Wait -- Diebold has to reconsider whether to keep the law firm at all.

Hats off to Ian Hoffman, who is a ballsy reporter who does actual investigative reporting.

Bev

[Beetwasher]

16. That Is So Awesome!

It's gotta be a real bitch to scramble around to find a firm at this stage...

Bev you are amazing! And kudos to Hoffman too!

[blm]

15. I'll bet there is video of that moment somewhere.

There are video cameras all over the arena. Wouldn't you just love it?

[BevHarris]

18. O'm'gosh. I know filmmakers who'd pay for that footage

in a heartbeat.

They are trying to buy footage of the panel meeting from each other.

And remember, tomorrow is another biggie. California is having a meeting to decide whether to dump paperless touch screens altogether.

[loudsue]

17. LOL! What a great story!!

O8) Soo glad things are going well for you guys, Bev! GREAT WORK!O8)

We will have you to thank if we really do get to vote next November!

:kick:

[Andy_Stephenson]

19. Kick

:kick:

[RedEagle]

20. Kick!

[RedEagle]

22. Back up

Important day in California- throw the non paper systems out!