In the WASHINGTON TIMES (2/13/97) I read the following announcement: "Discussion of government and the media -7 p.m. - The George Washington University holds a discussion titled 'The 24-hour News Cycle: Governing in the Information Age.' The speakers are Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, George Washington University president, Carl Stern, George Washington University professor: Michael McCurry, White House press secretary, Marlin Fitzwater, press secretary to Presidents Reagan and Bush: and Charles Bierbauer, CNN correspondent. Location: George Washington University Marvin Center, 800 21st St. NW. Contact:202/9946460"
I called the number and asked if the public was invited and if questions would be allowed of the panel. The University told me, "yes".
University President Trachtenberg left after introducing the panel. I listened to the panelists talk and joke for an hour about how quickly the news gets out to the public 24 hours a day non-stop. Carl Stern acted as moderator and called on me to ask the first question.
I rose to my feet in the front row and addressed the packed room of about 200 people. I said, "I have a serious question about news suppression. A man I know who lives a few blocks from here was the victim of witness intimidation and harassment. Last November he filed suit naming two dozen men including two FBI agents assigned to Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr. The next day the American people were told it snowed in Cleveland and I would like to ask..."
Mr. Stern cut me off and quickly polled the panel, "do you know anything about that? We don't know anything about it." He turned to take another question.
I continued, "I am not surprised you don't know anything about it, that is my point, the news has been suppressed. I would like to ask a question about news suppression..."
I was cut off again this time from a man behind me several rows who said, "you can't ask the question, this event is for the students."
I said, "Well you have suppressed the news now you are suppressing my question." I took my seat and told the students nearby, "welcome to the Soviet Union."
At no time during the meeting or my question was I loud, rude, confrontational or impolite in any way.
The man who was behind me left the room and I saw him in the hall by the door. He was pointing me out to a police sergeant who he had summoned. Two more policemen arrived and I was pointed out again before they took positions by all of the exits.
I began to wonder if I was about to be arrested for something they would accuse me of doing. As the meeting was closing I told some of the students near me that I thought I may be arrested and I would appreciate any of their names as witnesses that I had done nothing wrong. They turned and walked away. One of them said, "hey I am just a student, I don't want to get involved." One young man did step forward and give me his name. God bless him.
When I left the room the police let me pass but they all followed me down the hall, rode down the elevator with me and escorted me until I was out the door and off the campus.
Mr. Stern was formerly the press spokesperson for the United States Department of Justice when the witness intimidation and harassment occurred. He knew that the witness I was talking about has alleged that FBI agents assigned to Kenneth Starr have obstructed justice in the death investigation of Vincent W. Foster.
The heavyweights of the Washington press scene were afraid to hear my question or engage in a discussion with me; that is why they cut me off and called the police. They are afraid because I am armed with the truth. The truth must be suppressed.
Last year in a similar public forum, Sanford Unger the Dean of the School of Communications at American University threatened to have me "thrown out of the hall" for asking a question about news suppression. This time they called the police. Next time I may be arrested and unable to provide a report to my fellow citizens. It is unlikely the American press would report the arrest of a citizen under such circumstances.