Speaker. I have requested this special order to comment on the main charges involved in yesterdays arraignment and then comment on my request to the court to grant my constitutional right to a speedy trial. The first major charge is that I allegdly accepted a portion of a $50.000 bribe for providing a phony Arab sheik with immigration help. The allegation is supposedly supported by the video tape taken of myself. Mr. Criden an FBI undercover agent and an informer working for the FBI. in a Kennedy Airport Motel room on October 20. 1979. The truth of the matter is I never promised to help in such immigration matters nor did I introduce and get passed any such legislationcontrary to the Government leaks to that effect to the National Broadcasting Co. By this point in time most responsible reporters have determined this to be a fact. The video tape of the Kennedy Airport meeting was reviewed by my lawyer Michael Tigar and myself on two occasions and it shows the following: At no time was the prospect of legislation even discussed by me. The agent and the informer asked for some assistance in getting someone into the country and I told them to get a lawyer. that all they had to do was file the proper immigration forms if they had a problem. I. in fact. advised against an attempt to get the phony sheik into the United States in view of this administrations treatment of high ranking foreign leaders who sought sanctuary here. Howard Criden carried a briefcase out of that meeting.
Keywords matched
immigration