Nadia, CNN link? Sure, here is the transcript from last nights’ broadcast:
BROWN: And Scott Ritter joins us next to address the allegations that have been floating out there about him.
We’ll take a short break first.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROWN: Scott Ritter has a knack for making headlines.
Last year, the former weapons inspector, who used to drive the Iraqis crazy, started driving the White House crazy by saying that there was no evidence that the Iraqis still had weapons of mass destruction and that war was a huge mistake. Then there were accusations, fiercely denied, that his old boss at the U.N. had turned the inspection program into a U.S. spying operation.
This all became a bit of a circus, with Ritter as the ringmaster. Now comes another furor, but this is a very different sort: reports that Scott Ritter was arrested in 2001 for trying to lure a teenage girl he had met on the Internet. It was a misdemeanor charge. It was ultimately dismissed and the record sealed. Some of this has leaked out this week.
Mr. Ritter joins us tonight from Albany, New York.
Nice to see you, sir.
SCOTT RITTER, FORMER U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: Thank you.
BROWN: All right, here we go. What happened in June of 2001?
RITTER: In June of 2001, I was arrested by the Colonie Police Department and charged with a Class B misdemeanor.
BROWN: And what was that Class B misdemeanor?
RITTER: Aaron, we’re dealing with a case that has been dismissed and the record has been sealed by a judge’s order. And I’m obligated, both ethically and legally, not to talk about that case.
But I will tell you this. I stood before the judge in an open court session, public session. And that judge, together with the police of Colonie and the assistant district attorney and my attorney, agreed for an adjudication in contemplation of dismissal. And the case was dismissed and the file sealed.
And we should never forget that, when a case is dismissed, what the law says is that, by dismissing the case, it brings with it the presumption of innocence. And by sealing the file, it’s designed to prevent the stigma attached with any unsubstantiated allegations from arising. So, as far as I’m concerned, as far as everyone should be concerned, this is a dead issue.
BROWN: Well, first of all, obviously, it’s not a dead issue, because it’s been out there all week. So let’s – I want to go back to some of this.
Scott, we spent a fair amount of time today looking at New York law on this. There is nothing in a sealed case, zero, that prevents you from talking about it. The point of the seal is to protect you from the state, not to protect the state from you.
Now, you can – it seems to me, you can choose not to talk about the specifics of this. That’s always the right of the guest. But I’m not sure that there is – I’m not sure what the ethical question is about talking about it. And none of our lawyers can find the legal one, OK?
So, what happened in 2001?
RITTER: Well, Aaron, What I’ll say is this. What I’ll say is this, Aaron, is, in 2001, I stood before a judge.
BROWN: Why? Why were you before the judge, Scott?
RITTER: Because I was arrested, Aaron.
BROWN: Why were you arrested?
RITTER: I’m not asking for your forgiveness or anybody else’s forgiveness.
BROWN: I’m not…
RITTER: I am held accountable to the law. And I was held accountable to the law. And that’s what everyone should remember here. I stood before a judge and the due process of law was carried forth. And now we have a situation where the media has turned this into a feeding frenzy. This is not an extrajudicial proceeding, Aaron. I do not stand before you where I have to testify to anything. The case was dismissed. The file was sealed.
BROWN: Scott, Scott…
RITTER: End of story.
BROWN: Scott, respectfully here, you’re creating a straw dog in me. And I’m not playing that game. I am not the prosecutor. I am trying to give…
RITTER: OK.
BROWN: Excuse me. Let me finish here.
I’m trying to give you an opportunity, if you want to take it, to explain what happened. And here’s the point of that. And you know this is true. You are radioactive until this is cleared up. Until people understand what this is about, no one is going to talk to you about the things that you feel passionately about.
And as uncomfortable as it may be, I submit to you that it is in your interests to explain what happened. Otherwise, lord only knows what people will say.
RITTER: Well, Aaron, lord only knows what people are already saying. And, frankly speaking, I have no control over that.
But, again, with all due respect, Aaron – and I totally understand your question and where you’re coming from – but the bottom line is, the rule of law must apply here and we must never lose sight of that. I think you hit on something. I was a credible voice. I am a credible voice. And I will be a credible voice in regards to issues pertaining to Iraq.
And, obviously, what you’re not mentioning here is the timing of all of this. Why did this come up now?
BROWN: No, we’ll get to the timing of all of this, OK?
RITTER: No, because I have already told you…
BROWN: No, no, no, honestly, believe me…
RITTER: I’m always honest here.
BROWN: We’ve done business together before. And I think I have a reputation in these things of being fair. And we’ll get to the question of timing. But I think we have to deal, I believe – and I guess I get to call the shot on this one – that we have to deal with the issue itself first. Let me try it a different way and then I’m not going to spend the rest of our time beating my head against the wall.
Did you ever go into an Internet chat room looking for teenage girls to have a sexual encounter of any sort with? How about that?
RITTER: Aaron, again, have I to respectfully reply by noting that I am obligated legally not to discuss matters pertaining to a
(CROSSTALK)
BROWN: Can you tell me, under what provision of what law are you referring to?
RITTER: Well, Aaron, you know I’m not a lawyer. And have I sought legal counsel on this. And I’m strictly abiding by legal counsel.
BROWN: So, I can dance around this a thousand ways and you’re not going to tell me why you were arrested at that Burger King on that day in June. Is that right?
RITTER: Aaron, I will respond the same way, this way, until Sunday. I was arrested in June 2001, charged with a Class B misdemeanor. I stood before a judge and the case was dismissed. The file was sealed. And I certainly wish you and everyone else would respect that.
BROWN: OK. Again, I’m not going to beat my head against the wall. If you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t want to talk about it.
