(Crossposted from My Left Nutmeg.)
Don Michak of the Journal Inquirer is reporting that prominent Dem lawyer Bruce Rubenstein has sicced the Feds on anonymous bloggers impersonating Senators Harry Reid and Barack Obama on Connecticut Local Politics.
The questionable postings occurred last month, as Lieberman, a three-term incumbent, faced an extraordinary challenge for the Democrats' senatorial endorsement from Greenwich cable executive Edward M. "Ned" Lamont.
Lieberman won the nod at the party's statewide convention in Hartford on May 19, but Lamont surprised many observers by securing the votes of a third of the delegates and forcing a primary election in August.
"Harry Reid," in a message posted May 4, said he was writing to "urge you to support my friend, Joe Lieberman, when you convene with your fellow delegates" and "then when you cast your vote in the Aug. 8 primary."
In another message posted May 7, "Obama" urged "progressives and moderates alike" to join him "and Harry Reid in support of Joe Lieberman at your convention and again on Aug. 8."
"Sen. Harry Reid" also took direct aim at Rubenstein in a May 5 posting, telling the lawyer that, "you have the remarkable distinction of being loathed uniformly within your party."
Rubenstein said such messages stopped within a few days of the party's nominating convention after he had sent messages to both Reid and Obama in a bid to determine their authenticity.
The lawyer formally requested that the FBI probe the postings on May 10, writing that he strongly suspected they were not made by either of the high-profile politicians.
He added that he suspected they were created by "someone involved in a campaign, at a high level, who knows me and who is trying to confer a benefit to the Lieberman campaign."
Ouch!
The alleged offense is a violation of 18 USC, section 912 and carries a penalty of three years in the slammer.
Memo to Ken: The Feds can determine your unique IP address. The Feds can tap your phone. And your boss approves! And when your appeal reaches the Supreme Court, Sam "Not Extreme Enough" Alito will laugh at your puny First Amendment defense. And your boss will approve!
