The City Paper has been on the case:
On Friday, Feb. 27, City Paper and an attorney for the ACLU filed an emergency petition to open trial proceedings in the Scaife divorce case ... only to find out that, for now at least, no further courtroom action is scheduled.And:
What's surprising about this recent development is the complete lack of coverage in any of the city's "non-alternative" press. As of 11:20pm on March 2, 2009 a google-news search on:Attorneys for both Richard Scaife and his estranged wife, Margaret, were on hand in Eaton's courtroom -- in numbers sufficient to field their own volleyball team. While the case is still pending, they assured Eaton that no further courtroom action is currently scheduled.
Which is nice to know. The problem is that in this case, even the docket -- a summary of legal actions taken in a case -- has also been sealed. That makes it impossible for the public or the press to know what has happened, or when.
"Richard Mellon Scaife" divorceTurns up nothing. Nada. Zippo. A big goose egg. The null set.
Why is that?
I can understand the Trib's reluctance to report this news. Richard Mellon Scaife owns the Tribune-Review and given the current economic situation why would anyone want to bite the hand that feeds?
But shouldn't the P-G (the Trib's larger, less conservative cross town rival) be pouncing on this story? I mean given the fact that the P-G has already gotten hold of some previously sealed court documents (which were important enough for Scaife's attorneys to demand their return) shouldn't it be running with this story? Why is it silent now?
And what of the Burgh's other news sources? If the P-G is silent (for whatever reason) then it would follow that it's "news partner" KDKA to also be silent. If the Trib's silent, then it would follow that it's "news partner" WTAE to also remain silent.
That leaves you, PXI. Why nothing on this story?
And what about radio? KQV, like the Tribune-Review, is owned (at least partially) by Richard Mellon Scaife.
Why is this story important, you might ask? I don't think I need to remind you that our mutual friend Richard Mellon Scaife underwrote the so-called "Arkansas Project." The same "Arkansas Project" designed to dig up dirt (financial, political and private) on a recent southern president and his wife. And yet when the dirty laundry in question is Scaife's own (and in a public forum, no less) he's shut down (or out) the fourth estate.
I guess it's true: a billion bucks certainly buys a lot of things. Looks like one of them is media silence.
The City Paper is doing yeoman duty in the legal jujitsu that is the opening up of these proceedings, in the absence of any other parties with the interest, the inclination and the resources. To fight this battle when the media industry and the economy in general is as it is, they are worthy of recognition in the ... well, you know.
ReplyDeleteWay to go, House of Potter.
Nobody gives a shit.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bram.
ReplyDeleteFor the record -- and I'll post this at some point -- P-G executive editor David Shribman points out that his paper has already done some heavy lifting on this story. Dennis Roddy did manage to obtain some of the filings in this case, and those can still be found on their site. Having done that much, and having been hauled into court themselves for it, Shribman feels they've done their part and are "chary" of doing much more.
Funny that local progressives were not as open to releasing court records when rightwing muckrakers wanted to look at John Kerry sealed divorce records or Teresa Heinz sealed probate records.
ReplyDeleteGreat. Make me look up a word.
ReplyDelete