From The Courtroom Watchers:
Trial of Florida Abortion Doctor Reveals Conspiracy
Between Anti-Abortion Government Officials and Church Leaders
After Dr. Pendergraft purchased a building to open a Women's Center that also provides abortion services, the Chairman of the Marion County Board of Commissioners , Larry Cretul, admittedly anti-abortion, used his power to write an unprecedented letter from Marion County Board of Commissioners to Dr. Pendergraft advocating for him not to open. His said on the stand, "I serve two purposes and sometimes it's difficult to separate personal feelings from positions as commissioner."
When Dr. Pendergraft continued with plans to open, Mr. Cretul alerted the FBI that he felt threatened by Dr. Pendergraft's plans to paint his building pink, erect a 50 foot flagpole and do abortions on Sunday as it would bring violence to Ocala. Mr. Cretul then proceeded to become part of the FBI investigation by conducting secret recordings. FBI agent, Pam Piersante testified that the recordings did not provide evidence of crime sufficient to indict for extortion, even though they were presented for consideration several times.
Finally, the FBI decided to bait Dr. Pendergraft into a "fake settlement conference" coordinated by Marion County Attorney, Virgil Wright. He, admittedly anti-abortion, went so far as to not get directions from Marion County his client's (Marion County) and pursue his own desire to participate as an active agent of the FBI to get Dr. Pendergraft. He joined the FBI sting operation by inducing Dr. Pendergraft and his Attorney Roy Lucas to come under false pretenses of settling their potential lawsuit (maybe they would be incriminated when talking about settlement money). He admitted to baiting them by lying, "I have full authority to settle the case and pay the money. You just have to come here and convince me". His excuse he states proudly, that everything he did "was designed to facilitate them to continue their propensity for criminal conduct." His frequent contacts ("more than 10, less than 30") with FBI agent Pam Piersanti were 'to stay in touch' and to ensure that the prosecution was moving forward.
The secretly recorded video tape of the conference held in Wright's office, with Dr. Pendergraft, Michael Spielvogel, and attorney Roy Lucas is a greatly hyped piece of evidence, which turns out to be a normal discussion of potential costs and jury awards of a possible lawsuit, with all the posturing and jockeying of lawyers which might be expected. The Nation described the discussion as "the hyperbolic, nonliteral language of hradball negotiation-certainly not extortion."
The FBI agent Pam Piersante, who did the investigation admitted on the stand that she belongs to Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Ocala. The same church that has members actively picketing outside Dr. Pendergraft's clinic. She admits that because a complaint was filed by a County Commissioner, she did not investigate his background, political position on the issue of abortion, or even if he had any other involvement with anti-abortion activities. She admits that she did not supervise Commissioner Cretul during recording and handling tapes. She said that she did not feel it necessary to supervise a "responsible member of the community".
From Piersanti's testimony it seems that she decided Dr. Pendergraft was guilty, before she even looked into the story. There is no verification of Dr. Pendergraft's credentials, his ownership of the proposed clinic building or licenses. But because Dr. Pendergraft responded to a letter written to him by this County Commissioner, agent Piersanti said she was convinced he intended to get illicit money from the county!
Mark Devereaux, Assistant US Attorney (the prosecuting attorney) is also avidly anti-abortion (among anti-other things) judging from his allegedly referring to Dr. Pendergraft as a "head-crusher" and allegedly being involved in mimicking Dr. Pendergraft in a racially demeaning manner. His anti-abortion agenda is so strong that he inadvertently exposed what the case is all about by asking the judge to order down pro-choice messages on a balloon in support of Dr. Pendergraft. Deveraeux also vehemently objected to a banner listing the National organizations in support of Dr. Pendergraft. When asked if he wanted the dozens of pro-life messages removed, he promptly answered "NO!". The judge finally ruled that the pro-choice messages were within first amendment rights, after a banner that said "Dr. Pendergraft is Innocent" was removed.
And the church, Reverend Edward Johnson, Pastor of First Baptist Church of Ocala wrote to Dr. Pendergraft, that he and his congregation of 4,500 followers (which include both Larry Cretul and Virgil Wright) would use every legal mean to keep Dr. Pendergraft out of Ocala. This pastor also organized a letter writing campaign resulting in thousands of pro-life letters to Dr. Pendergraft from churches and individuals urging him to stay away. It turns out both Larry Cretul and Virgil Wright belong to this church. Larry Cretul admits on the stand that Reverend Johnson is his friend and spiritual leader.
If you do not believe that abuse of power occurs at the highest levels, you must follow this trial and bring it to the notice of the rest of the United States. An abortion doctor in the country does not have the same rights as the rest of us.
[posted 1/22/01]
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