Forum operator files objection to subpoena

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080815_12_A16_hApros604846

By SUSAN HYLTON World Staff Writer
8/15/2008


A prosecutor wants anonymous posters' names in a criminal libel case.


McALESTER — The operator of an Internet forum that is critical of local politics has filed an objection to a subpoena that demands that he identify 35 people who have posted comments under assumed names.

The Pittsburg County District Attorney's Office filed the subpoena Tuesday in reference to an ongoing investigation of "criminal libel" in which District Attorney Jim Bob Miller is the purported victim.

Records show that Miller made a formal complaint to police Monday alleging that Harold King is criminally libel for his and other blogger's comments on the McAlester Watercooler Web site, which can be found at tulsaworld.com/mccooler.

The complaint is listed as slander, a criminal misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine and 120 days in jail.

Criminal slander? Shut the fuck up, you fascist scumbag D.A.

If some judge rules they have to give up the names what will that do for us and our keyboard anonymity here? Would this be something that maybe we need to be paying attention too?

Every encroachment on freedom of speech is another chip in the wall that separates us from becoming a two bit tin horn dictatorship!

let some half baked judge rule in allowing this and the next thing we know we, here at DU will be unclothed too. Personally I put my location in my profile so as to not confuse them when they come for me. But nevertheless I worry