[Am-info] Microsoft didn't disclose some contacts witn Congrerss

[John J. Urbaniak]

Another blatant example of Microsoft's perjury and contempt for the Law.

John


Gene Gaines wrote:

> See:
> http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoft/134389674_microsoft11.html
>
> Microsoft didn't disclose some contacts
>
> By D. Ian Hopper
> The Associated Press
>
> WASHINGTON — Microsoft communicated with members of Congress and their aides
> about its antitrust case and did not disclose the contacts to the trial judge
> who requested information about the company's lobbying in the case.
>
> Microsoft said this week that it had decided to disclose only contacts with
> executive-branch officials in the required court filings, following the example of
> AT&T when it settled its landmark antitrust case in the 1980s.
>
> Microsoft reported to the court that its lone contacts with federal employees
> included Justice Department lawyers and two federal mediators hired to help
> assist settlement talks.
>
> Legal experts, however, questioned whether the omission of congressional
> contacts violated federal law.
>
> "If you specifically talk about the proposed settlement, that would seem to fall
> under the requirements of the plain language of the statute," said lawyer Dana
> Hayter with the firm of Howard Rice in San Francisco.
>
> Both Microsoft and a congressional aide who witnessed the contacts
> acknowledge Microsoft officials briefed Senate Judiciary Committee aides on the
> settlement just before a December congressional hearing on the case.
>
> The Tunney Act requires defendants in antitrust cases such as Microsoft's to
> disclose "any and all written or oral communications" with "any officer or
> employee of the United States" related to the settlement.
>
> ...
>
> Several aides of lawmakers acknowledged discussing the settlement
> negotiations with Microsoft representatives.
>
> An aide to Rep. Jennifer Dunn, R-Wash., talked with Microsoft officials in
> September, as settlement discussions renewed.
>
> During the same month, Dunn organized more than 100 lawmakers to sign a
> letter to the Justice Department and Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve
> Ballmer urging a settlement.
>
> The lawmaker's staff called company executives for advice about appearing on a
> television show focusing on the case.
>
> "We just had to call Microsoft so we could understand better what the issue
> was," spokeswoman Jen Burita said.'
>
> That last several paragraphs is worth reading a second time.
>
> Gene Gaines
> gene.gaines@gainesgroup.com
> Sterling, Virginia
>
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