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

[Geoffrey]

"John J. Urbaniak" wrote:
> 
> Another blatant example of Microsoft's perjury and contempt for the Law.

Yeah, and the government will probably slap their OTHER hand for this
one...

> 
> 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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> > http://lists.essential.org/mailman/listinfo/am-info
> 
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--
Until later: Geoffrey		esoteric@3times25.net

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