U.S. District Judge Charles C. Lovell was certainly correct in his decision to temporarily withhold evidence in the Unabomber investigation from news organizations (Main news, April 11).
The story doesn’t name these organizations, but they should be singled out for their hypocritical attempt to pry loose this information. For the sake of short-term headlines and the continued employment of a lot of microphone-holders reporting “live” from the latest hot spot, they’re willing to risk wrecking the government’s case.
With members of that other cynical profession, defense lawyers, tripping over each other to represent the Unabomber, the accused will be able to pick the best tricksters, who’ll do everything they can to bamboozle the jury.
The prosecutors will need an airtight case and all the untainted evidence they can get. Come to think of it, the so-called “news” organizations can’t really complain. They still win because they can milk the “controversial” trial for more headlines.
