Judge Likely To Compel Cheney Testimony

Judge likely to compel Cheney testimony
Judge Indicates He Will Order Cheney's Testimony in Lawsuit by Colorado Man

http://www.rawstory.com/news/mochila..._03112008.html

GEORGE MERRITT
Mar 11, 2008 18:46 EST

A federal magistrate indicated Tuesday he will order Vice President Dick Cheney to give sworn testimony in a lawsuit by a man who claims he was wrongly arrested after approaching Cheney.

Magistrate Judge Craig B. Shaffer did not issue an order but said Cheney is a key witness whose deposition appears to be crucial to the case. Shaffer said he will issue a written decision later.

Steven Howards of Denver sued five federal agents for arresting him after he approached the vice president in a crowd at Beaver Creek and criticized the Iraq war. Howards was later released and the harassment charge against him dropped.

Howards' attorney, David Lane, said agents have given conflicting accounts of Howards' interaction with the vice president, with at least one saying Howards shoved Cheney in the back and another saying Howards shook Cheney's hand and patted his shoulder.

Lane said agents have accused each other of lying in depositions.

James Gilligan, an attorney for the office of the vice president, argued that ordering Cheney to give a deposition would distract him from his duties.

But Shaffer said the case was "singularly unique," and said Cheney's deposition would be important because he was a witness, not because of his position as vice president.

Shaffer suggested he might limit the scope of the deposition to allow only written questions with a time limit.