An executive editor from the West Coast publication wrote the following letter to the relevant officials about the trumped-up charges and malicious prosecution of 9/11 researcher and independent journalist Christopher Bollyn:
25 May 2007
Oakland, California
Dear Sirs,
I am writing to you out of concern for the way Hoffman Estates resident and journalist Christopher Bollyn has been dealt with by law enforcement officers and by the justice system in Cook County. I and others who have been following the case closely, view the upcoming trial and prosecution of Bollyn as baseless and unjust, to say the least.
Indeed, from the records that have been made available to the public, as well as by his own account, which has the ring of truth for any reasonable person, one is strongly led to conclude that Bollyn is being targeted not for any unlawful activity, but for his investigative journalism, the nature of which has been distorted by certain powerful parties who perceive it as threatening to their interests.
Incidentally, not that it ought, of course, to be relevant to the current case, since I have become acquainted with Bollyn's journalism, I have never found any trace of the anti-Semitism with which his apparent enemies have managed to tarnish his good name. On the contrary, while critical of aspects of Israeli and US foreign policy, Bollyn's reporting, in writing and in speech, is characterized by honesty, fairness, courage, balance, humaneness and a gentility of tone that never wanders into anything so foul as bigotry or hatefulness toward his fellow man.
But back to the case. The "recycling" of the video tape evidence of the incident that took place on his property--in which, following his 911 call and the documented series of events that followed, the unarmed Bollyn was attacked in front of his family, TASERed at the liver level, his elbow broken by officers who are supposed to uphold the law--this alone is a clear reason that the prosecution of Bollyn should end immediately. I will refrain from advocating what more I think ought to be done, but if the case against Bollyn is not dropped, it will be a grave shame, an injustice, and a sinister indication of the grave loss of human and Constitutional rights in our country.
I have never met or spoken to Bollyn, however, his passionate interest in the truth and the integrity, logic and grace with which he pursues it in his work, together with the manner in which he presents facts have inspired me with confidence in his side of the story and to add my voice to those calling for this case to be dropped, for this heinous and punitive prosecution of Bollyn, an innocent man and journalist, to end. So far Hoffman Estates has not come off looking so rosy, but I nonetheless hope to appeal to your consciences, to your sense fairness and decency, that we may see a return to the values we want our people and our institutions to be known for. I strongly urge that you gentlemen in your responsible positions will see fit to look at the evidence dispassionately and truly let justice be served.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
M.W.
Executive Editor
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The letter was sent to the following officials:
Mayor of Hoffman Estates - William D. McLeod
bill.mcleod@hoffmanestates.org
Chief of Police Clint Herdegen (Hoffman Estates P.D.)
clint.herdegen@hoffmanestates.org
Acting Spokesperson for Bollyn Case and Officer Responsible for Preservation of Video Evidence – Lt. Richard Russo (HEPD)
richard.russo@hoffmanestates.org
Illinois State Senator for 28th District (Bollyn's district)
The Honorable John J. Millner
johnjmilner@aol.com
Cook County State's Attorney's Office
stateattorney@cookcountygov.com
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