Hoax Alert

From Talk Left:

Ashcroft's Response to Moussaoui Document Foul-Up

We got this email today from two nationally prominent lawyers. It isn't for real, but we didn't know that when we read it. What's scary as you read it is that it could so easily be true with this Administration. [we deleted the name of the wire service for liability purposes and any spacing glitches are our's]

We should also mention that it fooled the higher-ups of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers as well--by the time it was discovered to be a hoax (by astute NACDL Media Affairs Director Dan Dodson), one call to a congressman had already been made to express concern and a staff meeting was in the works as to how to respond.

Update: We were just told that the Congressman mentioned above believed it too and made some phone calls of his own before learning it was a hoax.

Those of you who know me at all also know that I do not like John Ashcroft.  At all.  Knowing that the memo is a hoax, however, is something I feel as many people as possible should be aware of, largely because the memo may appear to be legit, especially if you are alread of the opinion that he believes criminals and suspects already have too many rights.

I'm hoping that with as many bloggers and journalers as possible spreading the word that this is a hoax, the memo won't end up being something that haunts Ashcroft the way Janet Reno's alleged comments about Christianity being a cult (which she never made) have long haunted her. 

The full text of the fake memo can be read at the Talk Left site.