Newspaper again denied access to records in R.I. corruption case
By The Associated Press
12.13.01
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A federal judge has denied The Providence Journal access to a search-warrant affidavit in the anti-corruption case against Mayor Vincent Cianci Jr. and five others.
The newspaper had asked U.S. District Judge Ernest Torres to make public a 95-page affidavit filed by federal investigators requesting a search warrant for City Hall and other locations.
Torres yesterday denied the motion, ruling that the document's release would compromise the defendants' right to a fair trial. The trial is expected to begin in April 2002.
The affidavit was filed in April 1999 by Special Agent Dennis Aiken, lead investigator in the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Operation Plunder Dome probe.
Later that year, a federal judge denied the Journal's request for the affidavit because the investigation was ongoing. The Journal repeated its request once the indictments were issued, prompting Torres' ruling.
Cianci, his former top aide Frank Corrente, and four others were charged in April with demanding bribes in exchange for city contracts. The mayor has denied any wrongdoing.
The unauthorized release of FBI surveillance videos prompted Torres to issue a gag order in May forbidding all parties involved in the case from disclosing confidential information that could interfere with a fair trial.
Previous
Federal judge hears arguments on unsealing affidavit in R.I. corruption trial
Newspaper’s attorney says public has right to know how government is handling case, but defense says releasing document would violate defendants’ right to fair trial.
07.03.01
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