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"Tatum said that Barr then dialed another number, immediately lenged, he was set up, falsely charged and imprisoned. reaching then-Governor Bill Clinton. Barr explained the missing During his "diesel therapy"—being constantly moved from one money problem to Clinton...that over $100 million of 'Enterprise’ prison to another so there would be no time for him to file court monies had disappeared along the Arkansas end of the Panama to appeals—he met and interviewed other whistleblowers from other Arkansas route, and that he and Oliver North would continue US Government agencies. He accumulated more and more infor- investigating the Panama end of the connection, warning that the mation and was able to write and publish Defrauding America. matter must be resolved or it could lead to 'big problems'." In a recent interview, Stich said: "My initial imprisonment was The problems were evidently ironed out. Bill Clinton became due to so-called contempt of court. As you may know, I had dis- President—one of the CIA's "few groomed men" who was covered extremely serious government misconduct related to a romised his position on the "shortlist" for the job, according to series of air disasters. That started me into becoming a kind of an Terry Reed and John Cummings, authors of Compromised. activist in government corruption. In another instance, Tatum flew the group to Santa Ana, "As I was agressively pursuing this and acquiring more infor- Honduras, meeting with Enrique Bermudez and other Contra mation from other government agents over a period of years, I leaders and visiting a cocaine processing facility. started discovering other forms of government corruption. "Tatum described the strong smell of jet fuel and acetone, and Involved with all of this was the United States Justice Department the large fuel pods that had the tops cover-up which I've encountered for stripped off them and in which were the last 30 years. So if the Justice fuel and leaves," writes Stich. "Tatum Department is obstructing justice, repeated what Oliver North said: ‘One there isn't much one can do. But I more year of this and we'll all retire’... discovered a particular statute—I Or, if not retirement, how about an "Tatum said that Barr then dialed may be the only one that ever used Ollie North syndicated radio talk this—and the wording is very clear. show? Or what about a run for sena- another number, immediately "This is Title 18, Section 4," con- tor, maybe even President—on the reaching then-Governor tinued Stich. "It states that ‘Anyone anti-drug, law-and-order platform? . . " who knows of a federal crime who The hubris of these criminals is unbe- Bill Clinton. does not promptly report it to a fed- lievable.] North added, 'If we can keep those Arkansas hicks in line, that is'—referring to Barry Seal and Governor Clinton... "So I thought this is an excellent "As Tatum listened to these conver- way to circumvent the obstruction of sations, he remembered the army officers’ remarks...when Tatum — justice by the US Justice Department. I filed action demanding complained about the carrying of drugs: 'Tell no one. There's no that the judge receive my evidence and the evidence of some of one big enough in your chain of command." the other agents I had become acquainted with. By law they're No kidding. Hearing Oliver North discuss the involvement of required to do so. Instead, they refused to receive it." eral judge or other federal officer becomes guilty of the crime of sub- ornation of a crime’. George Bush and Bill Clinton in drug smuggling, Tatum wisely So then what happened? followed this advice. "Sometimes they dismissed it without a hearing," said Stich, "and never even allowed me to get to that point. Then they also STICH VERSUS THE SYSTEM rendered an order, and this was repeated several times, forever Former US Government investigator Rodney Stich is one of barring me access to the federal courts. This is, of course, unlaw- today's unsung heroes. His singleminded dedication in exposing ful and unconstitutional. And also it's obstructing justice. government crimes and cover-ups has resulted in his own harass- "As my knowledge of criminal activities in government ment, imprisonment and bankruptcy. His story will remind you of i ased—when I started getting heavy evidence of CIA drug the persecution of dissidents in the former Soviet Union. trafficking—I filed actions again, even though federal judges Hounded and nearly destroyed by government agents in today's barred me access to the federal court, which they legally can't do National Security State of America, Stich has nevertheless perse- but they do it. Then they held me in contempt of court for even vered. trying to report the criminal activity that I must report." His 753-page book, Defrauding America (in its third expanded Because he had been betrayed by attorneys many times before, and revised edition) is clearly a labour of love. It also happens to Stich represented himself, having learned the details of navigating be the definitive history of crime, corruption and cover-ups by the in the corrupt waters of the US judicial system. There were lots US Federal Government in the 20th century. This book is not of shoals, and his own shipwreck was his eventual imprisonment. merely important; it is indispensable for every person who wants "As attorneys would tell me over the years," Stich said laugh- to know the behind-the-scenes manoeuvres of big government, ingly, “If I represent you, that would be the end of my career,' big business and organised crime—in many instances, different because the government is very powerful and government can branches of the same beast. Future generations will regard this very easily affect an attorney's career. book as an historical milestone like Edward Gibbon's Decline and "The initial imprisonment was six months in federal prison for Fall of the Roman Empire. Why? Because Defrauding America contempt of court," continued Stich. "In other words, here I am contains prima facie evidence of legal and judicial corruption so _ trying to report crime that the Justice Department and federal horrendous and so monstrous as to defy imagination. judges were actually involved in covering up. Incidentally, to do And how did it happen? Rodney Stich used to be a Federal this the federal judges had to have the cooperation of the Justice Aviation Agency investigator. After many years and continuous Department because the Justice Department would then file the reports of airline maintenance abuse and negligence, he became a charges and prosecute." whistleblower; but because of the powerful forces he had chal- Is it really possible that they worked hand-in-glove to cover up another number, immediately reaching then-Governor Bill Clinton." STICH VERSUS THE SYSTEM Former US Government investigator Rodney Stich is one of today's unsung heroes. His singleminded dedication in exposing government crimes and cover-ups has resulted in his own harass- ment, imprisonment and bankruptcy. His story will remind you of the persecution of dissidents in the former Soviet Union. Hounded and nearly destroyed by government agents in today's National Security State of America, Stich has nevertheless perse- vered. His 753-page book, Defrauding America (in its third expanded and revised edition) is clearly a labour of love. It also happens to be the definitive history of crime, corruption and cover-ups by the US Federal Government in the 20th century. This book is not merely important; it is indispensable for every person who wants to know the behind-the-scenes manoeuvres of big government, big business and organised crime—in many instances, different branches of the same beast. Future generations will regard this book as an historical milestone like Edward Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Why? Because Defrauding America contains prima facie evidence of legal and judicial corruption so horrendous and so monstrous as to defy imagination. And how did it happen? Rodney Stich used to be a Federal Aviation Agency investigator. After many years and continuous reports of airline maintenance abuse and negligence, he became a whistleblower; but because of the powerful forces he had chal- 22 - NEXUS AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 1998