Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version VT3.4 8/17/84; site vortex.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!vortex!lauren From: lauren@vortex.UUCP (Lauren Weinstein) Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: DeLorean Message-ID: <389@vortex.UUCP> Date: Fri, 17-Aug-84 20:10:19 EDT Article-I.D.: vortex.389 Posted: Fri Aug 17 20:10:19 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 19-Aug-84 12:39:15 EDT Organization: Vortex Technology, Los Angeles Lines: 39 As far as I'm concerend, we can argue all day about whether or not DeLorean was actually involved in the conspiracy, and if so whether or not he was willingly involved. But that's not the main issue. The important issue is: Was John DeLorean predisposed to make a drug deal? Most evidence seems to indicate that he was not. Nobody has suggested that he had any prior connections or interests in or with drugs, unless you believe Hoffman, the drug dealer who was paid $200,000 by the government to target DeLorean, and whose past history shows a pattern of continuous and unending lies. It appears very likely that DeLorean would never have become involved in such things if he hadn't been suckered into it by the investigation. That's what entrapment is all about. There are enough real drug smugglers around that need the attention of the authorities without the authorities going around trying to literally create new ones! As I undertand them, our law enforcement agencies are supposed to deal with real crime, not go around subjecting selected private citizens to "integrity tests." --Lauren-- P.S. And by the way, I don't think DeLorean is happier than much of anything. He still faces massive civil actions regarding the failure of his company, and the possibility of a grand jury indictment in Detroit relating to funding of that company. He's 59 years old and will probably be spending the rest of his life in one court battle or another. He sure didn't look very happy to me. At this point, he doesn't even have a way to pay his lawyers since all of his property is tied up in one court action or another. In any case, I'm pleased to see that the jury saw fit, at least in part, to make a statement regarding the investigative techniques of the government in sting operations. --Lauren--